A VERY COZY GROUP SHOW

 We're nearing the end of our very cozy group show "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants", closing May 3rd. 

If you haven't had a chance yet, visit us at the gallery and catch this wonderful, homey & cheerful show of 30+ local artists!

Over the course of the show we've been asking participating artists where the inspiration for their works came from... read below to see what these artists had to say!

LARA DOIRON

"Connected, Acrylic on Canvas, 11"x14"

“Connected" is painted from an old photo of my sister and two cousins in my childhood bedroom, taken when they were around 8 years old. The title references the fact that they are all using their iPods, and we are connected through technology. This subject was inspired by the show’s prompt – playing on the iPod was a popular indoor activity for us growing up. An alternate and more personal meaning to the painting is that “connected” is a song from ‘Barbie and the Diamond Castle’ which was my sister and I's favorite movie during our childhood."

CAROLINE MCLEOD

"Reading Chair", Embroidery Floss and Roving Wool, 9” oval

"I would always rather be home for the most part. In the before times, preparing, commuting, and staring at a screen in a building was my reality. The best thing to come out of covid was working from home, and the worst thing about emerging from that reality is the corporate-mandated clawback of my personal time. When I think about where I would rather be, it is in a comfortable green and quiet space, with plants, natural light, no screens, and lots of time. If there is one thing embroidery needs, it's that."

 

JESSICA MURRAY

"Tucked Away", Watercolour, 8"x10"

"The Pantry", Watercolour, 5"x8"

"The Yellow Dress", Watercolour, 10"x12"

"What a Superbly Featured Room", Watercolour, 10"x8" Room

"My painting, “What a superbly featured room”, is the one I really dedicated to the show. I have three others, and I love them all dearly, and they absolutely check the box on coziness, but with this one, every aspect was made with this theme in mind. I wanted the piece to feel lived in – like it was just your average evening where you’re curled up on the couch with a chill movie and your loved one. And like most of my art, it was about piling in a bunch of details to draw you in. Those little touches feel like they’re offering a glimpse of who the person is that lives in the space, and there’s something warm and inviting about that."

See the entire "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" show HERE

We asked these artists what cozy meant to them...

 Things have been EXTRA cozy at the gallery lately while we have been enjoying this group show "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants"! 

This show opened April 13th and will be up until May 3rd, so if you're downtown Halifax stop by the gallery, say HI and check it out!

We've been asking artists from the show where the inspiration for their pieces came from, see what they had to say below!

LIBBY NOSEWORTHY-BOSS

"Lonely Phil" Oil on Canvas, 12"x12"

"This theme..."I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" put a smile on my face. I can certainly relate, and I just love the cozy feeling of being inside on a cold blustery day, watching the sun make designs on the wall. "Lonely Phil" represents the wonderful quiet of not having to converse with anybody. Maybe it's a bit lonely... maybe it's blissful."

"Waiting for Sun" Oil on Canvas, 24"x18"

"I just love this theme... "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants". I frequently feel that way myself. "Waiting for Sun" represents that wonderful feeling of relaxing at home while the sun comes through the windows warming whatever it touches. I see the plants soaking up the sun and think, (hope) perhaps, that they can feel the luxury of it, just as I can feel the luxury of unwinding at home."

Libby posed with her paintings at the show opening.

DAVID HAMP-GONSALVES

"Stitched Rock"  4”x6.5”, Mix Media

"In all my work I try to celebrate the complexity that is waiting for us each time we take a moment to allow the natural world to occupy our senses and minds. In these pieces my aim was to bring a favourite place(Black Rock Beach) into my home to fill in times when I can't visit them. In the pinned rocks I wanted the beauty of our common beach rocks (Foliated Metamorphic) to be appreciated as dissected specimens. Contrasting that in the sewn rock I wanted to show the fragility of these same rocks and connect them with soft materials of wood and cotton. I learned so much about how rocks form, fracture, and cut during this work. Coming home from a walk with a pocket full of rocks has become a common occurrence."

MATTHEW MONGRAW

"Fluff Muffin" Acrylic on Canvas, 18"x24"

"This is a painting of my dog Bowie, the day after hurricane Fiona. We had lost power and Bowie was standing with just his front paws on the couch, looking outside to assess the damage and waiting for his mom to come home. I was inspired to paint this scene because of the dramatic lighting hitting his face and chest fur that reminded me of a classical portrait with edges of the main figure being lost in darkness. I liked the juxtaposition of the seriousness of the lighting and pose he was in against the lovable cuteness of his face and floppy mouth. I made a sketch of this in my sketchbook while sitting in my living room waiting for power to come back on. 

I had always had this image in mind as a "someday" painting. This felt like the perfect opportunity to do a full scale painting of my fluff muffin when thinking of the theme "I'd rather be home in my sweatpants." It captures a moment that I was grateful to be safe at home, most likely in my sweatpants, with my dog as emotional support and comfort. Hopefully this image brings others the same joy that Bowie brings me."

Matthew posed with his painting at the show opening.

See the full "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" show HERE

Every artwork has a story!

Have you had a chance to see our current show "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants"? This group show includes over 30 local artists and 60+ artworks! 

Each artist was asked to respond to the title and cozy theme in their own way, all mediums were welcomed and encouraged!  

Check out these TEXTILE artworks by artists in the show and learn about the inspiration behind their pieces! 

CATHERINE VARDY

"Three Sisters", Textile, 8"x8"

"A Chance of Rain" Textile, 8”x8”

"I love creating landscapes from pieces of fabric and thread. Rather than mixing paint, I carefully assess and select fabric based on colours, textures and prints to create imaginary places. All from the comfort of my home. I enjoy walking in nature and being outside, but usually in more isolated places. Then I retreat back home to my studio to create things, and hand stitch while sitting in a comfortable chair fueled by many hot drinks and snacks."

KARLA COURTNEY

"Eric", Knitted Wool, 14"

Knitting and lobsters are both special parts of my life and come together quite naturally. I learned how to knit in Arnold's Cove, Newfoundland with my Nanny Alice May, and my Poppy had around 40 lobster traps off the coast of Woody Island when my dad was growing up. I love to hear the lobster stories – and I even have a big lobster tattooed on my back! When I brought my son to Newfoundland to see family he asked me to knit him a purple lobster. Then, my sister asked if I could knit a white one for her wedding she had in St John's. The requests for lobsters and crustacean patterns just kept coming! Another lovely knitter Cassandra Harada and I chatted about lobster sweaters and she actually made the first one – a fisherman cable style with sleeves for all the legs (but not the claws). I made my own version with a fair isle yoke – and I haven't stopped since!"

BLAIRE MACKENZIE

"Spring Sweater" Crochet, Wool and Buttons, M/L

"Crocheting was taught to me by my grandmother, I think of her whenever I’m making a sweater. I enjoy the process of selecting colours, one colour leads to thoughts of another, and the palette expands organically. I’ve always enjoyed seeing how different colours react to one another. Crocheting holds a special place in my heart, evoking a sense of warmth and nostalgia."

Artist Kerry Hodgson stopped by the gallery and modelled Blaire's sweater for us! Other artworks from the group show visible in the background.

Gallery Manager Emily modelled the sweater too! Looks great on all shapes, sizes and ages! 

See the full "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" show HERE

Get to know the inspiration behind the works in "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" !

 This past Friday we opened our group show "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" and it was an amazing turn out! Thank you to everyone who came out, it was great to see so many happy faces out of the house and enjoying LOCAL ART!

This group show included over 30 local artists and 60+ artworks! We were so excited to see the many artists submissions and the ideas that came from this theme. 

To celebrate the show and to get to know these local artists we have asked a few to share their inspiration behind the works they've made and what this cozy-homey theme meant to them... keep your eyes peeled for multiple posts highlighting different artists and their work! 

MELINDA SHEEHAN

"Ted Lasso" 12"x12", Oil on Board 

"My dog, Georgia O’Keeffe, husband and I enjoyed this television series because of the main character’s approach to life and his teaching philosophy based on belief and perseverance. His focus on believing was met with scepticism at the beginning of the series, but eventually inspired and motivated all of the characters on the show

When I was in grade 5, I was introduced to a similar inspirational person (@darylsteeves) who let me join the YMCA’s gymnastic team. My sister, was already a member. This was a life-changing moment for me. I had never been on a sports team. He welcomed me and let me train with the team. He always made our strict training agenda a lot of fun. I am forever grateful for Coach Daryl and his positive influence on living a joyful, fun and healthy life"

"Braiding Hair" 12"x12", Oil on Board

"In this intimate oil painting, a tender moment unfolds as Annie, the older sister, braids the hair of her younger sibling, Molly. Taken from an old photograph, this ordinary scene resonates within my heart. It embodies the timeless sentiment of sisterly love and care. As I enter empty nest and the world sometimes feels upside down I reminder to cherish life's fleeting moments. Joy, gratitude, and warmth a simple gesture that encapsulates the beauty of sisterhood and the bittersweet journey of parenthood."

Melinda Sheehan with her painting at the "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" opening.

KAYTE MCLAUGHLIN

"Work from Home, Live at Work" 12"X12", Acrylic and Coloured Pencil on Canvas

"This is the window in my home office during the first lockdown in March 2020. I worked for Communications Nova Scotia at this time and we were sent to work from home indefinitely. My team was responsible for keeping the government website about coronavirus up to date, a task that consumed countless hours of overtime work. At some point I made the word HELLO with hot-pink post-it notes in my office window that overlooked my suburban cul-de-sac. Instead of showing the actual view from my window, I've painted a view of my own house as a nod to how surreal those early days were."

PAULETTE MELANSON

"Sanctuary" 24"x30", Acrylic on Canvas

"As an abstract painter who paints from intuition and personal feelings, I find painting for a theme very challenging.  As I was painting and thinking about the theme for this show, I ended up with what looked like a couple embracing in what seemed like a sanctuary.  I only noticed this at the end as I was trying to find a title for the painting.  My 'sanctuary' is being at home with my best friend and partner in life.  His name is Mike. He is the person that I am the most comfortable with and with whom I feel comfortable wearing the most ugly sweatpants and paint clothes."

"Bouquet"  Acrylic on Canvas, 24”x30”

"The bouquet is from Mike, my partner in life.  It brings colour to the dreariness of winter as I lie down on the couch in my sweatpants watching TV - a habit I've had since we met 25 years ago. You know you are with your lifemate when you're comfortable doing that."

Paulette and her husband Mike posing with her paintings at the gallery.

See the full "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants" show HERE

TONIGHT ! POP BY BEFORE GETTING HOME AND NOT WANTING TO GO OUT AGAIN!

 Hey folks! Tonight we are launching a NEW SHOW called "I'd Rather Be Home in My Sweatpants".  It's a fun show filled with amazing artwork by 30 artists- all responding to the title of the show. Themes have emerged: still life painting, cats and dogs, plants, windows, food and of course sweatpants. 

 

THE FULL SHOW IS NOW ONLINE HERE

...but of course we'd love for you to see this show in person! That's what it's all about..getting back out there experiencing things in "real life".The opening reception is TONIGHT, Friday, April 12th, 4pm-6pm. Don't forget to wear cozy clothing...or even sweatpants.

 

We'll also be joined by The Board Room Game Cafe!  Learn to play a new game or pick up a new one to play at home! 

Maybe strike a pose in our photo booth with cozy home themed items!  SEE YOU HERE!  The show continues until May 3rd, so tell your friends!

PS- Check out this print that is part of the show by Greg Fownes..take a closer look at the "Snoritos"..

PSST....tomorrow Saturday, April 13th...we continue the FUN with SKETCH N' STROLL!  (fingers crossed the weather cooperates! If it's just a bit of drizzle and showers, we'll carry on...otherwise we will reschedule to next Saturday but we really really are hoping for this weekend!)