Though a drab day outside, artwork created by members of the Harris Collective shone brightly at the opening reception of Quintessence.
The show features the works of five members: Grayce Perry, Marg Peter, Jude Dowling, Lyn Barrett-Cowan and Ivano Stocco.
Perry explained each has the opportunity to participate in a group show. “We’re the third group to show at the centre. We’re doing it a bit differently than we used to.”
Peter said while there was no decision who would be in which group, “The decision was to have a variety of skills and media. I think it worked out very well. It’s going to be great.”
There were a few organizational meetings. The show does not have a specific theme.
Barrett-Cowan said, “We decided not to.”
She then added, “My work cannot be theme oriented because it takes so long [to create]. What it took me a day to do in water colour, it could take three months to do in fabric.”
Peter added, “We only had a few months to get our work together.”
Dowling added, “It can sometimes take a year to get the artwork together for a theme. If you are working in oils as I do, it can take even longer because it takes the oils a long time to dry.”
Membership in the collective varies.
Perry has been involved for two years, Peter about three, while Barrett-Cowan is new to the area.
Dowling said while she had been with the collective only about a year, she has been involved with the Elora Arts Centre since it began.
Responses to the opportunity to be part of these shows ranged from “it’s great” to “awesome.”
Perry said, “We really enjoy the opportunity to have group shows, because I think it shows of the work much better.”
Dowling said the show used to be a “salon style” with 30 or 40 members having a few pieces on display.
About the artists
Barrett-Cowan said, “It is also really neat to come to the music shows and be surrounded by the art.”
Perry paints contemporary abstracts in oil and graphite on mylar and wood panels and has come to realize that in painting, as in life, anything can happen.
As a painter and printmaker Peter rejoices in the beauty of nature and the joy it brings her. In her Earth’s Treasures series, she uses textured mixed media to reflect the colours of rocks and minerals.
Dowling paints and draws architectural landscapes, the human figure, and still life arranged indoors and those occurring naturally outdoors. She captures humour found in unexpected juxtapositions.
Barrett-Cowan paints with fabrics with images ranging from out-of-context realism to fantastical memories. In addition to fabric paintings, she creates jewelry, cards and clothing.
Stocco paints urban landscapes and expressionist abstracts in acrylic and oil mixed media. He creates a sense of rawness and depth by working fast and instinctively.
