The Artists & Their 'Musical Chairs'!
1. BUTTERFLY MAGIC
Artist: Sharon Bower, Bayside
sharonbowerwatercolours.ca
613-394-2020
Retired from teaching, Sharon now paints flowers and buildings using watercolours in an impressionistic style, often including pen and ink and mixed media. She teaches painting techniques at both Loyalist College and in her own studio in Bayside. She is a member of the Belleville Art Association and Quinte Arts Council, and is also an avid gardener.
Insects have always fascinated Sharon. An avid gardener, she has a special fondness for butterflies, which she loves to see in her garden. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Front and Bridge Streets, Belleville.
2. PAPER BAG PRINCESS
Artist: Kathryn Fellows, Foxboro
fellows@hickoryhouse.net
613-968-4724
Kathryn began painting about 12 years ago, and after exploring oils, pastels, charcoal and graphite, settled into watercolours, which to her have a mystery about them. She is attracted to watercolours since one never knows for certain what will result, and that is the fun of the medium. Sometimes when two colours blend, they continue to create new hues and wonderful images by themselves. In addition, the softness in watercolours cannot be achieved with other media.
For her chair, Kathryn used acrylics, a totally foreign medium for her, and one which she found most forgiving! Based on the children’s storybook by Robert Munsch, which has charmed children for generations, the dragon burns down Elizabeth’s castle, including all her clothes, and carries off Prince Ronald. Elizabeth wears a paper bag, finds the dragon and rescues Prince Ronald–all of which Kathryn has captured in her delightful and imaginative chair. Chair on display at: Greenley's Book Store, Belleville.
3. CELLO CHAIR
Artist: Claire Canty, Bloomfield
613-471-1107
Inspired as an elementary school student by her art teacher, Phillipa Faulkner, and meeting A.Y. Jackson at the McMichael Gallery the same school year, Claire Canty was intrigued and beguiled into the call of the arts as a lifelong love and career.
She invites the purchaser to settle into her "Cello Chair” on a warm summer afternoon, under the shade of whispering trees, and imagine the soft, round and soothing sounds of a cello! Chair on display at: Oddfellows Hall, Madoc.
4. MOONLIGHT SONATA
Artist: Barbara Chappelle, Madoc
b_citta@yahoo.ca
613-473-2200
Barbara, an abstract painter and clay artist, and her husband, Jim who is also a potter, operate Deer Creek Pottery in Madoc. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was an artist, Barbara’s interest in becoming an artist was nurtured by frequent visits to galleries, studios, museums and travels in Europe. She is a member of both the Belleville Art Association and the East Central Ontario Art Association.
Warm summer evenings in the country just outside of Madoc are spent in the garden, watching fireflies and listening to the quietness, sometimes with the accompaniment of soft music. The following poetry inspired her chair design:
"Fireflies flit, sparkling,
Over the rustling rose bush
Silver moon rising.” Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Trenton.
5. SYMPHONY
Artist: Florence Lennox, Belleville
613-962-1840
An artist who took up painting later in life, Florence Lennox is a member of the Belleville Art Association, East Central Ontario Art Association (Life Member), Quinte Arts Council, and the recipient of the first QAC Volunteer Award. She has been an active force in the Visual Arts community for forty years. Now in her early nineties, she still actively paints in her familiar expressionistic style using watercolour, oil, acrylic, French dyes on silk, often experimenting with mixed media. She was intrigued by the idea of creating a work of art on a Muskoka chair, and welcomed the challenge of working on something other than paper, silk or canvass.
The name "Symphony” resulted because her garden came alive on the chair as she imagined the music of a symphony. Her daughter, Bonnie Coldham, painted the children’s "Happy Chair” available in the Silent Auction. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Front and Bridge Streets, Belleville.
6. HUMMINGBIRDS
Artist: Joyce Empey, Belleville
jempey@sympatico.ca
613-613-962-8381
A retired teacher, formally trained at Ontario College of Art, Loyalist College and Queen’s University, Joyce has also studied locally with several area artists. She is a member of the Belleville Art Association, and Quinte Arts Council. She usually works in watercolour, painting old barns, landscapes and flowers in an impressionistic style, and particularly enjoys painting on location whenever possible, especially in various European locations.
Joyce spends every summer at her cottage on Moira Lake, where she enjoys watching Hummingbirds at the bird feeder. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Napanee.
7. GHANAIAN SUNSET
Peta Hall, Bloomfield
petapots@kos.net
613-393-1696
Raised in Africa where "colour was seared into my soul”, Peta lived in Europe, England and the Far East before settling into Prince Edward County. She is constantly inspired by the simplicity of a leaf, loose rhythms of waves, complexity of textile patterns, by Monet, Mozart and Matisse. As a potter, she makes pots to celebrate life and bring sunshine into everyday living. An arts activist, she is a major promoter of the arts in education, government, business, tourism and her own gallery. "Life without art would be soulless.” She also spends several months each year at a women’s weaving co-operative in Ghana, which she established to provide much needed income for the women of that area.
As she painted her chair in mid January in Prince Edward County, she kept thinking about the vibrant colours of African sunsets, which are very brief because Ghana is so close to the equator. Chair on display at: Quinte Arts Council, Belleville.
8. THREADS
Artist: Marion Casson Carrying Place
rcasson@xplornet.com
613-966-3383
Another retired teacher, Marion’s first artistic outlet was through weaving and pottery. She enjoyed a lengthy stint as Executive Director of the Ameliasburg Museum, and several years living in the Village of Lonsdale, as neighbours of Harlan House and several other area artists. After returning to Carrying Place as her family grew and married, she finally had time to travel and pursue new artistic career paths, experimenting in felting, and watercolours as well as returning to weaving occasionally.
Her chair, with its vibrant colours, was inspired by her career as a fibre artist. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, North Front and College Streets, Belleville.
9. BROWN-EYE BEAUTIES
Artist: Dona Knudsen, Carrying Place
daknudsen@xplornet.com
613-392-7068
Self-taught, Dona was an elementary school art teacher for 31 years, before becoming the Arts Curriculum Co-ordinator for Hastings County Board of Education, and working on Ministry of Education Arts Curriculum teams.
She is a member of Gallery 121, the Belleville Art Association and the Quinte Arts Council, and has worked in a variety of media, but always focused on colour and form. Currently working primarily in watercolours, she has also worked in French dyes on silk. Texture, perspective and strong are always strong components in all of her work, as can be seen in the matching small original watercolour painting which accompanies this chair. Chair on display at: Pinnacle Music Studios, Belleville.
10. JACK & OLD LACE
Don Pinder, R.R.#1 Wellington
dune@kos.net
613-399-5392
Don, a graduate of Ontario College of Art and Design, is known for his innovative multi-level images of architectural details, as well as his distinctive pottery and photographs. An active member of the growing Prince Edward County arts scene, Don was the driving force for several years behind "Arts in the County”, and has sat on the boards of a variety of regional arts and cultural organizations. A recipient of a Quinte Arts Council Arts Recognition Award, in October 2009, Don is currently involved in graphic and logo design, painting in mixed media, pottery and photography. He is fascinated by the ever-changing world, and enjoys stretching his boundaries through various media.
He welcomed the chance to work on something different, such as a chair. His chair title is a clever take on the well-known play "Arsenic and Old Lace”, with Jack referring to Jack Daniels, which one could surely enjoy when sitting in this chair. Chair on display at: Gallery 121, Belleville.
11. FLYING GEESE
Artist: Cynthia Solomon, Belleville
cynthiasolomon094@sympatico.ca
613-969-7039
The quilt designs on the chair are two well-known and beloved traditional quilt patterns. The Pine-Tree design on the back, and the Flying Geese on the arms, are themes which she associates with the Canadian cottage scene, where this chair would certainly fit very well. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Marmora.
With a specialist degree in Visual and Performing Arts from University of Toronto Derek has worked in both areas. Much of his work involves multiple layers of imagery and a variety of textures to communicate emotions and meaning. He came to Belleville in 2005 to work as lighting and technical director with the Regent Theatre in Picton, and subsequently exhibited works in a number of regional galleries. He is now a full time teacher, which minimizes the amount of time he can spend on creative art work.
His chair cleverly includes images of all the things we should leave behind when we sit in a Muskoka chair–all our everyday stressors such as jobs, bills, computers etc. See how many different stressors you can find! Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Picton.
13. MORNINGSTAR MILL
George Kratz, Stirling
glud2@yahoo.ca
613-395-5667
A free-lance illustrator in Toronto for over 30 years, and a former Board Member of Quinte Symphony, George is currently teaching part-time at Loyalist College. He is also working on illustrating various locks on the Trent and Rideau canal systems, and the mills and waterways of Eastern Ontario, for a future publication. He particularly enjoys painting the beautiful landscapes and heritage buildings of Hastings & Prince Edward counties.
The Morningstar Mill (built in1872 and again in 1895 after a fire) is situated adjacent to the spectacular DeCew Falls in the Niagara region, and has historic ties to Laura Secord’s famous warning to the Loyalists during the war of 1812.
The clean, curtainlike nature of the falls, bright red colour of the mill and fine spray from the falling water combine to make this scene an unforgettable one. Chair on display at: Books & Company, Picton.
14. LAWN CHAIR for a MONARCH
Artist: Tom Brown, Tamworth
susan@spindletree.ca
613-379-5898
After 40 years as a professional architect in Toronto, Tom retired to Tamworth and has developed the magical gardens of Spindle Tree, where he has incorporated a Cedar Maze, Bridge, Pavilion, and restored a Victorian Well Cover.
He and his wife garden on a grand scale at Spindle Tree Gardens, which is open May to October to the touring public. When not adding to the many stone walls he has already built on the property, he also weeds, digs and plants trees.
With no grass to cut during the winter, the opportunity to design the "grass” on the "Lawn” chair was irresistible. The monarch butterfly coming of age on the arm of the chair will be the master of all he surveys, as you could be sitting in this chair! Chair on display at: Connon Nurseries, Quinte West.
15. CAROUSEL
Artist: Wayne Storms, R.R.1 Foxboro
w.k.storms@xplornet.com
613-966-7860
Wayne’s career in architecture and building custom homes allowed him to express his artistic side in preparing sketches and renderings, but he always wanted to concentrate more on creative photography, his horses and art. He has recently begun to paint in watercolour. Once he retires, he plans to spend much more time in his newly built studio in the coach house on his farm.
His chair aptly combines his love of colour, precision and horses in this whimsical treatment of a carousel. Chair on display at: One to One Health and Fitness Centre, Belleville.
16. SUNNY DAYS
Artist: Ethel Bews, Belleville
www.debews@sympatico.ca
613-967-4860
Prior to retirement, Ethel’s professional career as a Home Economist developed an increased interest in fabric, design, fashion-drawing and clothing construction, which in turn led to owning a sewing school and a retail boutique. The exposure to colour, texture, line and composition developed an interest in painting, which she began to pursue when she and her husband retired to Belleville. With the help of several accomplished area artists, the Belleville Art Association, and many summer classes and workshops, her painting expertise has broadened to allow her to express her avid love of gardening. Her paintings typically capture the beauty of flowers, and landscapes in both watercolours and acrylics.
Her chair depicting sunflowers is meant to reflect the warmth and relaxed atmosphere of a late summer sunny day. Chair on display at: Books & Company, Picton.
17. SAND’n’SURF
Artist: Allie McQuaid, RR.7 Belleville
amcquaid@xplornet.com
613-966-0793
Allie’s initial interest in painting began in her last year of teaching when she was required to teach classes in art history. As she prepared lessons, she learned from the masters about style, design, historic styles of representation and became hooked on art. She began taking watercolour courses in 2004, and credits her newly-found interest in greatly enriching her retirement. She is a member of the Belleville Art Association, and recently received the Muriel Andrews Award for Excellence in Design for her entry into the BAA Annual Juried Show "Water,Water Everywhere”. When asked to do a chair, her success with her winning entry entitled "Sand’n’Surf” inspired her to reproduce its content, but adapt its form, shape and colour, to suit the chair. Chair on display at: TD Canada Trust, Madoc.
18. HAPPY HOUR
Artist: Marilyn Holden, Stirling
holdenmk@bell.net
613-395-5141
From earliest childhood, Marilyn always had pencils, crayons and paint brushes in her hands, but never took formal lessons until her move to Stirling in the late 1970's. Her initial area of interest was weaving, but she also developed an interest in watercolour and studied with Donna Cameron Sr. She has continued to work in both media, and was delighted to be challenged to paint a chair, which includes mixed media.
Her chair theme is self-explanatory! What a great way to spend Happy Hour sitting in a chair like this! Chair on display at: West Wings, Stirling.
19. NATURE’S BOUNTY
Artist: Norman Fieldhouse
norfieldesign@hotmail.com
613-920-7463
Travel in Europe led to a keen interest in architecture, which Norman pursued through night courses at Ryerson. Following a career in Toronto as a home renovator and restorer which gave some outlet to his inner creativity, Norman moved to Belleville in 2000 and began spending more time developing his skill in watercolour, which he used to explore the relationship between the natural and built environments. He sees art as a means of reconnecting the two.
The inspiration for Norman’s chair was Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The front represents Spring/Summer - light and airy, and meant to be viewed from the lake, looking towards the cottage. Encompassing all that is good about the warm months - beach, fishing, swimming, it shows a backdrop of dramatic forested hills, with a dragonfly flitting about as if conducting a symphony.
The back representing Fall/Winter and filled with tempestuous change, is meant to be viewed with the lake as background. It incorporates dramatic colours in the hills, with birds leaving for warmer climates, and stoically watched over by a citizen of the coming Winter.
Always a significant part of relaxed weekends at the cottage, Norman’s family had a part in the execution of this chair. His daughter did the flowing river scene on one leg, and his son designed the beach scene on the other leg. Chair on display at: Shoppers Drug Mart, Quinte West.
20. NEWBORN GECKO
Artist: Michael Rutland, A.O.C.A.
michael@rutland.ca
613-779-6558 613-848-0808
Michael draws, paints, sculpts, photographs, designs and makes films. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art, he has designed and built sets, props, puppets and costumes for a variety of theatre companies. He has also furthered his studies outside of Canada as a result of grants from the Canada Council and other funding agencies. Following careers as a Management Consultant for a major accounting firm, and developing his own film production company, he worked internationally as a writer/producer/director, and occasionally as an actor and composer. He and his wife moved to the Quinte region fifteen years ago, and opened Rivendell Herb Farm, Café, Art Studio and Gallery. His most visible local commission is the "Children of Hope” sculpture at the corner of Pinnacle and Station Streets. He regularly exhibits his work locally and in Ottawa and Montreal.
He designed his chair because, "I like Geckos. I have made a Gecko table; why not a chair?” Chair on display at: Terra Florens, Bloomfield.
