Tye Dandridge-Evancio
Cabela boys
The artworks featured in this series are the result of my experiences growing up in a largely conservative community without a visible LGBTQ role model to emulate in my development as an individual. The lack of queer representation left me with limited resources through which to experiment, define, and accept my identity. This exhibition is a platform through which I articulate my search for a queer presence in mainstream society.
The Cabela Boys features paintings on wood panel depicting the exploits of a fictional character named Bashful and the band of scantily clad men he accompanies on various hunting trips. Though initially conceived as a humorous criticism of female dress in popular media, this series has evolved into a sincere exploration of queer identity. The shift in tone reflects my personal growth in coming to terms with my identity as a queer male artist, my sexuality, and the importance of representation to the development of an individual’s identity.
Barbara Kaminsky
Art and Emotion
Barbara’s latest works are a collection of paintings created to evoke emotion, whether that be happy or sad, pensive or excited. She has always been inspired by the impressionist painters who portrayed overall visual effects rather than details. Likewise, she likes to create pieces that are a loose interpretation of a scene.
Barbara has lived her whole life on a farm in rural Manitoba. The big skies, vast fields and lakes have provided her with the inspiration for many of her paintings. Her hope is that she is creating art to inspire a feeling in people.
She texturizes her canvases with mediums, paper and gel and then applies paint directly from the tube with large brushes. She uses water to move the paint around the canvas much like painting with watercolours leaving drips and splatters. Listening to her playlist as she paints she moves to the music with abandon.
Mike Spencer
At it Again
Raku is a Japanese pottery technique developed in the 16th century and associated with Japanese tea ceremonies. Ceramic objects are removed from the kiln at full firing temperature and allowed to cool rapidly. The key difference in the 20th century Westernized version, is the introduction of reduction bins for cooling the work. Metal containers are filled with combustible materials, then the glowing hot piece is put inside and the lid is put on tightly to reduce the oxygen content around the molten glaze. This process allows the combustible materials to burn away the oxygen molecules in the molten glazes and create an exciting variety of glaze colours and effects.
Mike Spencer is a multidisciplinary artist from Flin Flon, exhibiting a selection of raku fired ceramics. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba and NSCAD University, and managed the NorVA Centre in Flin Flon for ten years, creating art educational programming and organizing exhibitions.
