Posts Tagged ‘drawings’

We’re very excited to be putting up Beth’s show today! I just wanted to post some images of Beth’s work and her artist statement for the curious ones. For even more about this Toronto artist, see her website.

Artist Statement:
As somebody drawn to narrative, I am fascinated by human actions and how they tell a story. I like portraying gesture in my work: ritualistic movements that can represent meaningful events, but at the same time, may be interpreted as commonplace actions. The figures are often faceless, thus removing information for the viewer and reducing the characters to their physical actions rather than their emotional reactions. The stories become ambiguous: what is sombre may also be joyful; what is light-hearted and whimsical may also be deeply morbid.

I primarily work with pen and ink, accented with coloured marker to build layers of fine details on paper. My subjects are small and childlike (although not necessarily children themselves), and display a naïveté in their interactions with the physical world and with each other. The landscape I borrow from fairy tales and popular children’s literature to create a familiar yet fantastical set. The references to children’s worlds intend to mimic the first time seeing or experiencing an event, to build a world where that initial sense of wonder is mixed in with intense feelings of sadness, celebration, or desire.

I’m often inspired by religious art and mythology and the depiction of its subjects as vulnerable and sensitive beings in their relationship with the divine. What is striking to me in these works is the approach in which the artist transforms an abstract spiritual belief into physical actions where the subjects become physical embodiments of the artist’s understanding of the metaphysical. I am interested in art that is a vessel for exploring questions of existence and the relationship to everyday life. I also like to relate Biblical stories and fairy tales in that share a common thread in giving moral lessons and explaining the world amidst a backdrop of the supernatural or the unknown.

Beth Frey, September 2010

–

Now some images to entice you!

Story of an opening:

First, we find an artist – in this case, Robin is a friend and former classmate of one of our staff, Sarah. An exhibition of her work was an easy choice, because it is colourful, intricate and decorative. We know it would be beautiful the shop.

Second, the details – date, opening, what to drink, who to invite (everyone), the actual works of art. We happened to have planned a small renovation in the back of our space a few days before the opening, so there was lots to do – everything was covered in dust, we to paint all the new (and older, scuffed) walls, and then clean everything twice over to get the shop back into shape! It came together in time, but meanwhile Robin took up a corner of the shop to finish a few paintings (in one case, reworking entirely a piece that she wasn’t happy with) and paint our wall. It was amazing to put up her work and talk to people about it when they walked in, and then point them in her direction. Customers were fascinated by her live painting in the shop, and were happy to chitchat and see her work in progress.

Then, the night we’ve worked for – The opening last night was a great success and we’re so thrilled to have been able to bring in friends and fans of her work to see her newest collection. The shop looks amazing covered in Robin’s paintings and drawings – some up to 11 feet long!

We photographed a few of the pieces so you can see them from your home, but they are so worth seeing in person. The build up of layers in each work, of different mediums painted or poured on top of each other makes for a body of work that constantly demands re-examination.

The show is up until April 8th, so come take a look. Schuman is a young painter with great potential, and we are lucky to catch her on an upswing.