Bridget's plaque finally placed

A tree in a nearby park now stands in tribute of long-time member Bridget Doughty.

Visual Arts Brampton coordinated fundraising for the cause, after her January passing. Though partially covered in snow, the plaque has been planted in Joyce Archdekin Park. Start at the Brampton Mall (Main and Nanwood), and head under the bridge to the park. Head along the path, until you reach a bridge—the plaque is at the base of a tree just south of the bridge.

We'll try and get pictures as soon as possible.

Mary Noble happy with sales at Art Fair

The Brampton Art Fair, held last Saturday, was a moderate success. VAB member Mary Noble reported making multiple sales at the Rose Theatre-located event.

The event was stung publicity-wise, after hundreds of signs promoting the event were taken down off utility poles around the city; the organizers had not sought permission, and were violating by-laws in promoting the event, ironically at a city-owned facility.

6:20 pm is the youth awards deadline

All entries towards the youth achievement awards must be in by 6:20 pm today, at the studio, no later. The Visual Arts Brampton Board of Directors will be judging at 6:30 pm.

Youth classes continue as normal every Saturday until Saturday, December 22nd, on which day there is an award ceremony at 11:00 am for all entrants of all classes. We're fairly sure as of current that the ceremony will be at the studio; there are so far 32 entrants.

New bookings for Fridge Front

November 30th to December 14th, 2007
Northwood Public School
Northwood's grade 3 class will display their project "What I like about urban and what I like about rural".

December 14th, 2007 to January 11, 2008
William Grenville Davis Senior Public School
The grade 7 class at W. G. Davis is studying colour, and will displaying their colour wheels and original pop can designs.

March 22nd to April 5th, 2008
Mayfield School of the Arts

Roughly April 6th to 19th, 2008
Roberta Bondar Public School

Beginner's watercolour workshop at VAB Studio

As published on TheBramptonNews.com

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Beginner's watercolour workshop at VAB Studio

Professional artist Mary Noble will be teaching a beginner's watercolour workshop at the Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios early next year. The class will run every Thursday for eight weeks, from January 17 to February 21, from 12:30 to 3:00 pm.

Weekly, students will discover how to paint still lifes and landscapes. They will find a greater awareness and understanding of colour and colour theory, while they learn valuable painting techniques like washes.

Whether students have taken art workshops in the past, or this is their first time, they'll benefit for Mary's expertise and enthusiasm.

The class will be capped at seven people, guaranteeing that you'll have plenty of personal attention with Mary. Students should book early to avoid disappointment.

Mary Noble has a Bachelor of the Arts in Art History from University of Toronto, and studied Illustration at Sheridan College. Along with being one of Visual Arts Brampton's most requested instructors, Mary has taught for the Peel Board of Education's evening courses, Brampton Parks and Recreation, and privately.

The eight-week workshop costs $80.

For more information on Visual Arts Brampton, visit www.visualartsbrampton.com, or phone 905-453-9142.

Meet Millie the Artbug at Sunday indoor parade

This press release was on NorthPeel.com (the Brampton Guardian website)

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Meet Millie the Artbug at Sunday indoor parade


November 16 - This weekend, kids of all ages can come to the Christmas Parade at Shoppers World Brampton, to meet Millie the Artbug, Visual Arts Brampton's mascot.

The event heralds the arrival of Santa Claus, who will be appearing regularly in the mall until Christmas.

Millie, along with hundreds of other marchers, will be parading around Shoppers World mall on Sunday, November 18, starting at 11:00 am. During the parade, Millie's helpers will be handing out free Santa door hangers and Cinnabon coupons, courtesy of the mall.

Millie will be hanging around the Winners Court near customer service before the event, waving around during the parade, and meeting children around the mall after the circuit. Millie was originally the City of Brampton millennium mascot in 2000; she has glowing fibre-optic hair.

Angelina Ballerina will also be meeting children, who will be visiting the mall in the Staples Court, near the Habitat for Humanity Dream Playhouses.

For more information on Visual Arts Brampton, visit http://www.visualartsbrampton.com, or phone 905-453-9142.

Visual Arts Brampton is the community's longest serving non-profit art group, founded in 1986. The group offers programming for adults, six days a week, and youth on Saturdays at its 2000 square foot studio, various workshops, and three art exhibition areas in Shoppers World mall.

Banner competition won by three VAB members

Shoppers World Looking Up to the Arts event featured a banner competition this year. Entered by many members of the group, it turned out that the three winners were all members, two youth, one adult.

• Jude Hakim, first place
• Samantha Croteau, second place
• Debra Ali, third place

Their work is now being displayed at the Rose Theatre for a few weeks.

VAB members that also entered included Maria Dlubak, Marguerite Finlayson, Katie Medjidova, Keith Moreau, Nicholas Moreau, Mary Noble, Marian Simpson, and the youth class as two multi-person banners. Keith's wife Janice also created a banner.

In total, 45 banners were entered by professional and amateur artists throughout the community.

VAB participates in Shoppers World Looking Up to the Arts

Visual Arts Brampton was one of many participating in Shoppers World's second Looking Up to the Arts event, which featured arts groups, artists, musicians, and authors all around the mall. Visual Arts Brampton's booth featured the portrait bunch on Friday, drawing from a model dressed in Victorian era clothing.

On Saturday afternoon, Joud (Jude) Hakim, Alex Rodway, and Kurt Refling all drew in pencil at the group's booth.

Studio improvements

More improvements to the Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios...

• About a month ago, Keith repainted the stairs to the studio, in two muted shades of green cement paint.
  
• Student volunteers have been repainting the trim work and ramp railing in the same shade of green. They will soon be painting the bottom half of the stairway wall the same colour.
• Also about a month ago, VAB acquired four three-shelf tall bookshelves. We've begun to transfer books from the still life storage room, onto these newer shelves, for easier access to our large arts instruction collection.
  

Mary Noble @ Brampton Art Fair, Nov. 24

Visual Arts Brampton members Mary Noble and Aditi Swaminathan are to sell their works at the first ever Brampton Art Fair.

The fair is to happen Saturday, November 24th, from 9 am to 3 pm, at the Rose Theatre in the downtown. The event showcases artists, artisans, musicians, performers, and crafters.