2008 Home Assignment list, for the youth classes

The 8-12 and 12-18 year old youth classes all have "home assignments" to do throughout the year.

The list is below, but if you're wanting to print it, we strongly advise downloading this PDF, as it saves paper. (This PDF will open in any version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, a free download from Adobe.)

---

The list

1. A collection
2. Appliance
Stove, fridge, dishwasher. A stand-alone freezer counts, but it's pretty boring, just a box and a
handle.
3. Art supplies in a glass
4. Container with objects in it
Jar of pickles, bin of action figures, etc.
5. Crumpled currency
Paper money, mildly crumpled, not so much we can't make out the fact there's a person or scene, plus writing on it.
6. Cutlery
This means the same as silverware; forks, spoons, knifes, sporks.
7. Dishes
Must be in a sink, at sinkside, or in dishwasher.
8. Electronic device
Television, MP3 player, nose hair trimmer; something that either needs to be plugged in, or
has batteries in it.
9. Eyeglasses and hairbrush, next to table lamp
10. Fastners
Buttons/zippers/hooks, on clothing, etc.
11. Your favourite treat
12. Food display
Either actual food in your house, or packages of food at a supermarket, in a “point-of-purchase” display unit.
13. Holiday items
Any cultural or religious holiday.
14. Indoor toys or game
15. Jewelry
16. Mode of travel
Man-made or animal, anything other than your feet.
17. Open drawer
Must be from above, so that we can see into it.
18. Pet in a container
An animal in a cage or carrying container, a fish in a fishbowl or tank, a dog on a dog bed, a cat in a litterbox.
19. Raingear
20. Stuffed animal on a chair
21. Table set for guests
Kitchen table, dining room table, picnic table, deck table, tea party.

You'll find it outdoors

22. Branch of a tree
Cut, or attached.
23. Containers in a recycling box
From above, of course.
24. Garden with gardening tools
Lawn aerators, hoes, hose, shovels, etc.
25. Park
You must show a path of some sort.
26. Playground equipment
Teeter-totters, slides, monkey bars, etc.
27. Scene from a window
Make sure that it's really obvious that we're looking through a window, and not just at a
yard or landscape, or a photo in a frame. It can be any window, though, not just at your home.
28. Sports or recreational equipment
Team sports, solo activities, etc. (Despite the category, it can be indoor sports equipment too,
like squash or ice hockey.)
29. Your house, from the outside

Open-ended

30. Rhyming objects
A bell and a wishing well, a ladder and a bowl of cake batter, a cat and a hat (no Dr. Seuss characters, please.)
31. Same object, twice, the second time changed in some way
The exact same object, some how changed the second time you draw it. (Rotating it doesn't
count.)

Out and About: Peel Heritage Complex

There was a strong turnout for the interesting retrospective of Huibert Sabelis' works at the Art Gallery of Peel. As described by the Peel Heritage Complex's newsletter, "Sabelis' rich visual language draws on his experiences in Indonesia as well as his native Holland and adopted homeland, Canada. This exhibition surveys his work in various media including painting, printmaking and tapestry."

Both the Hugh Van Melle Trio, which provided music throughout the night, and the Balinese dance performance, which was a finale to the speeches by dignitaries, were very entertaining.

Visit Sabelis' website.

This is our first Visual Arts Brampton video blog; it's only 14 seconds long, but it's a glimpse of what's on.


We will have an exhibition catalog available for in-studio viewing; ask Keith or Nick.

Vaughan Juried Exhibition

There's a Vaughan Juried Art Exhibition that we just discovered a pamphlet for. Open to anyone in the GTA, the deadline is March 14, 2008. The exhibit will be at the City Playhouse Theatre Lobby in Thornhill. Art is to be submitted as a JPEG on CD, and there's a $20 entry fee.

The pamphlet says that the City of Vaughan is starting a municipal art collection, and is using the show to scout out purchases.

There is a webpage about the exhibit, but you can also visit the studio to take a look at the pamphlet.

Life Brand Bear ends his run as mascot for Shoppers Drug Mart

We just noticed this last week: the Life Brand Bear is no more.

Why is it relevant to VAB that the Shoppers Drug Mart corporate mascot is gone? The essentially nameless character was designed by member Peter Emslie, way back when.

For the last few years, the Life Brand Bear only appeared as the tablets in the Life Brand Chewable Multivitamins, and on the same product's box. At his height, he was even a helium inflated parade balloon who appeared locally at the Brampton Santa Claus Parade (until they went for their night-time format) and even a time or two in the Calgary Stampede Parade.

When informed of its demise, Peter told us last night that he designed the character when a staff member at Disney's art department. He still illustrates children's picture books for the company. (Elmer the Safety Elephant was created by an animator working for Disney in 1930s, however it wasn't created through Disney itself.)

The new bear on some baby and child targeted Life Brand products is to the right, Peter's is on the left. Peter's survived a few decades, which is longer than many advertising characters.

Also related to Peter, you can now watch videos of him drawing a character, online.

Tonight, at the Peel Heritage Complex

The opening reception for "Huibert Sabelis: A Retrospective" is tonight, from 7 to 9 pm, at the Art Gallery of Peel, part of the Peel Heritage Complex. According to Strata, the member newsletter, "Sabelis' rich visual language draws on his experiences in Indonesia as well as his native Holland and adopted homeland, Canada. This exhibition surveys his work in various media including painting, printmaking and tapestry."

The reception, hosted by assistant curator Judy Daley, will feature a Balinese dance performance and music by the Hugh Van Melle Trio.

Attending the opening are Mr. Bambang C. Gunawan (Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia) Mr. Johan S. Kramer (Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), and
MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo, Elizabeth Witmer (former Deputy Premier of Ontario).

Clarkson @ Artway, in the media

Sunday's issue of The Brampton Guardian featured our current Artway exhibit, on page 5.

Masters of their craft
The Clarkson Society of Artists exhibition at Visual Arts Brampton's Artway Gallery runs until Jan. 25. Specializing in watercolours, several of the group's members, such as Lise Genova, left, Eydie Koopman, centre, and Z'Anna Keele have chosen their favourite paintings for display. Artway Gallery is located in the northwest end of Shoppers World Brampton, 499 Main St., S. Visual Arts Brampton was founded in 1986 and has run this display space since 1998.

Photo by George Beshiri.

The image was also cropped, and placed in the three stories highlighted on the front page. The photo currently (as of January 15th, 2008) appears full-size on the front page of The Brampton Guardian website.

The Mississauga News also photographed the installation that night, but hasn't found space to publish the images yet. Rogers Brampton / Mississauga was to shoot a segment on the exhibit today, but was diverted by the stabbing at Chinguacousy Secondary School, in Bramalea. First Local plans to reschedule the taping.

Artist's work lives on in tribute

I just realized this article slipped by, without me including it on the blog. - N.M.

Artist's work lives on in tribute
The Brampton Guardian
Thursday October 18 2007
TINA DEPKO

BRAMPTON - There are many people who probably never had the chance to meet the wonderful Bridget Doughty, but they have likely seen one of her pieces of art.

Doughty was one of the original members of Visual Arts Brampton. Throughout the past two decades, her works have been included in many of the group's art shows. She was known among fellow artists for her variety of subjects, particularly Brampton landscapes, as well as for her mastery in a number of different artistic media, from pastels to coloured pencil.

Doughty passed away on Jan. 24, 2007 at age 79. A show called Tribute to Bridget Doughty honouring her extensive output is on now at Artway in Shoppers World until Oct. 26.

"The show is a nice cross-section of works showing who she was," explained Keith Moreau, president of VAB. "Everything she did was so beautiful and exquisite."

The show includes more than 30 pieces by the local artist. They were selected from a vast collection that is currently under the care of Frances DeGrace, Doughty's daughter.

"I helped hang the show and it was really emotional when we looked at the finished display," DeGrace said. "She was such a prolific artist. It was so great to see all her pieces on display."

Doughty came into art later in life, but DeGrace said her mother was always artistic.

"She'd make clothes, get together with other women to do lots of crocheting and she would paint birdhouses, which were always the best in the neighbourhood," recalled DeGrace, who was one of six children in the family. "She also helped us with drawing and other art assignments, so we got really good marks in school because of her."

When Doughty finally found time to paint during her later years, the family was not surprised, according to DeGrace.

"It was such a pleasure to see how much happiness she got from painting," DeGrace said. "It was also good for her because it boosted her confidence. She was very humble about her artwork, so when people said they liked it, she was flattered."

Two years ago, in an interview with The Guardian, Doughty recalled receiving an easel, brushes and a set of oil paints in 1979 from her eldest son, Simon.

"I was so happy," she told the paper in 2005. "I started painting and I didn't stop."

The family is planning to donate Doughty's collection to a local gallery to make her artwork available for future generations of art lovers.

For information, contact Visual Arts Brampton at 905-453-9142 or visit www.visualartsbrampton.com.

Rec and Leisure Show on February 2, at Shoppers World

February 2 is the annual Recreation & Leisure Show at Shoppers World. VAB will be there, with demonstrations of some sort, and a colouring table/meet and greet with Millie, the Arts Council mascot.

The show always features activities, March Break programs, and summer camps. Dora the Explorer is doing a meet and greet in Centre Court from 12 noon until 3 pm, and will pose for photos with at least 400 people.

Fridge Front: Golden Opportunity

This Friday, we install "Golden Opportunity" at the Fridge Front Gallery. The show will feature three of the gold medal winners from the 2007 Visual Arts Brampton Youth Achievement Awards. All were (and still are) teen class students.

On display will be Alex Rodway, Makini Calliste-Woolard, and Michelle Alonso.

Studio of Brampton Tour 2008 date set

The Studios of Brampton Tour is scheduled for October 4th and 5th, 2008. That's the weekend before Thanksgiving, which will hopefully increase our numbers compared to last year.

New photo uploads

Santa Claus Parade
View as individual images
View as a slideshow
View on a map
View in Google Earth

2007 Youth Achievement Awards
View as individual images
View as a slideshow

Clarkson Society of Artists show goes in tonight

Tonight is the installation for the Clarkson Society of Artists exhibition at Visual Arts Brampton's Artway Gallery. Specializing in watercolour, thirteen of the group members have chosen their favourite paintings for display until January 25.

The Clarkson Society of Artists is a non-profit organization that runs workshops with professional instructors, on Wednesdays from September through April of every year.

This is Artway Gallery's fourth annual invitational exhibit; previous featured exhibitors include Jack Reid, Stephanie Czolij, and the Halton Woodcarvers Assocation.

Artway Gallery is located in the northwest end of Shoppers World Brampton, at 499 Main Street South. Visual Arts Brampton was founded in 1986, and has run this display space since 1998.

The Star's "What's On: Galleries" section

While our Artway Gallery and Fridge Front Gallery listings have been appearing for a few months now in The Toronto Star, and on thestar.ca, this week's listings are a first to our knowledge.

We're mentioned in the closing shows section—Friday is when 'Tis the Season comes out; our annual invitational show for the Clarkson Guild of Artists is listed in the opening shows section; and W.G. Davis Senior Public School's exhibit at Fridge Front is in the Continuing & Long Run Shows section.