VAB's Carabram photos on Facebook

Check out Visual Arts Brampton's Facebook profile: recently added is a photos folder called Carabram 2009, where we're stockpiling photos of our art display and the the Canada pavilion in general. You don't have to have an account on Facebook to see the pictures, if you do however, considering becoming a "fan" of VAB.

Works on display at Carabram are by Betty Jean Evans, Marguerite Finlayson, Emily Kowalik, Keith Moreau, Jacqueline Riopka, Alex Rodway, with Bridget Aube Doughty.

Paul Draper places second in memorial design competition

A belated congratulations to adult member Paul Draper, who won second place in the Memorial Design Contest on the Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery. The winners of this memorial design contest were announced in April by the Psychiatric Survivor Archives, Toronto (PSAT).

The Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery (Evans Ave & Horner Ave, Etobicoke) is the internment location for 1511 people.

The contest brochure read: "The purpose of this campaign is to create a permanent public marker to remember the people buried here in a dignified and respectful way and to
acknowledge their contributions to our community. It is intended to right a grievous historical wrong in which we as a community say to the people buried here: 'You are forgotten no longer!'."

Read more on the newsgroup misc.activism.progressive

Events on our schedule: Carabram; Street Festival

Visual Arts Brampton will be presenting artwork featuring Canada, coast-to-coast next weekend (July 10, 11, and 12), at Carabram's Canada Pavilion. Named one of the top 50 festivals in Ontario, Carabram has become a summer tradition since starting in 1982. The festival is now 3000 volunteers strong and features 14 pavilions.

The Canadian Autoworkers Union, Local 1285 revived the Canada pavilion in 2007, and continues to host the event.

Canadian food, beer, spirits, activities for all ages, live Canadian bands, and Aboriginal displays and entertainment. Meals will be catered by Liaison Culinary School, and Beavertail pastry will be featured.More info at http://tr.im/carabram

The Annual Communities in Bloom Street Festival is

being held on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 from 6:00 – 9:30 pm in Garden Square at the Rose Theatre. Grown since it was started in 2007, it will again include a live portrait painting session by Visual Arts Brampton artists, as well as booths from various area artists and artisans, selling their creative creations. Live music and entertainment is scheduled.

Félicitations, Francesca!

Our congratulations goes out to teen member Francesca Riopka, who won the graduating class art award at Brampton's École Sainte Jeanne-D'Arc.

Our thanks to her mother, board member Jacqueline Riopka, who sent this photo in.

Dog art on display at Fridge Front

Newly on display at Fridge Front Gallery is a selection of dog drawings created by Visual Arts Brampton's Thursday evening open studio participants, members of its three older youth classes, and Artway exhibitor Devere Wint.

Students created the works over three weeks, and the creations cover the 6 main fridge doors at Fridge Front.

The exhibit will move to Happy Dogs Canine Centre in the coming weeks; Happy Dogs is a new business at 2578 Bovaird Dr W, en route to Norval.

John Bindon featured animal artist at Artway

John Bindon is the featured exhibitor at Artway Gallery this month, for our show Fin, Fur and Feather. Featured on display are various animal art images, with the highlights being a selection of dinosaurs, cows, and aquatic animals. The detailed paintings are created with acrylic, watercolour, and gouache.

Bindon has created works for the Philadelphia Field Museum and The Fernbank Museum, conceptual work for three Discovery Television shows. Bindon made character design contributions to Disney's 2000 film DINOSAUR.

Bindon has created calendar "Teddy Bear Corner" annually since 2001, and "Cow Mooods" annually from 1996-1999, and 2004 on. He has illustrated 18 books, and contributed to two school textbooks, box art for games, and paintings for four shaped puzzles. Clients have included Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Chicago Tribune, Irwin Toy, Gulf Oil, Imperial Oil, Kelloggs, Lucas Film, McDonalds, National Geographic TV, and Universal Studios.

Visit his website for more information.