1812 event at Shoppers World Brampton, March 31

Visual Arts Brampton youth students and select adult artists will be drawing from War of 1812 reenactors. Adult member artists from the group are also invited to come and create.

The event will be at Shoppers World Brampton, in Centre Court, on March 31 from 1 to 5 pm. (Appropriately, Centre Court is also home to Laura Secord.)

The  reenactors at the event are being organized by Richard Feltoe, the curator and corporate archivist for Redpath Sugar Limited and is active as a living history reenactor, re-creating the life of a Canadian militia soldier from the War of 1812. His latest book, Redcoated Ploughboys: The Volunteer Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, 1813-1815, will be released in March.

VAB at Sunday's Brampton Battalion game; 5-3 win

Carrick scored the fourth goal of the night,

in the end Visual Arts Brampton was seated at.

It was an action-packed game, yesterday, at the Powerade Centre, as the Battalion ended a loosing streak. The audience of 1,623 included 20 Visual Arts Brampton members and family members, admitted free through the CN Community Ticket program.

Brampton goals were by Philip Lane, Brandon Robinson, Patrik Machac, with two goal by Sam Carric. In all, it was a 5 to 3 victory as Stan Butler returned to the bench.

For more on the game, hop over to the Battalion website's article "Battalion victorious in Butler's return".

Many thanks to the Brampton Battalion for hosting our group again, it was a fun Sunday afternoon!

VAB at Art in the Atrium, March

The wide range of styles, mediums, and subject matter loved by Visual Arts Brampton's membership will be featured at City Hall Brampton this March. In addition to our floral art show, which visits the space in June, this show will feature one artwork per participating member.

Visual Arts Brampton's 26th anniversary will be in April; the "modern US" traditional gift for a 26th anniversary, according to the Chicago Public Library? Original pictures. Appropriate? We think so.

Brampton's City Hall is open weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

VAB's show will be installed Thursday, March 1 at 2:15 pm, and run for the month. Additional details, like end date and exhibitors, will be announced as we get closer to the show date.

VAB recognized for Credit Valley art

VAB President Keith Moreau was just notified that he has won a Friends of the Credit Conservation Award on behalf of Visual Arts Brampton, to be presented in Mississauga in March. The award is presented by the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.

Many of Keith's youth students participated in a project in 2010, to create artwork themed to the flora and fauna of the Credit Valley. Artwork was used on signage, now permanently on display at the CVCA's floating island project. The Globe and Mail published an article about the floating island project, back in September; it provides a good overview of how the "islands" treat a storm-water pond.

To visit the floating islands, see the youth artwork, and read on-site explaination of how the islands work, drive to the parking lot of Fletchers Meadow Secondary School/Parkholme School (10750 Chinguacousy Rd), and take a walk across Botavia Downs Drive to Botavia Downs Pond.

DeSerres Vaughan Mills closed; Peterborough location scheduled

It's just become a bit harder to get artist supplies, if you live in Brampton.

It seems that DeSerres at Vaughan Mills has closed, very quietly. A quick Google, filter to results in the last month, finds no reference to the store's wrap-up on any blogs or forums. A sign in the window indicates January 15 was their final day, and that a Peterborough location will be opened.

DeSerres does still have a location on the Mississauga/Oakville border, and some in Toronto. Curry's has a location on the Mississauga/Etobicoke border, on the Queensway. The only place within the borders of Brampton or Mississauga to get art supplies? Michael's.

An OshKosh store is replacing DeSerres, by gosh.

Teen class at capacity; capped for 2012

As of today, the teen youth class is at full capacity; we've capped the class.

For those wanting arts education for a teen, there is a Thursday evening open studio session, 7 to 9 pm. It's pay-as-you-go, drop-ins, for $7 a session.

Special Arrangements show on at Artway

Our annual Special Arrangements show is now on at Artway Gallery. On exhibit are Andrea McLeod, Betty Jean Evans, Paul Draper, Keith Moreau, and the late Bridget Aubé.

The show runs until Friday 24 February 2012, at Artway Gallery in Shoppers World Brampton, near Winners.

Continuing at Artway Invitational Gallery, near Zellers, is Young Gold. Every year, the Youth Achievement Awards acknowledge the accomplishments of Visual Arts Brampton's youth session students. The best receive Gold medallions, and they are on display at Artway Invitational Gallery. Five of the six teen students who won gold at the Youth Achievement Awards are participating: Lucy, Francesca, Victoria, Tasha, and Nicole.