After Two Years of Pandemic restrictions I think we can all relate to feeling Bottled. You'll see never before exhibited works in this show. A cross section from the past 25 years. 

It's Going to be Okay
Selections from the Bottled Series by Joanne Thomson
Cedar Hill Recreation Centre
Main Gallery
3220 Cedar Hill Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 3Y3
March 8 - 28, 2022.

Humans of all genders will find themselves represented in the Bottled Series. It is about living with limits and is very apt for the current world situation. Created over a 25-year period the series represents Thomson’s struggles with internalized and external oppressions. Her simple figures tell stories that are both comical and contemplative. Bright colours lure the viewer into the works where they are surprised by delightful and sometimes alarming human interactions.
 
The title of the show is “It’s going to be okay” because it is. It took Thomson 15 years of working with these images to finally get out of the “bottle” and stay out. We will get through this crisis too. It will take time and it will be painful, but it will finally be okay at some point.
 
The show opens on international Women’s Day 2022, which is quite poignant as the first Bottled Women paintings were exhibited on International Women’s Day in 1997.
 
(You can access the gallery whenever the rec centre is open, the lights will come on when you open the gallery doors.) 

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Yes This One.

I'm Out! A Complicated Exit.

Say this Loudly! It's Going to Be OKAY!

Holding Onto Innocence

May As Well Sleep a Bit.

The Shadow Awakens.

July 20, 2018, I have been taking images from the Bottled series to the Oak Bay Market and tomorrow will take them to the AGGV Moss Street Paint In too. Seems there is new interest in the series. 

The Bottled Series goes up at Discovery Coffee in Oak Bay on November 14th until January 2.  It will feature new works as well as some on this page. I'll have the art cards and colouring books there too!  I hope you can drop by for a cuppa and a viewing. 

I Can See You- acrylic and watercolour on canvas- 30 X 40"

Nothing's Going to Stop me Now! - acrylic and watercolour on canvas 30 X 40" SOLD

June 28, 2015,  With the Bottled images being featured in the Gage Show July 14 - August 1, I thought I should put up something about them here.   I had replaced working on this series with working on the Mason Jar series, then I got some requests to show it again.  Several requests, two I accepted and others I am considering.  The show at the Gage Gallery is about silence and breaking silence.  This series began with my refusal to be silent. Refusal to go silently into the distance. Giving voice to feelings and opinions isn't always safe though.  This series allowed me to illustrate my frustrations with the human condition and turn my experiences from feeling into learning and along the way to drop the habit of victimhood and accept my own power.  The series began about 1995 in my sketchbooks, then move to paint in 1996-97.  I am creating a new work for the exhibition.  It will be titled, 'The Most Difficult Birth' and is about birthing my Self. I hope you can come to the exhibition and enjoy these works and Sheryl's wonderful Mimes. j

Good Silent Women is the painting that began the 'Bottled' series of paintings. It was a reaction to the censoring of a figure drawing exhibition and many other forms of oppression in my life twenty years ago. The original is not for sale, but I have a few prints that I'll bring to the gallery.

Bottled Women #2, was the second and came about a year after the first painting. I was living in Victoria then, two teenage children, full time work and very little time to play. circa 1998. By this time there were more drawings for the series, but little time to paint them. The weeping bottle has affected many people deeply. I have a few prints available.

These three little paintings are in the AGGV Small works show this summer. Above "I'll come to you", then "I think I'm ready" and "Dressed for success". All watercolour and ink on paper. two are $110 and the other is $120.

Unbalanced, 7 X 11" watercolour and ink on paper. This is a new work created for the exhibition. Available

Many Faces of Silence provided the title for the exhibition and is the cover of the colouring book/journal that I published in 2012. Available

I have to Leave, is a small work that has power. When we go forward it is often necessary to leave others behind. They can get out too if they want, or they can remain where they are. Me, I have to move forward. Available

Many Ways Out (sold) is a summary piece for the Bottled Series. It is about learning to move forward. You can Read about it, think about it, look and see what others are doing, Look helpless and wait to be rescued or go naked into your future. I chose the last.

Workplace Bully was one of the most difficult piece to paint. This describes my last 'real' workplace. The bully is pushing me and a colleague back into our bottles. Others stand by watching and taking no action. Often the way with bullies. This painting provided me a voice that resonated much more loudly than the one made of sound. Available