July 2015 Newsletter

July 2015 Joanne Thomson’s Newsletter
 
Wow Canada Day Celebrations and Gorge-on-art were great this year! I didn't take a single photo, which is a good sign that I wasn't bored! I don't think there is a more family friendly event in the city. Kids and laughter all around me, red t-shirts everywhere and great conversations (and not all of them about the weather). Make sure you put it on your calendar for next year and bring your swimsuit. The water is rated the cleanest of any city park now. After loading up my car I was so hot I walked right into the water for a lovely swim!
 
It is just one week until the opening of “Many Faces of Silence” exhibition at the Gage Gallery​.  Sheryl Fisher and I are showing in the main gallery and I will feature my 'Bottled" series. Sheryl's works are the wonderful mimes.  Here is a link to the invitation. (I checked and you can drag them to your desktop) Feel free to send them to all your friends and relations:-). There will be a reception on the 17th and guest speakers and performers on the 25th.  The show runs July 14 - August 1! It has been very interesting creating new works for this series; the first new works in a couple of years. The images come from meditations and these ones show me my progress in becoming more confident about being me.
 
EXHIBITIONS:
July 14 – August 1st.  Opening reception on July 17th7 pm.
Many Faces of Silence at the Gage Gallery is at 2031 Oak Bay Avenue, near Foul Bay, and is open Tuesday to Saturday 11 – 5.
 
July 10 – August 11. Small Works Show at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria accepted three of my works from the “Bottled” series.  Seems they are already making noise out there! http://aggv.ca/events/summer-small-works-show-sale
 
Sooke Fine Arts rejected my work this year…. Sigh…. And it was a beautiful piece too.  I’ll bring it to the paint-in so you can see it.
 
SPECIAL EVENTS:
 
July 18th Saturday Moss Street Paint-In.  I’ll be between Oxford and May Streets.  It looks like I’ll have great neighbours too!  The paint-in runs from 11 am until 4 pm. Hope to see you. With 160 artists this year, I don’t expect any long conversations!  I’ll be bringing some of the bottled women to promote the show at the Gage that opens the Friday night and some from the Mason Jar series too, to promote my December- January exhibition. The new mason jar art cards have been printed and packaged and will be available.  
 
July 25th 2-5 pm Breaking Silence at the Gage Gallery 2031 Oak Bay Avenue. Sheryl and I have invited guest speakers from She Recovers and The Umbrella Society and a performing artist Olive Jean Love who will present new works about recovery.  I’ll give an artist talk about the ‘Bottled’ series and it’s evolution.  Come and go as you please for the afternoon. Things will be happening.
 
COMMUNITY PROJECT:
George Jay Mural. The mural is completed and in storage for the summer. It will  installed on the Cook Street Side of George Jay School once the seismic upgrades are completed. I’ll let you know when it is up and invite you if there is a public celebration too. 

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:
 
September 30 – October 3 Francis King Park Artist in Residence Exhibition at Saanich Municipal Hall.  I have the display wall just left of the main entrance for the month of October and will feature works created during the Spring residency. Expect bones and forest and birds and moss…
 
November 6 – 25, In Cahoots (Synergy) Exhibitionat the Slide Room Gallery Vancouver Island School of Art on Quadra Street. This promises to be a great exhibition curated and organized by Efren Quiroz of Exhibit V fame. There are about 30 invited artist groups creating things together. I am collaborating with April Caverhill and Dale Roberts (aka Dame Mailarta) to create a wonderful eclectic interactive book about identity.
 
December 29, 2015 – January 16, 2016 Mason Jars at the Gage. Will be my first solo exhibition at the Gage Gallery.  The exhibition will be the first public showing of my Mason Jar series and I am happy to announce that I have painted two new works for the series this week and am now at 106 completed!  Mark your calendars to join me on New Years Eve for the opening and then on January 9th for a free ‘making more art’ event.
 
CLASSES and WORKSHOPS:
 
October 2-4 Art and Yoga Weekend: Focus on Self
With me Joanne Thomson and yoga instructor Robin Cantor
This great workshop will help you move into the autumn balanced and focused. Iyengar Yoga will help to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. Art making will invite you to explore what you look like in non-photographic ways from the inside and the outside! Be prepared to play with self-portrait, gesture drawing, mandala work and more. Beginners welcome. All materials supplied.
Friday evening 7-9 pm orientation to movement and mark making
Saturday- yoga, art then a wonderful gluten free lunch, then more art and yoga.  8:30 - 6.
Sunday starts with more yoga and a wonderful raw food lunch followed by an afternoon of art exploration.  10:00 - 5.  $235.00 (limited to 8 participants).
 
September – December 2015 classes in my home studio: Priority registration for continuing students is open.  There will be some space in the Wednesday afternoon class as some of those students are travelling or moving to another teacher.
 
Wednesday morning: September 23 – December 12, 2015, 12 weeks – NO class on November 11,  0930 – 1230.  Fee $300.00 (includes GST)
 
Wednesday afternoon: September 23 – December 12, 2015, 12 weeks – NO class on November 11,  2 pm – 5 pm.  Fee $300.00 (includes GST)
 
NEW FOR FALL- since some of you have asked for an evening class, this is what I have found I can schedule. Let me know if it suits you.  When I have enough interest I’ll ask for money!  Until then, expressions of interest are appreciated.
A MONTH OF FRIDAYS: Beginners watercolour classes 7-9:30 pm.  All materials provided. $135.00  November 6, 13, 20 and 27.  7 – 9:30 pm at my studio.
 
(I’ll be offering beginners watercolour through UVic Continuing Studies in the Fall as well as some one day courses.  More details in August. )
 
As always email me if you want more information about any of the above. [email protected]