Page 93 - The MoMA/ Guggenheim issue of World of Art magazine (2001)
P. 93

REVIEW OF EXHIBITIONS                                                            bY TAMARA PASZTOR



         varied both in nature and media.    was commissioned under ‘The Percent Art’    Also, she has participated in international
           Obviously each commission presents its   scheme (1% of the budgets of all public   shows in Connecticut, United States, and
         own unique challenge. firstly, the budget of   projects in the European Union must be   in the Municipal Art Gallery (Tokyo, Japan).
         any proposed work will decide its size and   spent on works of art and can only be   Here solo exhibitions include fukui Cultural
         very often the material to be used. Once   secured through open competitions) and was   Center and Gallery Saiwai Kawasaki (Japan).
         this is established the location, Mood, and   designed between March and April 2000.    On the side, leavy has arranged for a
         Medium come into play and have vital roles   Eventually, the sculpture was awarded in   group of enthusiastic artists from Japan to
         in the final design of any submission.   September 2000. Killen embarked upon the   visit, paint, and exhibit in Ireland.
           Essentially, I strive to integrate my work   project in mid-October 2000 and finished at
         with its environment and thus generate a   the beginning of february 2001.  RANGE Of VIsION
         feeling of completeness and belonging. It is    Endearing and contemplative, the   GROUP EXHIBITION
         always my intention to create a work that   subject matter is befitting for the Maternity   TATAR ALEXANDER GALLERY
         belongs to its specific environment and   Department. Here, the mother is suckling her   TORONTO, CANADA
         that would look “out                infant whilst three children peep over their   fourteen artists hailing from Canada,
         of place” in another                parent (?) with innocent curiosity.  United States, and the United Kingdom
         location.                             The bold masses, lissome appeal, and   have assembled their works of art at the
           Each commission                   the countenance is suggestive of the bronze   Tatar Alexander Gallery
         passes through                      statue David (Donatello). Note the slight   this month. Each piece
         many stages in its                  curving smile, soft modelling of the bone   is representative of
         development. Having                 structure, almond-shaped eyes, and the   the miscellaneous
         discussed the project               almost distant gaze.                disciplines ranging
         completely with the                   Given Michael Killen’s biography, perhaps,   from painting,
         client I return to the   VIEW Of CAUSEWAY   the notable Donatellian traits are intentional   drawing, printmaking,
                            HOSPITAl
         studio to develop and   MATERNITY DEPARTMENT  in his works of art and then again, it might be   and mixed media
         work on a proposal.   ©PHOTOGRAPH Of   purely coincidental.             installation.
         Usually it is the mood   MICHAEl KIllEN                                  Wyn Bielaska (Untitled   ANETTE lARSSON
         and atmosphere to be                NEw HORIZONs                        #47,Abstract Ship   PlEASURE VISION IV, #1, #2
         created that generate the first ideas. I then   ANNA MARIE LEAVY        Series) began his   1219 MM x 305 MM x 100 MM
         work on these ideas, chopping, changing   kENNYS GALLERY                profession as a    2001
                                                                                                    lAMBDA TRANSPARENCIES,
         and searching for alternatives in order   GALWAY, IRELAND               photographer and   flUORESCENT lIGHTS
         that I can distil a clear and truly expressive   A jovial splash of a rainbow spectrum   architect. Relocating
         concept.                            invigorates the acrylic and watercolour   from Toronto to
           Once the concept is well established I   canvases of Anna Marie leavy.  Vancouver, Wyn
         make my submission to the client and await         Connemara landscape,   primarily concentrated
         a response. It is at this point that a proposal    Wildflowers, and     upon the native
         often requires further development as the          Waterlilies formulate   edifices of his
         client’s reaction to the work can generate         a naturalistic ‘triad’in   surrounding locale
         changes or developments unforeseen at the          which the anima of   (Vancouver, British
         initial stage.                                     creation springs forth   Columbia) rather than
           Over the years I have developed good             with an airy vision.  the natural landscape.   WYN BIElASKA
         working relationships with a number of              Waterliles (leavy) and   Approximately four   UNTITlED #47
                                                                                                    ABSTRACT SHIP SERIES
         highly specialised craftspeople working            Waterliles, The Clouds   years ago, Bielaska   40” x 50”
         in the various media of wood, stone and    WATERlIlES  (Monet) impart an   stumbled upon the   1999
                                                                                                    CHROMOGENIC PRINT
         bronze. These long-standing associations   WATERCOlOUR  Impressionist picture of   colossal hulls of vessels
         have enabled me to draw on their expertise   20” x 28”  Nature. Then again, the   in the dry dock area.
                                                       2001
         when needed. Then, when necessary, I               brushwork and style of   The Abstract Ship Series is a photographic
         subcontract those aspects of a contract            both artists is disparate   sequence of these curious ships. Wyn
         where the expertise of a specialist (such   in comparison. Yet, Anna Marie and Claude   Bielaska gazes past the physical exterior
         as a bronze founder, cabinet-maker, etc.)   have fabricated an autonomous domain   of the objects and delves into the colour
         would be essential to the completion of any   where time is suspended. The surfaces of   and patterns that had been created both by
         commission to the highest standards.   the ponds cover the entire canvas and the   nature and human.
           I am aware at all times of the time   effects of reflected light generate an ethereal   The Ontario Securities Commission,
         constraints very often placed on a   presence.                          labatt’s Breweries, fSA International, frank
         commission and once a contract agreed the   Born in Co.Donegal, Anna Marie leavy   Russell Co., and Microsoft have acquired
         time table of the studio is tailored to the   attended the National College of Art (Dublin)   Wyn’s works of art.
         work and its completion within the specified   and has taught fine Art in Dumfries (Scotland)    Anette larsson (Pleasure Vision IV #1,
         time. It is my custom to request a client to   and Downpatrick (Co.Down).  #2) allegorizes an opposite medium from
         set a reasonable time frame for the work    In the ensuing period of 1971, Anna Marie   Wyn Bielaska; lambda transparencies
         to commence and reach completion. If I   ventured to Mullingan and has acquired   and fluorescent lights. Pleasure Vision
         believe the time allowed for a project is too   a local and national reputation as a   comprises of fragmented, surrealistic self-
         short and restrictive I will inform the client   watercolourist.        portraits. Here, the female body has been
         before any contract is agreed so that a clear    for numerous years, the artist has actively   cropped, enlarged, and turned upside down
         understanding of a reasonable working time   promoted watercolour as a medium by   against blue transparent backgrounds.
         is established. ...                 teaching at the V.E.C. Adult Education   larsson probes into the complex
           Appointed for the Causeway Hospital   Programme. Well-travelled, Anna Marie leavy   relationship of female identity and body.
         Maternity Department (Coleraine, Co.Derry,   has worked abroad with artists in    Sandy Nicholson (Pool #7) portrays
         North Ireland), first Visit [Michael Killen]   England, Canada, and Japan.   collective memories of the Australian

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