HAS Spring Ahead Art Show

Spring is finally here in Muskoka after a very late start.  The ice went out this week and we awaken to birdsong and hear the sounds of peepers at night. 

The Huntsville Art Society celebrated the season with their "Spring Ahead" Art Show and featured a selection of the fine art of local artists and artisans.

Brian Markham with Maple Burl Sculpture

Brian was thrilled to win the People's Choice "Best in Show" award for his maple burl sculpture "Shield Awakening" in the foreground.

Brian was also presented the Award of Excellence for Best in Woodworking for his Redwood Burl platter.

 

Brian Markham with Redwood Burl Platter

The Huntsville Art Society is an exciting and active club with over 100 enthusiastic members who share their artistic skills and knowledge in a rewarding fellowship. HAS artists work in all types of media. This dynamic group is comprised of a full range of skills; from creative individuals who are just beginning, to full-time professionals.  The efforts of the Huntsville Art Society creates opportunities and events to promote the growth of the arts in our community.

www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca

 

Huntsville Art Society Exhibition

 

The Huntsville Art Society is showcasing the work of their artists at an exciting Member's Exhibition at the Canada Summit Centre from October 17, 2012 to January 14, 2013.  This collection of art demonstrates the talent of the diverse and dynamic group of Huntsville artists and highlights a variety of artwork in painting, glass, textile, pottery, and wood.

Bigleaf Maple Burl Bowl

Brian is proud to be included in this juried event with his submission of a bigleaf maple burl bowl. Bigleaf maple is found on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia and is prized for its detailed figuring and bark inclusions.  This unique bowl has a natural live bark edge and a lustrous food-safe finish.  For more information about the exhibit, go to

www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca

Continuous Present at The Art Space

HUNTSVILLE ART SOCIETY

CONTINUOUS PRESENT – Inspired by Gertrude Stein

"Continuous Present" is a dimension where each frame of memory is layered onto the present, making every experience unique and extended into space and time.

A burl is the tree's continuous present, the natural destuction of the linear model, chaotic and out of control.



"Continuous Chaos"
Yellow Birch Burl Bowl





Brian has entered this yellow birch burl bowl in The Art Space show from September 2nd to October 2nd.  For more information about the show:

http://www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca/continuous-present.html

"Out of the Woods"

The Artists of the Limberlost are celebrating their 5th anniversary but this is the first time that they have staged an art show together.  Each August they open their studios to the public, showcasing their work individually, so this is a special exhibition.

Brian usually creates his art on his lathe but an especially beautiful bark-edged slab of black walnut inspired him to make this coffee table. 

The resulting "Out of the Woods" show is an eclectic mix of exceptional art:  Jerry Friedman's driftwood sculpture, Susan Higgins' fused and stained glass, Mark Kulas' stylized wildlife and wilderness paintings, Catherine O'Mara's egg tempura paintings, Brenda Wainman Goulet's bronze sculpture, Sharon Stock Feren's mixed media of photograpy, painting and mosaics, Jeff Miller's acrylic and oil paintings and of course Brian's woodturned bowls and platters.

The show opens at The Art Space Gallery on Friday, May 6th with a reception from 5 pm to 8 pm and continues until May 28th. For more information about the "Out of the Woods" show and the Artists of the Limberlost see:

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.huntsvilleartsociety.com

The Artists of the Limberlost Celebrate 5 Years

Please join us for the opening of the "Out of the Woods" art show on Friday, May 6, 5 to 8 pm at The Art Space or drop in May 6 though May 29. 

Five years ago Brian and I were making the final plans to move full-time to our cottage on Rebecca Lake when we got a call from Catherine O'Mara.  She had heard that Brian was a woodturner and invited him to join a few artists in the Limberlost area who were planning to develop a studio tour.  It has been an honour to be part of such a talented group of artists and a pleasure to welcome people into our studio.

HAS Heart Exhibition: A Broken Heart

Brian is proud that his yellow birch burl was chosen to be part of the Huntsville Art Society "Heart" exhibition, which explores through various media "heartfelt, heartbreaking and heart warming discoveries".  The show runs through February Heart Month with the opening night on Friday, February 4th from 6 pm to 8 pm at The Art Space Gallery.

A Broken Heart: Yellow Birch Burl by Brian Markham

"Just before Christmas I attended a funeral for a young man who died tragically in a fire.  I saw the family and community express profound sorrow with dignity and courage.  This heart-shaped yellow birch burl, with its flaws and imperfections, epitomizes the fragile strength and beauty of a broken heart."

For more information about the show www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca

Juried Art Show Prize

Huntsville is a town blessed with many talented artists and a vibrant community which showcases and promotes the Arts.  Brian submitted this Elm Burl bowl, entitled "Last of a Species" to the Celebrate the Art Space juried art show and was accepted into the exhibit (September 3 to October 31).

We went to the The Art Space Gallery opening and were thrilled to be honoured with third prize.  Most of the other entrants were painters so it was wonderful to have the three-dimensional art of a wood turner recognized.

This bowl is a very special piece and one that we are keeping for our own home.  It was part of an enormous elm burl removed from a dead tree in the Halifax town square.  Brian was asked if he wanted the burl and he bought the whole thing.  Elms are a dying species because of Dutch Elm Disease and new trees only grow to a small diameter before they die.  Brian's wood supplier said that he had never seen such a large elm burl and it is unlikely that there will be any more in the future.  We have 3 bowls remaining for sale from the burl.

Most of us grew up loving the stately elms which graced our neighbourhoods.  It was a sad day in my childhood when all the diseased elms (including the one with my swing) were cut down on our farm.  This tree will live on forever in the bowls and platters that Brian has created.

http://www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca/