Ontario Association of Art Galleries Tour: Neilson Park Creative Centre
Yet another gallery where the only other people present were the staff.
It was a cute building, more of a community center than a true gallery space. More than half the building were devoted to classrooms.
Neilson was hosting a juried art show when we visited so we were a bit disappointed. I noticed that one of the jurors was Susan Dain who submitted my favourite piece at the juried show at the Art Gallery of Mississauga. I wonder if she makes the rounds at GTA galleries.
Despite being a juried show, pieces tended to be on either end of the ability spectrum. Pieces that stood out were the topographical landscape “Highlands” by Jane Scott Barsanti, “Something Has to Give” by Marie Manger Beamish which had a wonderful control of muted tones, and “Mulmer Barn” by Fred Collins, “Exposed” and “Exposure” by the stylish Eileen Menzel. There were also some true waste-of-paints, the worst of which were “Grass 25″ and “Grass 40″ by Patricia Lynne Harris. It was interesting to me that the worst of the pieces had comparable prices to the best. What is truly being priced here?
There were some pretty winter plants outside.
(1) Environment:
Attractiveness of space: 10/10
Use of space: 7/10
Maintenance of space: 10/10
Element of Surprise: 0/10
(2) Curating
Effectiveness of Display: 10/10
Consistency of Display: 10/10
Attractiveness of Display: 10/10
(3) Exhibition
Effectiveness of Exhibition : 5/10
Average: 7.75/10
March 26th, 3009
Just saw your comments about my watercolour painting – “Highlands” – at the Neilson Park Show.
Since we recently relocated from Sault Ste. Marie to Etobicoke, it is wonderful to receive positive compliments about my work in my new environment.
Thanks Again….
Jane Scott Barsanti
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Jane.
It has been a whole month since I saw your work and I still remember it vividly.
I will actually be going to S.S. Marie this summer to check out some of the galleries in the area as a part of my Ontario Association of Art Galleries tour.
I wish you the best!
Good to hear back from you Rebecca.
If you do make it as far as “the Soo” (Sault Ste. Marie), make sure that you take the time to drive North on Highway 17 for a couple of hours, so you can see the breathtaking scenery of Lake Superior. You will see why the Group of Seven loved to paint in this area.
The Pictographs (about an hour and a half North of the Soo) near Lake Superior Provincial Park are a must see. They are a sacred First Nation site with ancient graphics painted on the cliffs. Awe inspiring.
And, Glenn Gould used to make annual trips to Wawa, which is another hour or so further North.
Congratulations on your blog. You are certainly a dynamic force.
I wish you all that is good…