Donald Teuma-Castelletti
GRAND CALUMET ISLAND
Nov. 17, 2018
A new resident of Grand Calumet Island decided to host her own welcoming party, as she organized a pop-up art show featuring the work of 10 local creators on Saturday.
Held at the town hall, to Jelly Massee and Friends Art Show featured paintings, sculpture, photography and more, plus live music, as the artists met guests to discuss and show their works.
Having just moved the Grand Calumet Island in July – she was previously a resident of Chapeau – Massee said the choice to organize the show was a unique opportunity and the first time she had ever done so.
“I thought it would be a nice way to introduce myself to the island, people and the art community here,” said Massee.
Starting in August, she floated the idea to friends and the planning soon took off. When Saturday rolled around, she had gathered nine artists from across the Pontiac and Ottawa Valley, filling the main floor of the makeshift art gallery.
Massee showed her acrylics and coloured pencil art, focused mainly on animals and local, historical scenes, and Laurel Gonneau displayed her reworked silverware, transforming old utensils into modern jewellery. One piece stood out because of the year it was first fashioned, as the spoon was first shaped in 1818 in England but was now repurposed into a bold necklace.
Tina Michaud had with her a range of her works, from the favourite floor cloths to some new pieces, incorporating the acrylic pour technique. Finding inspiration in water, this collection held a flow across it, despite changes in colour, tones and shapes.
Rosemary Hynes Driscoll had a table full of delicates, as her blown glass not only lay on it, but rose above the surface. Next to her hung the acrylics and mixed media of Jill Alexander, whose canvasses depicted a wide range of flora.
The metal sculptures of Jack Stekelenburg stood in stark contrast to much of the gallery, as his creations were made up of everyday objects to build an overall figure. A construction worker for 40 years, he found his talent after a trial and error period in 2005, laughing as he recalled his friends referring to his early work as boat anchors.
Sharing the booth was Laura Goodliff, who had a variety of her needlefelt works on display. Focused mainly on the imagery of a barnyard, she explained her craft was pushed forward by working in different textures, like feathers and clay, to defy the traditional understanding of the art.
Katharine Fletcher had a range of objects incorporating her art in several fashions, from the functional like mugs and coasters to the traditional forms, all with the intention of bringing joy. Working within three themes – enchanted, endangered, and horses – Fletcher aims to push a positive message with her designs, no matter the form it comes in.
Next to her, her husband Eric Fletcher showed pieces of his photography, catching many eyes with the use of technology. The pieces that resonated were the photos created within a program called Photosphere, allowing Eric to build a panoramic perspective into a planet all its own.
A handy method for showing how his photos work, and are transformed, was the goggles that Eric brought along. Putting his phone into the lenses, guests wore the headset and were dropped into the image, as if standing where the photographer had stood, and while turning, could see the full 360 degrees that was captured.
All the while, helping to set the tone for the day, Marc Audet played guitar and sang at the front of the room. Playing both originals and many classics, Audet’s music provided the bow on top, rounding out the collection of artists.
Hynes Driscoll said it is much appreciated in the group to have someone like Massee who is willing to stand up and organize such events.
“She’s been very supportive of myself and other artists,” said Hynes Driscoll.
It was a sentiment echoed greatly by the other artists.
“I really admire her work and appreciate her efforts to create a pop-up like this,” said Katharine.
