A vernissage for a summer art collection took place at Café 349 in Shawville on Saturday afternoon.
Nine artists from around the Ottawa Valley region took part, submitting works based on the theme “Summer Breezes”, which has been on display since July 6. The description on the gallery’s website notes that “the exhibition captures the essence of summer through sun-drenched cottages, shimmering lakes, flourishing landscapes, and the region’s remarkable wildlife.”
The artworks ranged from paintings and photography to printmaking and collages.
Artist and organizer Cheryl Beillard, who manages the Gallery 349, said that they decided to extend the show longer than typical.
“This year we’ve extended it for two months rather than a monthly show,” she said. “Generally our shows here are one month long, but it’s the height of the season so we like more artists to have more opportunity to display their work in the summer. “
Katharine Fletcher, one of the featured artists, said that her pieces were two collages using memorabilia of her late mother, such as scraps of her old letters, as well as a print on paper.
“It’s complicated, you always have to think backwards when you’re doing a print,” she said. “I love doing them. The other aspect of the collage work done this way, the printmaking you never quite know how it’s going to turn out, and I really like that. I really love the spontaneity.”
She explained that she was experimenting with eco-dyeing, which she uses to make botanical prints by boiling the material in a cauldron with plant material like onion skins and avocado pits.
“Summer Breezes” will be on display at the Café until Aug. 29.
