The walls of the Stone School Gallery in Portage-du-Fort were filled with expressions of love on Friday evening for the opening of artPontiac’s new exhibit, The Spectrum of Love.
Artists from the Pontiac and beyond had works on display that responded to the local arts organization’s call for pieces that somehow offered insight into the many ways love can shape or move through a life.
The resulting collection included pieces of all types of media, including sculpture, string art, oil paintings, pastel drawings and much more.
“In our exhibition, we’re looking for a lot of different art forms, because love comes in every art form,” said artPontiac president Keri-Anne Chyzewsky.
“February is a month when a lot of people suffer from depression. Thinking about love in all its different forms drew people in, for a moment or an evening, out of a possibility of depression or missing somebody. And here we are, a room full of people, and they’re feeling the love.”
ArtPontiac awarded three prizes to recognize pieces that reflected the theme particularly well and showcased a high skill level.
First place went to Ontario artist Kaija Savinainen for her oil painting titled Calling, which captures a reflection of two sandhill cranes in the water.
Savinainen, originally from Finland, immigrated to Canada many years ago, before she spoke any English. She turned to drawing and sports as avenues for expressing herself and connecting with others.
She said the image of the cranes came to her one day when she was out walking her dogs, something she did a lot when a cancer diagnosis forced her to step away from competitive running and cross country skiing. On one of her walks, she saw sandhill cranes flying overhead reflected in a creek below.
“I thought, ‘I’ve got to paint those,’” she said. “So they’re kind of spirit animals, I suppose.”
Second place went to Shawville artist Erin St-Aubin for a textile piece called Love That Has No End, which uses layers of string to depict several interwoven hands.
This was St-Aubin’s first time entering her work in an exhibit. She usually sells it at craft markets.
“Its reassuring that I’m actually doing something nice. Because I don’t see myself as an artist, but now [ . . . ] maybe I am,” she said.
Third place went to Bristol artist and artPontiac board member Marie-Catherine Smith for her water colour painting called Love, Interrupted, which depicts a group of curious cows staring back at the viewer after their picnic is interrupted.
The two honourable mentions went to a piece submitted by Marie-Catherine Smith and another by Keri-Anne Chyzewsky.
The exhibit will be up until April 21.
