Delegates from the Nipissing District travelled to Toronto for a three day session discussing funding issues within Ontario and how Artist-Run Centres can better serve their individual areas. This conference was held at Gallery 44, a contemporary photography gallery, and was coordinated by Artist Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO). The Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council participated in a public question and answer period dealing with concerns and the potential for future “rigor” on the part of funded galleries. In addition to representatives from the Nipissing District there were representatives from Sudbury, Hamilton, Windsor, London and Toronto.

ARCCO Conference at Gallery 44 in Toronto - January 19 - 21, 2011

The WKP Kennedy gallery has just finished their strategy planning sessions dealing with plans for the next year of activity. Committee members and stakeholders in the North Bay arts community participated in this two day strategy session discussing the obstacles and challenges that the gallery faces and the creative ways that the community will deal with these issues to make sure North Bay’s public gallery remains a success. Look forward to more outreach activities and volunteer opportunities to come over the next year.

WKP Kennedy Gallery - Strategy Planning Meeting - January 29 - 30, 2011

The Expressions gallery in West Nipissing has held the Annual General Meeting and elected some new board members to join their executive committee. The Expressions gallery discussed plans to collaborate with regional groups and have more workshops and public events than in years past. Plans are also being made for next year’s 10^th anniversary of the gallery’s opening. There will be a big celebration inviting the local and surrounding community the opportunity to come and see why Expressions gallery has grown consistently for the past ten years!

Expressions Gallery - Annual General Meeting - January 27, 2011

NOAA 54th Annual Juried Exhibition

On Saturday September 18, 2010 at the Magnetawan Community Centre, the Northern Ontario Art Association held their 54th Annual Juried Exhibition.  The exhibition was presented by the Burk’s Falls Art & Crafts Club and there were representatives from more than 10 of the fifteen art clubs present. Jurors discussed the process they undertook to an audience of more than 100 artists and arts enthusiasts. Out of the 250 submissions only 40 pieces were selected to make up the art exhibition which will tour Northern Ontario communities over the next year.

Nancy Miller and her accepted work

Beth Jackson and Nancy Miller, members of the North Bay Art Association, were among the 40 artists’ work that made the cut.  Congratulations to all artists that competed.

Todd Tremeer‘s exhibition War Up Close opened on September 11, 2010 at White Water Gallery‘s new location on Main Street. This exhibition includes paintings and small-scale sculptural work exploring war from a safe distance through war games, museum dioramas, and hand built models, however the impact of the work is definitely not small.  Tremeer’s paintings are compelling and complex – the details he includes clearly reflects his knowledge of his subject. War Up Close continues until October 15th, 2010.

Opening reception for Todd Tremeer's War Up Close at White Water Gallery

Jeannie Thib‘s recent screenprints and drawings are currently on exhibition at Ferneyhough Contemporary. The exhibition opened September 11 and runs until September 30th, 2010. Jeannie Thib’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and her work has been exhibited and collected by many prestigious institutions. Jeannis Thib is originally from North Bay.

Assembled Landscapes offers a beautiful merger of old and new, past and present, as Jeannie Thib masterfully blends images borrowed from 19th and 20th century wood block prints with landscape elements drawn from direct observation.

Opening reception for Assembled Landscapes at Ferneyhough Contemporary

Jeannie Thib - Assembled Landscaped - Ferneyhough Contemporary

Swarm Instinct Opening - September 10th, 2010

Swarm Instinct at the WKP Kennedy Gallery, on exhibition now, features the work of Claire Domitric and Sharon Thompson. The exhibition runs September 9 – 28, 2010.

Swarm Instinct - Claire Domitric and Sharon Thompson

In this exhibition Claire Domitric shows her paintings, drawings and prints exploring the beauty and metaphor of bees and insects. Claire Domitric is based in North Bay.

Painting by Claire Domitric

Dermot Wilson introducing the artists Mary Green, Sharon Thompson, and Claire Domitric

Sharon Thompson’s abstract paintings convey the experience of things beyond the visual and physical realm. Her instinctive and compelling line work surfaces through soft veils of colour. Sharon Thompson is based in Kingston, Ontario.

Mary Green - For Want of Water

For Want of Water, featuring the work of Mary Green, is also currently on show at the Kennedy in the front gallery and runs September 10-30, 2010. Mary Green’s paintings and photographs present her deep connection to water. Her brushwork and the colours of her paintings imbue the work with a weighty sense of emotion. Mary Green is from Sudbury, Ontario.

This past weekend August 6th and 7th, 2010,  Mattawa held its first Blues and Arts Festival.  Artists from Mattawa, North Bay and surrounding area exhibited in outdoor tents while the blues bands performed throughout the day and into the evening hours.  The festival was presented by the Mattawa-Bonfield Chamber of Commerce.

Mattawa Blues and Arts Festival - Blues Bands

The Bands:

Sab & The Family Band (North Bay), Paul James (Toronto), Jack de Keyzer (Toronto), Hurtin’ Blues Duo, Johnny V (Calgary), Jerome Godboo (Toronto), Fathead (Toronto)

Mattawa Blues and Arts Festival - Artists' Tents

The Artists:

Alice Lavalle (Mattawa), Aline Coote of Wearable Treasures (Astorville), Amanda Burk (North Bay), Betty Sager (North Bay), Claudette Jesso (North Bay), Clermont Duval (Mattawa), The Consolidated Group of 7′s from King’s Framing and Art Gallery (Corbeil), Melissa Sager of Ariel’s Vision (North Bay), Peter Sloan of Red Eft Jewellery (Corbeil)

Mattawa Blues and Arts Festival - Inside the Artists' Tents

Nipissing Arts Council: Connecting the Arts

As a new organization on scene, the Nipissing Arts Council will be striving to build a strong arts network across our region.  From South Algonquin to Temagami, from West Nipissing to Mattawa, we know that each community in our region has great local creative talent and hardworking arts organizations and associations. We believe that by working to better connect artists, arts organizations and the community, and by opening new lines for communication and partnership, that we can develop a sustainable and thriving arts community filled with opportunities.

Currently, we are a grassroots organization, run by a small-but-mighty board of volunteers. We are in the process of developing an active website, with events calendar and listings, as well as quick links to relevant arts sites. Our hope is that www.nipissingartscouncil.com will become a hub for arts listings and events in our region – a comprehensive and up-to-date resource about what is happening in your local area, as well as in our region.

As we embark on this mission, we are looking to connect with all arts organizations, associations, and groups of all disciplines from across the Nipissing District.  We will be working hard to get in contact with your local arts groups and organizations, but you can help us along in this process by contacting us with your organizations’ information. Feel free to send us links to your website or contact us about your upcoming events.  There is no charge to post listings or to have your arts organization connected to our “quick links”.  For more information contact us at info@nipissingartscouncil.com.

As Chairperson of the Nipissing Arts Council, I am pleased to announce our official arrival and to share with you our goals and mission. We look forward to connecting with you!

Amanda Burk, Chairperson, Nipissing Arts Council