October 06, 1995 - Glebe Report

ARTS
Songs of Experience at A Source of Art Gallery
Ellen Schowalter, Gwendolyn Best and
Frank Potvin. Photo: John Olson
BY MEREDITH OLSON
An upcoming show of three
Glebe area artists Gwendolyn
Best, Ellen Schowalter and Frank
Potvin promises to be both varied
and artistically stimulating.
The show, entitled Songs of Experience,
takes place October 24 to
November 4 at the Source of Art
Gallery, rear main floor of Fifth
Avenue Court. The opening reception
will be held Saturday, October
28 from noon to 3 p.m.
Gwendolyn Best is known for her
subtly coloured, but lush, oil landscapes.
She teaches art at the
Rudolf Steiner School and her thorough
knowledge of art principles as
well as a certain philosophic gentleness,
are evident in her work.
Another facet of her art is her watercolour
portraits, often drawn
from her imagination, but with
some based on actual sittings.
These portraits truly seem to capture
the personalities of the subjects
-- an enviable quality in a
portraitist!
For this year's show, Gwendolyn
will show new landscapes frum Al-
Weaverworld returns
to the Glebe Oct. 27-29
What Ottawa Valley Weavers
and Spinners Guild - 17th Annual
Exhibition and Sale
Where: The Glebe Community
Centre, 690 Lyon Street
When: Friday October 27, (5pm
to 9pm); Saturday and Sunday, October
28 & 29 (10am - 5pm).
Fashion Shows at 2 pm, Saturday
and Sunday. Admission is free.
It may not be as scary as a Clive
Barker novel, but the Annual Exhibition
and Sale of the Ottawa
Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild
is just as full of wonder. There are
colours and textures that can be
found nowhere else. The tapestries,
rugs, sweaters and afghans on display
and on sale are the result of
some very ancient crafts. Today,
Guild members put their hands to
everything: selecting and dying
fleece, spinning exotic fibers and
weaving anything from silk to angora
to cotton.
The Ottawa Valley Weavers Guild
was formed in 1949, with members
of the Bytown Weavers Guild and a
group of weavers from the Ottawa
Civil Service Recreation Association,
which began in 1943. Over
the years there has been a diverse
membership, from Lady Alexander,
the wife of a Governor General, to
well-known local artisans.
The Guild has always worked hard
to help improve quality and design
in the arts of spinning and weaving.
In the early years there were
classes and field trips to local
October 6, 1995 Glebe Report-20
crafts people. The Guild meets on
mills. More recently the Guild has
sponsored workshops and presentations
by leading artists and
the first Monday of every month at
Devonshire Public School and offers
programs to improve skills and
knowledge and let members share
experiences.
This year's theme is Weaving
Then and Now. As old as these
crafts are, computers are now
adding exciting new dimensions.
Weavers can try new designs and
colour combinations on the computer,
then automatically produce a
"drawdown," which is the blue
print for the final product. Guild
members will show these new
techniques and you can see examples
of computer-aided designs. At
the other end of the time scale, you
will also be able to try an enormous
19th century "barn loom."
Fashion shows of original handwoven
designs created by local artisans
of the Guild will be held at 2
pm on Saturday and Sunday, October
28 and 29.
On Friday, October 27, at 7:30
pm, Ruth K. Mills, Textile Curator
for Parks Canada will present The
Lowly, Lofty Blanke4 a unique look
at our history through blankets,
from buffalo robes to ornate quilts.
There will also be a raffle, with a
selection of hand-woven prizes.
All proceeds go to support children's
programs at the Glebe Community
Centre.
gonquin Park, family camping trips
and local scenes. As well, she has
done meditative watercolours based
on spiritual philosophies of Rudolf
Steiner.
Ellen Schowalter is no stranger to
readers of the Glebe Report. Ex editor,
graphic artist and art reviewer
of the paper are but some of the
many hats this talented artist has
worn.
Another -- more personal
side
to her is her art, which is on display
at the show.
Her art is eclectic -- drawing
from her varied interests in folk
art, collage, assemblage as well as
traditional oil techniques.
Gardens are one of her passions
and in the show Ellen will have new
oils and acrylics of her characteristically
powerful and sensuous
gardenscapes, as well as still lifes.
She also will continue with her on-
Everything old
BY MOLLY SEON
Local women were key in the
creation of a small quilting guild
called Quilt Co., that will host its
first show Saturday and Sunday
October 21 and 22 at the Glebe
Community Centre.
About 20 Quilt Co. members meet
monthly at the Glebe Community
Centre to sew, talk, share ideas and
enhance their quilting experience.
Each approaches the craft just a
bit differently. Some love bold,
modern designs; others recreate
quilts from olden days. Fabrics
may be manufactured, or tea-dyed
by hand, to look worn or faded, so
the final product looks as if it had
just fallen off the back of a settler's
wagon.
At the Quilt Co. sale, members
will display quilts from personal
collections and some will offer
pieces for sale. A craft shop will
sell wall hangings, quilted
clothing, sewing boxes, etc.
A central display will be the
"Tree of Life" quilt which is to be
raffled later this year Tickets can
be purchased for this beautiful
queen size quilt which has taken
Quilt Co. members over a year to
complete.
Totally original in design, the
quilt depicts Canadian themes such
as flying geese, maple leaves, brown
bears and log cabins. Proceeds
from the raffle go to The Therapeutic
Riding Association of Ottawa
Carleton, a non-profit organization
whose goal is to enhance the quality
of life of handicapped and disabled
children through horseback riding.
TROTT will have an information
booth at the event
Hours: Sat. Oct. 21, 10 - 4 PM,
Sun. Oct. 22, 11 - 4 PM.
BUCKLANDS
FINE CLOTHING
722 Bank Street at First Avenue
Quality brand name clothing and accessories
for men and women at affordable prices
Open Fridays until 9 p.m.
238-2020
going assemblage series on famous
artists and their chairs.
Frank Potvin recently retired and
is now able to devote himself to his
passion for painting. He paints
(mainly in oils) on location in all
weather, often in difficult and uncomfortable
settings.
His vivid landscapes mirror his
verve and energy, the love of manipulating
paint and his innate
sense of design and rhythm. Frank
is currently studying with Brodie
Shearer and credits this amazing
older artist and teacher with new
insights and direction in cun-ent
works. Frank will be showing oil
and acrylic paintings set in the Ottawa
Valley, Quebec and the Experimental
Farm and Gardens.
The three artists invite all their
friends, patrons and the Glebe
community to see their new works
and directions.
is new again
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