It's been a while and I've been on quite the adventure, but as things settle and fall back into place I return to my blogging. There is much to celebrate, We begin with a preview viewing opportunity of a traveling exhibition I am part of titled: Animated Delight! This collection will be showing two of my paintings, two collections of actual drawings from my animation 'Twosday' and the film as part of a collection with 3 of my respected peers. Info below.
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PRESS RELEASE
September 16, 2011
Art Exhibit
ANIMATED DELIGHT
Display Dates: SEPTEMBER 25 & 27, 2011
Venue: SKEW GALLERY
Contact: Emily Barnett & Bart Habermiller, 403.244.4445
Address: 1615 10th Avenue SW, Calgary
This travelling art exhibition started with the simple and timely idea of introducing the art of Chris Melnychuk to a wider audience. Melnychuk was a well-rounded artist and animator who did not achieve great recognition or notoriety in his lifetime. The last few years of his career were constrained by persistent throat cancer which eventually took his life in the summer of 2010. It is evident after reviewing Melnychuk’s artistic activities that he had developed a special bond with Quickdraw Animation Society (QAS). Within its production facilities he met and befriended other talented artists interested in making images ‘come to life’.
The concept of Animated Delight gradually evolved from a celebration of Melnychuk’s work to include three additional dynamic animators residing in Calgary. The Alberta Society of Artists is pleased to present some of the artifacts that inform, contribute to and emerge from their animation processes. A collection of short animated films and art works by four accomplished artists connected to Quickdraw Animation Society will be previewed at the
Skew Gallery on Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
The featured artists exploit diverse animation techniques with intriguing and fantastic results.
Leslie Bell manipulates paint, cut-away shapes and hand drawn cels to explore the endless possibilities of an “organic abstract universe”. The animated films, digital prints and paintings on mylar provide evidence of her interconnected working process.
Stefanie Wong uses an unusual method of threading canvas to represent the cyclical growth and decay of plant life. She further employs her textile expertise to animate small scale theatrical sets with unique handmade puppets and objects.
Chris Melnychuk was naturally gifted in drawing and printmaking. Two exceptional prints from his portfolio related to chess pieces in action are included in this exhibition, as well as, many of the original cel drawings for Zap Girl Makes Toast. His friend and colleague
Brian Batista reveals a passion for Eastern mysticism, pop culture and character animation through paintings, cel drawings and his film entitled Twosday.
Animated Delight is a touring exhibition developed by the Alberta Society of Artists, in partnership with Quickdraw Animation Society, for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program. Starting in October, this exhibition will circulate throughout southwestern Alberta for next year. The AFA Travelling Exhibition Program is financially supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Special thanks to Kari McQueen for lending artworks by Chris Melnychuk and Brian Batista for this exhibition.
