News

Brock students team with NY photographer

Monday, November 21, 2016 | By Brock University
(Source: St. Catharines Standard, Monday, November 21, 2016 | by John Law. Photo caption: An image from photographer Liz Sales’ series The Weather Inside. CREDIT: Liz Sales / Submitted)

New York photographer Liz Sales will team with Brock University Visual Arts students for a camera project opening Nov. 22.

In Light and Darkness will spotlight the results of a ‘camera obscura’ collaboration on the grounds of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines.

Prior to an opening reception Nov. 24, Sales will host an artist’s talk at 6 p.m. in the school’s Foundation Studio (MW 151).

“(Liz) has a knowledge base that’s quite extensive,” says Department of Visual Arts assistant professor Amy Friend. “And she’s quite adventurous. She doesn’t have a traditional set of what is expected, and I thought that would be really useful for the students.”

Sales currently teaches at the International Center of Photography. Her work focuses on the relationship between perception and technology, and is seen in several photo-based magazines.

Friend was already familiar with Sales’ work when the photographer contacted her two years ago for a magazine interview. She knew her unpredictable style and methods were ideal for Brock’s visual arts students.

“She’s definitely an experimenter, which was really important to bringing her to work with the students. She has a background in motion picture cameras, and also builds her own cameras by hand to shoot her photographs.”

In addition to student work, the show will feature selections from Sales’ camera obscura series The Weather Inside.

Camera obscura is the optical result of an image projected through a small hole, seen as reversed and inverted.

Friend says the students built a ten-by-ten foot tent with blackout material as an exterior darkroom for the project. It’s located directly in front of the Marilyn I. Walker school.

“There’s quirks whenever you’re building something new in a different place, so it teaches them not only about the construction and function of the camera, but also the learning that happens along the way for everyone.”

jlaw@postmedia.com
- WHO: Liz Sales and Brock Visual Arts Students
- WHAT: In Light and Darkness
- WHEN: Nov. 22 to Dec. 9
- WHERE: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts; 15 Artists’ Common; St. Catharines
Tags: Amy Friend, camera obscura, Camera Obscura Project, In Light and Darkness, John Law, Liz Sales, St. Catharines Standard, The Weather Inside, walker cultural leader series
Categories: In the Media, News
Camera Obscura Project hits Marilyn I. Walker School – In Light and Darkness on display Nov. 22-Dec. 9

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 | By Brock University

(Source: Niagara This Week, Wednesday, November 16, 2016)

ST. CATHARINES — What happens when Brock University visual arts students work alongside a celebrated New York photographer? A special collaborative gallery show.

In Light and Darkness: A Camera Obscura Project will hang at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts’ art gallery from Nov. 22 to Dec. 9, featuring the work of Brock’s visual arts students along with photos from Liz Sales’ camera obscura series The Weather Inside. Camera Obscura, sometimes referred to as a pinhole image, is a natural optical phenomenon that occurs when light from an external scene passes through a device – usually a box – and strikes a surface inside, reproducing the scene inverted and reverse while preserving the colour and perspective.

As part of the Walker Cultural Leader Series, students from Brock participated in a workshop with Sales, a New York artist from the International Centre for Photography. The students worked with Sales to construct a camera obscura for the production of their work on the grounds of the downtown performing arts school. The work being displayed as part of the series is the students’ response to those workshops. An artist talk is taking place Nov. 24 from 6-7 p.m. in Foundation Studio at the school, with the opening reception to follow from 7-9 p.m. The art gallery is located at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at 15 Artists’ Common. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 1-5 p.m.

Tags: camera obscura, Camera Obscura Project, Exhibition, In Light and Darkness, Liz Sales, Niagara This Week, The Weather, walker cultural leader series
Categories: In the Media, News
Visa Photography Instructor Amy Friend mounts exhibition.

Tuesday, November 01, 2016 | By Brock University

Photography Professor Amy Friend presents Eternal Light at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre in Toronto.

November 2 – 30, 2016
The Gallery at the J
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Ave. (at Bloor), Toronto Ontario

In Jewish tradition the death of a loved one is commemorated by lighting a yahrzeit candle, often with a prayer beginning with a passage from Proverbs, “. . . the lamp of the Eternal is the soul of humanity . . .” For most Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and so many who died before, there is no surviving family to observe this ritual. It therefore falls to future generations. For a visual interpretation of the theme Future of Memory, Neuberger HEW commissioned artist Amy Friend. Exploring the notion of light, Friend used archival photographs of European Jewry before the Shoah from UJA Federation’s Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre. She carefully perforated each reproduced photo and shined light though the small openings, bringing new light into the image and recreating it as a unique work of art; a poignant and eternal tribute to life, love, and loss.

Amy Friend is a Canadian Artist and Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Brock University. Friend has exhibited nationally and internationally, exploring issues related to history, memory, personal archives and phenomenology. She works with the medium of photography pushing its anticipated boundaries through installation and material experimentation. Recent exhibitions include Assorted Boxes of Ordinary Life (Rodman Hall, Canada), Heaven on Earth at the DongGang Museum of Photography (South Korea) and at the GetxoPhoto Festival (Spain). She has been selected as a top 50 photographer by Critical Mass International Photography Competition for three years running. Amy Friend is represented by C3 Arts.

Exhibit Curated by Mira Goldfarb. Generously co-sponsored by Sally & Mark Zigler in honour of their parents, Fanny & Bernard Dov Laufer and Etty & Salo Zigler.

Tags: Amy Friend, Eternal Light, Future of Memory, Jewish, Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, Photography, Toronto
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, News
Presence: Large Drawings by Lorène Bourgeois

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 | By Brock University

(Source: The Brock Press, October 25, 2016 | by Shannon Parr)

Lorène Bourgeois’ “Forteresse” (2012) / Peter Legris

Brock’s own Visual Arts Instructor, Lorène Bourgeois, is exhibiting a collection of her work with large drawings at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. Some of her most recent highly detailed drawings are mounted directly on the wall and are described by MIWSFPA as “large-scale representations of humans, animals, clothing and nakedness”.

Although born in France, Bourgeois has trained in the arts in Paris, Philadelphia and Halifax, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Bourgeois’ work has been exhibited in Canada, France, Korea, Russia and the United States, and her work is currently held in a multitude of centres for art which include: the Canada Council Art Bank, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Bank of Canada, the Richmond Hill Public Library, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Ernst and Young, Senvest, Hart House and the Donovan Collection. Currently, she lives and works in Toronto, as well as teaches in Brock’s Department of Visual Arts.

In a statement made on her website in regards to her recent drawings, Bourgeois says she is developing a series of drawings that focus on the subject of clothing and its relation to human and animal bodies. She goes on to say that she is interested not only in the social and utilitarian functions of garments, but also their qualities as physical objects. In particular, the details of these physical objects, such as their folds and buttons, are some of what she explores in her work.

“Isolated from their original context, and placed in the presence of similarly ambiguous “faux frères,” such garments seem to oscillate between functionality and theatricality, between absurdity and threat,” said Bourgeois. “It is this tension, the moment when the function of clothing slips into something less recognizable, that I wish to explore.”

At the opening of her gallery at MIWSFPA, she further elaborated on her more recent drawings, saying that they relate garments to the human body and face:

“We have five new pieces in this show. They are all from the same series; what’s interesting for me actually is to allow them to connect to one another just like people would in life,” said Bourgeois. “They really reflect my own experience, like looking at people and contouring people in life. Of course, my interest is in a different meaning of clothing – like, people wear clothing for a social reason, it can be protection, it can be both, or it can also be a sign of authority. There are all these different possibilities, and with this collection we see a few.”

Out of the pieces hung along the walls, one individual drawing stood out, as it was the lone piece to include an animal.

“I’ve also been interested in animals for some time – even dressed animals. Sheep, for instance, at the winter fair are covered with a kind of hood, which really reminds you of something from the middle ages,” said Bourgeois. “It’s a bit scary, because you only see the eyes.”

Although her subject matter is diverse, it all connects to and works with images of humanity. Throughout our discussion on her art, she began to speak about what she is trying to accomplish with these pieces.

“There is a lot of different thought going into this work,” said Bourgeois. “Like bringing back a different period of history but also bringing together individuals which lived in the past. Some of the work’s sources are really both from my life and looking at people and animals, but they’re also looking at artifacts in a museum. Also, looking at sculpture. Some of these faces [in the drawings] were actually roman people.“

Lorène Bourgeois’ “Swim Cap” (2013) / Peter Legris

On a drawing entitled “Swim Cap” (2013), Bourgeois commented that this was one of the drawings of a sculpture. This sculpture was depicting a nineteenth century noble person in France, but Bourgeois removed the clothing she’d had on and instead focused on the face and shoulders, noting that she wanted to focus on the woman’s strength in these features.

Referencing a work entitled “Tin Hat” (2014), Bourgeois noted, “this fellow here who was a Roman general has become a soldier or a worker – we really don’t know now because of that tin hat. I know it is an odd thing I’m doing with the human form but for me, what really matters is bringing them back in a way and showing their strengths and sometimes their attitude, but often the dignity that I see.”

When the subject turned to motivation, Bourgeois elaborated on the two things she thinks of when meditating on her work; first, its presence.

“One of the things I think of when I think of my work is the idea of presence – bringing back the human presence, whether it’s that of a person living before our time – it could be a contemporary person like my neighbour’s daughter (reference to “Infant”, 2012). The other word I would use is trying to make it as intense as possible through the way of working. It is very intense, with layers and layers of the medium.”

On her process, she explained that her staple tool in the Large Drawings collection is Conté, a medium often consisting of compressed, powdered graphite. Bourgeois only uses this and an eraser to produce her pieces; there is no white tool, and so instead she works with the original white space of the paper. One piece can take approximately three months

In the collection now being exhibited in MIWSFPA, it is interesting to note that there are four separate drawings of figures wearing gas masks.
Although she expressed her horror at the idea of war, Bourgeois also claimed a sense of fascination felt when exploring war museums. She recounted a time a few years back, when she was on a research grant in England. The Imperial War Museum was holding an exhibition on childhood during WWӀӀ.

“Something I didn’t realize until that show was that everyone in Europe had to have a gas mask ready,” explained Bourgeois. “Because gas had been used in WWӀ, they thought it was going to be used again in WW2; people were terrified. In that display, they were showing gas masks for children which they called ‘Mickey Mouse’. The gas masks were red and had funny colours so kids would not be so scared of them, but it was pretty scary [for me to see]. They showed a video of a toddler learning how to put the mask on their head. In the end, gas was not used at war, but it’s still a current topic because it’s been used recently in Syria.”

On her earlier work, Bourgeois talked about her fascination with clothing:

“I drew only the clothing. I’ve always worked with the human theme. As I mentioned before, I used to look at faces from sculpture and I would take a lot of photos in museums of sculpture, but then all of a sudden my camera started looking below and realizing the clothing.”

Lorène Bourgeois’ “Tin Hat” (2014) / Peter Legris

Bourgeois spoke on the eighteenth century, saying there were were beautiful sculptures with beautiful clothing, specifically noting the time of the French revolution. Men wore very frivolous and showy costumes, which drew her interest. Even now, although she focuses on the face, she works with a hat in her drawings.

In one corner of the room hung a drawing entitled “Forteresse” (2012); in it, a severe looking woman sits, staring out at you amidst the huge, frilly fabric collaring her dress.

“The source for Forteresse is a tiny sculpture of a woman from the nineteenth century, and she had a much smaller cloth around her shoulders and neck,” said Bourgeois. “I made her much bigger and her dress also bigger. I call it Fortress. She’s very righteous, very dignified, and you don’t know whether the strengths are coming from her or whether the outfit gives her those strengths. On one hand it gives her power, but on the other hand it’s very restrictive, which it was if you think about those times in the Victorian time where women wore corsets and very stiff clothing.”

When looking at Bourgeois’ Large Drawings, her dedication to depicting the human expression and presence is clear. The detailed shading done only through Conté and eraser allows her to work very closely with the base level paper itself, coming back to it over and over again, and sustaining a relationship with its white space. She did not need to talk about presence, because it was already felt in the room. “Swim Cap” stares, fierce and dignified, into the dead centre of the room. The depictions of children and people in gas masks almost stalk the corners of the gallery, some staring back at its viewers and others looking away. The medium allows for an intense representation of its subject matter and, with it, Bourgeois has brought these people, Romans or World War ӀӀ children, into the room
with us.

Lorène Bourgeois’ gallery of Large Drawings will be held at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts from October 18th – November 18th, Tuesday – Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Tags: drawing, Large Drawings, Lorène Bourgeois, the brock press
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, In the Media, News
Lorène Bourgeois: Large Drawings

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 | By Brock University

Media Release
Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts
906.688.5550 x 4765

Lorène Bourgeois: Large Drawings
October 18 – November 18, 2016
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 20, 5 – 8 pm

The Art Gallery at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts is pleased to present “Large Drawings” by Lorène Bourgeois. The artist and Brock University instructor will present a series of large-scale representations of humans, animals, clothing and nakedness. The exhibition will include 10 – 12 highly detailed drawings mounted directly on the wall. The artist will attend the opening reception and thereafter be available by appointment.

Born in France, Lorène Bourgeois completed her training in Paris, Philadelphia, and Halifax. A Fulbright recipient, she holds an MFA from NSCAD University. Her artwork has been exhibited widely in Canada as well as in France, Korea, Russia, and the United States. Her work is held in numerous collections, including the Canada Council Art Bank, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Bank of Canada, the Richmond Hill Public Library, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Ernst and Young, Senvest, Hart House, and the Donovan Collection. Lorène Bourgeois lives and works in Toronto, and she teaches drawing in the Department of Visual Arts at Brock University.

To view Lorène Bourgeois’ website, click here
Free Community Event
Art Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 1 – 5 pm
Lorène Bourgeois gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.

Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts,  15 Artists’ Common, St. Catharines, ON L2R 0B5

– 30 –

Media inquiries:
Marie Balsom, 905.688.5550 x 4765,
or email: mbalsom@brocku.ca 
Visit our website: brocku.ca/miwsfpa

Video Coverage:

Tags: drawing, Exhibition, exhibitions, Large Drawings, Lorène Bourgeois
Categories: Events, Exhibitions, Media Releases, News
Lorène Bourgeois exhibition coming to MIWSFPA

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 | By Brock University

(Source: The Brock News, Wednesday, October 12, 2016)

Whether Lorène Bourgeois is drawing humans or animals, the use of garments is a recurring part of her striking imagery.

And starting Oct. 18, the public will have a month-long opportunity to view an exhibition by the Paris-born visual artist and Brock University instructor.

The show “Large Drawings” will be on display in downtown St. Catharines, in the Art Gallery of Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. Consisting of 10 to 12 highly detailed works, the images are representations of humans, animals, clothing and nakedness.

Bourgeois herself will be on hand for an opening reception from 5 to 8 pm on Thursday Oct. 20, which is a free community event.

Throughout her career, Bourgeois has had her artwork exhibited across Canada as well as in France, Korea, Russia and the United States. She now lives and works in Toronto, and has for several years taught drawing in Brock’s Department of Visual Arts.

To learn more about the upcoming exhibition and see some of the imagery, click here.

Tags: drawing, Exhibition, Large Drawings, Lorène Bourgeois, The Brock News
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, In the Media, News
Visa LTA Instructor exhibits in Poland.

Saturday, October 01, 2016 | By Brock University

LTA Photography Instructor Amy Friend will be exhibiting work in Października Poland as part of the Vintage Photography Festival October 7 to 23. For more information, please click HERE.

Tags: Amy Friend, Exhibition, Photography, Poland
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, News
Plan your future now! Ontario Universities’ Fair is September 23-25, 2016

Sunday, September 18, 2016 | By Brock University

Plan your future now! If you’re thinking about attending Brock University and any of the four programs of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, don’t miss the Ontario Universities’ Fair!

The OUF is September 23-25, 2016, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and admission is free.

You can talk personally with students, professors and senior university reps, get answers about programs, admission requirements, student life and much more. Don’t miss out on the largest educational fair in Canada!

Check out the Facebook event page or go to the Ontario Universities’ Fair website.

Tags: future students, marilyn i. walker school of fine and performing arts, MIWSFPA, Ontario Universities' Fair, OUF
Categories: Events, Future Students, News
Visa Instructor Amy Friend – recent exhibitions.

Thursday, September 15, 2016 | By Brock University

Photography Instructor Amy Friend is part of the following exhibitions:

Encontros Da Imagem
Exhibition: Memory Lab of Happiness
Braga, Portugal
Sept. 20 to Nov. 5, 2016
http://encontrosdaimagem.com/en/2016/exhibits/

Getxo Photo Festival Getxo, Spain
September 1 to Oct. 2, 2016
http://getxophoto.com/en/authors/amy-friend/

DongGang International Photofestiva, l South Korea
July 9 to September 25, 2016
http://dgphotofestival.com/en/main-exhibition/
DongGang Museum of Photography

Tags: Amy Friend, exhibitions
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, News
Mahtay Cafe opens at the MIWSFPA

Thursday, September 15, 2016 | By Brock University

The brand new Mahtay café is now open on the third floor student lounge area! Hours of operation are:

Mon – Fri from 8:30 am to 2pm.

Please note that the permanency of this café will be based on its success here at the Marilyn I. Walker School. So take some time on your breaks to get up there and enjoy reasonable prices and excellent food and drinks!

The location is 3rd floor at the south end of the building (lobby), take that elevator to the 3rd floor (not connected to the 3rd floor at the other end) or take stairwell “D”.

Tags: mahtay cafe, student lounge
Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, News