Colour is everything!

If you visit our gallery often, you will have noticed that we move things around constantly.  Different arrangements, different light conditions, adjacency to different wall colours and textures--all make a difference to how a potential buyer will view a piece of art or an artisan item.  Frequently we have had an item in the gallery for a while, and once it is moved into that "perfect place", it sells right away.  I suppose that it needs to find that place where the viewer can visualize it in their own home, or in the home of a friend or family member receiving a gift.  At any rate, when you find the right placing or combination of items, it is magic.  I walked into the gallery this morning, and this placement of articles took my breath away!

A perfect vignette--"Bella Poppy" triptych (acrylic) by Dale Turner (top); left to right, ceramics by Lou Gaskin, glass by Wendy Seversen, polar bear sculpture by Bill Shoup, and glass by Wendy Seversen.

Creative process - Kathleen Black

It is wonderful to get some insight into an artist's creative process--Kathleen Black has been so generous with the thoughts and inspiration that went into two of her new pieces. 

"Weald Grace", 36"x36", acrylic, 2013

In Kathleen's words, "My husband and I went to Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island this spring and explored some of the trails and streams nearby. What a lovely and truly cathedral place it is. The day was overcast with some rain and mist, not warm but not cold. It glowed with a wet luminous green and yellow light. There was not a lot of light but so much of it everywhere.The trees do appear to be columns. The carpet red,  blue water and shadow and green velvet moss. I could live there."

"Green and Red Wood", 40"x40", acrylic, glass beads, glass stringers and resin, 2013

"This is an image of some trees off the hiking path walking up Mt. Douglas on Vancouver Island. Again overcast with mist and some rain. Glass stringers simulate the rain.  Glass beads hang onto the edges of everything. This adds not only to the texture but shines, glows, disappears in some light to appear again with a different light.The trees are very textured and come out from the canvas. The purple gray shadows in the birches remind me of parisian light on a cloudy day. The birches push forward and the red woods and cedars stand so firmly in most of the painting."

Our photos give just a glimpse of the complexity of these pieces; full of light and colour, and glimpses of transparency.  The air itself is a presence in Kathleen's work.

Pulse -- A perfect place to find that thoughtful wedding gift

We are now in the midst of spring, and our thoughts turn toward the beauty of spring and summer weddings. Nothing can be more thoughtful than the gift of a lovingly handmade art piece or artisan item.

We invite you to wander through our small and friendly gallery and consider a handmade, locally-produced piece of functional art for your gift-giving this summer!

Sculpture by Angus Braid, table runner by Sandra Wiebe,
turned wood bowl by  Steve Hanchuk, recycled glass tray by Wendy Seversen

Cheryl Gilarski works showing throughout May

"Allusions", a special showing of the works of Manitoba artist Cheryl Gilarski by Pulse Gallery throughout May, had its opening reception on Friday, May 3.  The event was very well attended by both press and public.  

Artist Cheryl Gilarski at the "Allusions" opening reception

Cheryl's work adds to the inherent diversity of the gallery, bringing in her own idiosyncratic palette and  intensity.  Her work with animal subjects is particularly striking, using unconventional colour choices which make this usually traditional topic current and relevant.

Various works by Cheryl Gilarski, opening reception, "Allusions"

These special showings give Pulse the great pleasure of showcasing artists new to the gallery and introducing them to the gallery's followers, and to visitors at the Forks.  We encourage you to make a special visit during May to see Cheryl's work in person!

Pulse was buzzing with enthusiasm and conversation,
"Allusions" opening reception

Allusions

We are pleased to present the works of Cheryl Gilarski throughout the month of May, and invite you to join us for the artist reception on May 3.

With colour and texture, Cheryl achieves fugitive and ephemeral imagery, as thought-provoking as it is beautiful.

Born in Ontario and raised in Manitoba, Cheryl Gilarski has been commissioned to create murals and paintings throughout Canada and the United States.  Her work ranges from realism to the abstract.  Her love of nature and passion for the outdoors defines her work.

Cheryl enjoys the exploration of simplifying the complex.  Art is more than images.  It is an intimate connection to our surroundings.  You can step into Cheryl's works and experience your own interpretations.

These photos are a "sneak-peek" of what will be available for viewing throughout May.  We hope that you can join us at the Forks for a closer look at Cheryl's work, and the work of all of our artists and artisans--celebrate the diversity of Manitoban talent!

The Carefree Innocence of a Child's Summer

Art is at its best when it calls to the heart.  The artist's route to the emotions is often through personal and evocative imagery of moments past.  Naomi Gerrard's new work focuses on such fragments of time, capturing images of childhood with an acute eye and her peerless style.  Despite the subject matter, there is a compelling sparseness and unsentimentality about Naomi's work.

We are delighted to have these works available for viewing at our gallery--we hope that you can come to see these new canvases in person.

Canal Builders, acrylic, 10"x30"

Puddle Pleasure, acrylic, 24"x24"

Swinging Friends, acrylic, 32"x40"

"The Rainy Road to Champagne", Kathleen Black

We asked Kathleen for her thoughts about one of the pieces she recently brought into the gallery. She responded with some lovely insights into her creative process…

This is inspired by a photo I took out of the car window on the way to Champagne, France. That whizzing by you fell in a car. It was a bit rainy but the sky was that beautiful yellow. This painting worked well as the resin becomes that car window I looked through with the glass strings glowing and changing the light as rain does and the paint providing colour and form.

"The Rainy Road to Champagne", Kathleen Black.  Acrylic, glass, resin

Kathleen's innovative multimedia approach uses glass stringers which bring the iridescence of rain into the  painting.  It is difficult to photograph Kathleen's work because of the effect of refracted and reflected light, so it is best viewed in person--another reason why it is always worth a trip to visit us at Pulse Gallery!