The Mill Street Gallery and Cafe

Dynamic New 2012 Exhibit "PAPER SCISSORS ROCK"

2012-02-02T08:14:00.006-05:00

Mill Street Gallery/Cafe is now curated by The Organization of Kingston Women Artists (http://www.okwa.org). This is a juried organization of professional artists for Kingston Ontario and area. At this time, the gallery will only be showing work from the members of OKWA.

2012 will showcase work from 5 OKWA artists: Wendy Cain, Rebecca Cowan, Mary O'Brien, Alana Kapell and Julie Withrow. They will be changing their work in the gallery throughout 2012.

EMAIL THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR WORK/SALES.

Wendy Cain (wcain@persona.ca) holds an Honours Degree in Fine Art from the University of Toronto, Ontario and is an Associate of the Ontario College of Art. Since 1972, she has had fifteen solo exhibitions, the most recent, Shipwreck Dreaming, Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg, Ontario, MVS Gallery, Brockville, ON and Out In the Sticks Cultural Association, Yarker, ON. She has participated in over two hundred and thirty group exhibitions, most as a Canadian printmaker and papermaker. Recently, her work has focused on the practices of hand papermaking, and she has established a paper studio in Newburgh, Ontario. She currently teaches printmaking and papermaking at OCAD University in Toronto as Associate Professor of Art and is Past Chair of Printmaking.

Her work includes handmade paper pulp paintings, 24 x 18" framed, $300 each.

Wendy Cain "Spring Meadow #5"
24 x 18" $300

Wendy Cain "Summer Landscape Bowl"
24 x 18" framed $300

Wendy Cain "Summer Meadow #4"
24 x 18" $300

Rebecca Cowan (rgscowan@gmail.com) is an award-winning printmaker and book artist living in Kingston. Over her twenty-five year career, she has exhibited extensively, both nationally and internationally. Rebecca’s work can be seen in many public and private collections throughout Canada, including the National Library of Canada, the Canada Council Art Bank, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

On the Meditation Series: "In creating these monoprints I wanted to fully appreciate the things that made me fall in love with printmaking: drawing details, creating textures, feeling the creaminess and hearing the smacking sound of ink being mixed, wiping slowly and gently to reveal the markings on the plate, overlaying transparent colours until they reach a kind of visceral density, and finally unveiling the image itself. So, I made these prints in a meditative way – without thought to outcome, just enjoying each moment of the process, being amazed, delighted and made breathless by the results. They are prints about nothingness – about the images that flash before us when our eyes are closed. And as we look at the organic patterns shifting and repeating we are encouraged to let go, and go beyond."

Rebecca Cowan. Kiss #22. drypoint print.
7x7" framed. $125

Rebecca Cowan. Kiss #23. drypoint print.

7x7" framed. $125

Rebecca Cowan. Kiss #24. drypoint print.

7x7" framed. $125

Rebecca Cowan: Meditation #1, monoprint
24 x 24"framed. $650

Rebecca Cowan. Meditation #2, monoprint

24 x 24"framed. $650

Alana Kapell (http://www.alanakapell.com/ aakapell@gmail.com) hails from Saskatchewan. She studied with the "Regina Five" as well as Joe Fafard, David Gilhooly, Jack Sures, all of whom gave her an early introduction to colour theory and funk ceramics. Her mixed media works are in collections across North America including the Agnes Etherington Art Center, Peterborough Art Gallery, the Mayo Clinic.

These works are encaustic collage on paper, framed, $250 each.

Alana Kapell "Cut From the Same Cloth"
encaustic collage 21x21" $250

Alana Kapell "For Unity Consciousness"
encaustic 26hx22w" $250

Alana Kapell "No More Fish in the Sea"
encaustic 21x21" $250

Alana Kapell "No, This Way"
encaustic photo transfer 21x21" $250

Alana Kapell "Prairie Nightscape"
encaustic 21x21" $250

Alana Kapell "Between Scylla and Charybdis II"
encaustic 26h x 22w" $250

Mary O'Brien( mobrien@kos.net) : "This work currently reflects a continued interest in the exploration of manipulated imagery incorporating architectural fragments and/or landscapes while using mixed media on paper. The focus of the work is not only image-based but the responses to the interaction of colour, texture, line and surface are also of equal importance. (Mary has been exhibiting for decades in both solo and group shows in Canada, the U.S., England and Sweden. Her work can be found in the public collection of Windsor City Hall, Windsor, ON and in many private collections. She was commissioned to paint a mural for the Eaton Centre located in Toronto. Educated in Art History and Studio Art at both Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec and the University of Windsor she has pursued the study of a wide variety of artistic mediums.

Mary O'Brien, "#3 La Puerta" collage and mixed media on paper
17 x 12.5" $425.00

Mary O'Brien "Culture Crossing" collage and mixed media on paper
21.5 x 17" $575.00

Mary O'Brien "In Her Elements" mixed media on canvas
10x12" $450.00

Mary O'Brien "King Stones" mixed media on canvas
10x12" $450.00

Mary O'Brien "Weave" collage and mixed media on paper
10x13" $400.00

Mary O'Brien "Southern Fusion" collage and mixed media on paper
17x12.5" $450.00

Julie Withrow (jwithrow@reztel.net) has been exhibiting work in a variety of media since 1985. She has worked in sculpture, textiles, installation work, and, currently goes back and forth between painting and collage, sometimes combining the two. She has shown at a variety of private and public galleries including galleries associated with Queens University, University of Toronto, and Scarborough University. She is presently showing collage and paint combo's of a somewhat satirical nature. Each is 12 " x 16 ". They are each $160.

Julie Withrow "How to Be A Cowboy" 12 x 16" $160

Julie Withrow "Live Better Electrically" 12x16" $160

Julie Withrow "Lizzy in The Sky With Diamonds" 12x16" $160

Julie Withrow "The Times They Are A'Changing" $160

Julie Withrow "Welcome To The Hotel California" $160

NOVEMBER PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICKY ABSIL

2011-10-19T10:42:00.000-04:00

Photographer, Micky Absil, exhibits his work at The Mill Street Gallery/Cafe from November 01 to December 30, 2011.

Opening Reception: Sunday, November 6th at 1pm.

My passion with photography is with its ability to reveal the human spirit as well as providing a visual testament, especially for those traditional ancient cultures that are sadly disappearing.

For me, making a meaningful photograph is an intuitive act requiring sensitivity, concentration and a sense of geometry; a momentary convergence of eye, head and heart.

Vera Donefer Paintings August 30 to October 30, 2011

2011-08-26T15:26:00.001-04:00

Vera Donefer exhibits her vibrant paintings at the Mill Street Gallery/Cafe

from August 30 to October 30, 2011.

"I strive to make my paintings look as if the work was done quickly and easily. I am working primarily with colour to create a mood but allowing the viewer free emotion to interpret the paintings.

I have been an artist for over 50 years working in many different media. My initial career was as a fashion illustrator in New York City. I moved away from commercial art after arriving in Canada in 1957. As colours and textures of natural fibbers intrigued me, I became an off-loom weaver and fibre artist creating many large wall pieces."

Michele LaRose until August 29th

2011-07-26T12:06:00.000-04:00

Michele LaRose Acrylic Paintings

2011-07-08T19:49:00.000-04:00

Michèle LaRose is a painter from Kingston who navigates the world of colour with gay abandon. Her lively pieces seek to add visual music to life and provide springboards to flights of imagination. Come and enjoy a cappuccino, look at original art, and dine on local, organic produce in the historic, scenic village-on-a-lake of Sydenham, just a 1/2 hour drive north of Kingston. Cafe/gallery is open for lunches Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 to 2:30 and for dinner on Saturdays 5:30 to 9pm. (Reservations: (613) 376-1533.) Michèle’s exhibition is up from June 29 to August 27, 2011.

For more info about the artist see www.michelelarose.ca

GROUP SHOW UP UNTIL JUNE 25

2011-06-01T20:11:00.009-04:00

Micky Absil, Vera Donefer, Michele LaRose, John Redmond and Jan Swaren show at the Mill Street Gallery/Cafe as a group for the month of June. If you missed any of the earlier months, this is an opportunity to catch them all together over a cappuccino or homemade soup. Now with the summer months, the restaurant is open for lunches most days (Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 to 3pm)

JAN SWAREN, swarenj@yahoo.com 613 540-2043, from left: "Growing Pains" acrylic on canvas, $580/ center: "Fire Element", acrylic on canvas $380/ "Patterns" acrylic on board, $480. View more work at www.janswarenstudio.com

on left: VERA DONEFER, "Heart Throb" acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30" $600, 613 544-6678 vdonefer@cogeco.ca

on right: MICHELE LAROSE, oil on canvas, 16 x 16", $300 each

MICKY ABSIL 16x20" framed photographs, $160 each. absilute@gmail.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mabsil/

More oil paintings by Michel Larose
16x16" $300

John Redmond

center: JOHN REDMOND, acrylic on canvas, 30x40" $1320. johnredmond55@gmail.com http://johnredmond.blogspot.com/

Two 16 x 16" oils by Michele LaRose

VERA DONEFER vdonefer@cogeco.ca 613 544-6678
acrylic on canvas. on left: "Splash" 48 x 36" $900. on right: "Bright Promise" 48x48" $2000.

JOHN REDMOND'S PAINTINGS MARCH 29

2011-03-22T17:32:00.000-04:00

Ottawa artist, John Redmond, sets up his exhibition at The Mill Street Gallery/Cafe on March 29, 2011. Opening Reception will be Sunday, May 29, 1 to 3pm. John has an informative blog where he posts a painting a day. He also has some personal history connected to Sydenham: "Once I know exactly which paintings have been hung I will post photos of it all on the blog so that people can refer back to it at their leisure.
I hope to print up two or three photos that will highlight my family's long connection with the area. " Keep tuned to John's blog at http://johnredmond.blogspot.com/

Airing Micky Absil's Film, Witness to History

2011-01-27T13:54:00.000-05:00

Photographer, Micky Absil, who will be exhibiting at the Mill Street Gallery in November is pleased to announce that his film, Witness to History is scheduled to air Sunday Feb. 20th within 9pm.-11pm. You can find all the channels in the following link http://www.ctstv.com/tuningin.php
Unfortunately, it seems only available in the Kingston area on Satellite- Shaw Direct or Bell TV. It will also be posted online. Stay tuned to this blog for a notice.

Jan Swaren in February

2011-01-18T06:55:00.000-05:00

PASSION/POWER: Stations of Metaphor Paintings by Jan Swaren celebrate the 2011 season opening at Millstreet Gallery/Cafe from February 12 to March 26 with an opening party scheduled for Sunday, February 13 1 to 6pm. Musician, Jon McLurg will be performing.

2011 Line Up of Exhibitions

2010-12-18T15:55:00.001-05:00

Jan Swaren will open the new year on February 12, 2011 in time for the celebratory Valentine's Dinner Saturday evening. Her actual reception will be Sunday, February 13th accompanied by musician, Jon McLurg, from 1 to 6pm.

Check out John Redmond's Blog for some interesting Sydenham history! http://johnrredmond.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

Sunday November 07 OKWA dinner "Good Food and Art"

2010-10-22T11:27:00.000-04:00

Reserve now for this fun event, Prix Fix menu based on the surrounding OKWA exhibit. One seating only at 6pm.

OKWA show is hung and ready for viewing

2010-10-05T18:43:00.000-04:00

The OKWA group show is up as of Tuesday October 05 until January 2011. As the weather stays relatively warm the gallery hours remain 11am to 3pm Tuesday to Saturday and Saturday dinner 5 to 9pm.
RECEPTION is SUNDAY NOVEMBER 07, 3 to 6pm.

Hanna Back's paperclay sculpture below Mary Peppard's "Purple Hazes" on left and J.T. Winik's work on right.

17 artists with 2 or more paintings each

Organization of Kingston Women Artists Group Show

2010-09-27T12:06:00.001-04:00

OKWA presents a group show at Mill Street Gallery October 05 to December 30/10. Members exhibiting include:

June Anderson, Hanna Back, Wendy Cain,Barb Carr, Martine Bresson, Pauline Conley, Rebecca Cowan, Mary Crawford, Jane Derby, Suki Falkner, Erica Olsen, Mary Peppard, Su Sheedy, Judy Springer, Lee-Ann Taras, J.T. Winik

Reception: Sunday, November 07, 3 to 6pm

JT Winik at Oeno Gallery October 2 -November 5

2010-09-21T11:01:00.000-04:00

Mill Street's next exhibit coming up October 05 is the Organization of Kingston Women Artists Group Show (more on that soon). JT Winik, an OKWA member will have 2 new works in the Mill Street show, meanwhile she will be opening a solo show at the Oeno Gallery in Picton, "Banquet of Consequences". JT says, "In this body of work, the images of children function as metaphors for adult psychological and emotional states. ...the subjects are often blatantly confrontational. They are not innocent. There are times we must all do things we don’t want to do. Like the subjects in this series who must posture themselves as children, we all answer to expectations in our daily lives, yet … we may not like it and, at times, it shows. Although at their core, these paintings speak often of inner disturbances, they are rendered with a softness or humour. Creating them has allowed me to smile at the gravity of life. " See more of Winik's work on her website: http://www.jtwinik.com/

JT Winik "Party Hats" 24 x 22"

Lori Richards and Jane Colden's Reception

2010-09-19T16:04:00.000-04:00

The 2 artists, Lori and Jane on the right.

Fantastic reception at the Mill Street Gallery on Sunday September 19. A good time had by all, lots of conversation, people milling around; exceptional attendance. It was a gorgeous sunny day making for a lovely country drive.

Su Sheedy and her husband hung out the full three hours!

Mom's were in attendance with goodies, one very moist scrumptious apple upside down cake.

Reception Sunday September 19, 2010

2010-09-14T19:30:00.001-04:00

Lori Richards and Jane Colden's Reception

this Sunday, September 19 at the Mill Street Gallery/Cafe in Sydenham.

Join the artists between 1 and 3pm.

Lori Richards and Jane Colden Paintings

2010-08-01T01:52:00.146-04:00

Lori Richards and Jane Colden collaborated on these paintings. Good friends for many years, they decided not only to work together but work on the same pieces together!
Their show goes up at the Mill Street Gallery this Tuesday (August 03) and the reception will be held Sunday, September 19 from 1 to 3pm.

Almost all of the paintings are mixed media on wood panels measuring 16 x 48".

ARTISTS' STATEMENTS:

“Trove” A Collaboration between Jane Colden and Lori Richards

Making art is usually a solitary endeavour for good reason: it is so

personal and subjective. Colouring outside the lines though can be

productive and mind expanding. This show seemed the perfect
opportunity to do just that.

We had a established a fairly routine habit of showing each other

work every Friday for discussion and direction. This created a bond
and an atmosphere of trust and honesty. Working together
came easily.

For this project we started photographing evocative water stains

and junk yard paraphernalia, finding in them a “trove” of beautiful
images, patterns, colours and textures. This was our jumping
off point.

We made prints and began to collage parts to wooden supports,

discussing the themes that were emerging. It was a comfortable

interactive studio environment with easy chatting, questioning and

problem solving. The result is these ten paintings which we feel
work separately and in combination.

At a certain point we each lay claim to five panels and took over

completion, all the while giving and receiving feedback as the work

progressed. We both loved the experience and look forward to
more collaborations in the future.

Lori Richards & Jane Colden

August 2010

Jane Colden

Lori Richards

It was an enjoyable afternoon watching Lori Richards and her partner, Andrew, hanging this exhibit. Lori reminisced how her relationship with Jane developed from walking their puppies and talking about their studio work. They had both attended a workshop at Bridgewater a few years ago and enjoyed working together in the same studio. This exhibit took the sharing a step further by actually working on the same panels together. Their styles complement one another, as well as their palettes. The paintings are a joy to see up close and wander over the rich texture. alana kapell, gallery co-ordinator

Step One

Step Two

Voila!

A job well hung!

Join us for the reception on Sunday, September 19th from 1 to 3pm to meet the artists, AND also drop in for lunch or a snack during the week from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm so you can take your time marvelling over the details.

2010 Reception for Mary Peppard

2010-07-25T18:24:00.000-04:00

Mary Peppard gives two thumbs up for the good attendance at her reception today, Sunday July 25.
Jane Colden agrees!

Pat Dawson offered another delicious array of appetizers: nachos with a piquant mango salsa, refried bean wraps, and another bean appetizer with fresh garden cucumber and cheese on homemade bread, hmmm, accompanied with refreshing iced tea.

Mary's family, Lloyd and Anna

MARY PEPPARD'S CHICKENS ARE UP AND ACTIVE!

2010-06-02T16:03:00.002-04:00

Join Mary Peppard at her reception at The Mill Street Gallery on Sunday, July 25 from 1 to 3pm.

Mary Peppard hangs her show June 02. The chicken portraits are all personal buddies who lived on her farm in Seeley's Bay, Ontario. They reflect her deep love of animals and also her apparent sense of humour.

Summer gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Dinner only on Saturday 5 to 9pm. Now Lunch is available and yummy desserts and drinks through the day!

Frida Kahlo joins the chickens.

2011 Exhibiting Artists

2010-05-27T17:55:00.000-04:00

The Mill Street Gallery juried for the 2011 exhibition line-up last night and the successful candidates are Jan Swaren, Michele LaRose, Micky Absil, John Redmond and Vera Donefer. More on these artists to come.

Floor Plan for Gallery

2010-05-23T14:09:00.002-04:00

Ben Darrah's Acrylic Paintings

2010-04-07T16:57:00.000-04:00

Ben Darrah and son, Owen, hang Ben's show at the Mill Street Gallery/Cafe on April 03. Ben's opening will be towards the end of May, keep posted!
The rich and bold works create a striking atmosphere:

BEN DARRAH 05 April to 01 June

2010-03-16T15:01:00.001-04:00

Ben Darrah displays acrylic paintings on canvas at the Mill Street Gallery. In "Record" Darrah uses found imagery combined with abstract grounds to create meditations on how we construct memory. Just as Record is both a noun and a verb, the works in this exhibition operate as triggers to past experience and as ongoing narrative."

Ben Darrah will be having a reception at the gallery/cafe in May. Check this blog for an update.

Keith Skelton Photographs

2010-03-06T13:37:00.004-05:00

On view now until 01 April 2010 at The Mill Street Gallery is local photographer, Keith Skelton's, work entitled Food, Fuel, Millenium Corn.

Skelton's show is a set of stunning and gently political panoramas of agricultural production that celebrates food and questions the premise that it should be grown to feed our need for cheap fuel to burn in all manner of motorized vehicles.

More of Keith's photographs can be seen on his website http://www.keithskelton.ca

2010 Exhibitions

2009-12-07T11:58:00.010-05:00

Mary Peppard Paintings
"It's All About Chickens"
05 June to 01 August

Lori Richards

and Jane Colden

Paintings

05 August to 01 October 2010

Organization of Kingston Women Artists

Group Show of 30 Members

05 October to 05 January 2011

2009 Encaustic Reception

2009-10-25T15:02:00.003-04:00

Gala opening for the Mill Street Encaustics group show was indeed gala! The Cafe served delectable appetizers of sushi and their own home grown broiled shitake mushroom caps, hmmm. All the artists were present and some guests remained for an intimate dinner after the opening; the restaurant was full!

2009 Encaustic Group Exhibit

2009-10-25T14:53:00.002-04:00

Simon Andrew, Carole Clapperton, Steve and Winona Elliott, Cindy Hudson, Alana Kapell, Su Sheedy, and Julie Davidson Smith.

Open Saturday evenings and by appointment. New gallery hours Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm and Saturday evenings 5 to 9pm begin in February 2010.

Workshop Encaustic at Trousdale's

2009-10-24T08:06:00.003-04:00

Two encaustic workshops were held upstairs in TROUSDALES GENERAL STORE in October 2009. The atmosphere was aromatic as well as energetic. In conjunction with the workshop, The Mill Street Gallery displayed a group encaustic show and offered private lunches for the workshop participants in the gallery/cafe.

Ginny Trousdale's creativity is apparent in her store and in her sponsorship of the Arts. She offers her spacious upstairs to artists (free of charge) for "juried" workshops and teams up with The Mill Street Gallery/Cafe to promote the Arts in her community. http://www.canadasoldestgeneralstore.com