I am in the middle of a series celebrating my own fidgety hands—and the hands of all of us who make things with our hands, talk with our hands, worry with our hands.
There is a little drawing of me as a young child that a friend of my grandmother’s did. I didn’t know her, she just wanted to practice drawing. I had to stay perfectly still for an eternity in a little wool suit. It was probably 20 minutes. I remember the artist becoming red-faced and frustrated because I wasn’t staying still enough. Especially my hands. I thought she was angry at me which made me more anxious and fidgety. She finally gave up, exasperated.
Perversely, I still have the drawing. As an artist now I look back on it and find the hands the most interesting part.
So that’s part of the inspiration behind this series. The other thing that moved me in this direction was running into a small show of Naoko Matsubara’s wonderful prints of hands at the Art Gallery of Ontario a few months ago. Brilliant!
Below is the price list from The Second Wedge where my work will be showing until February 7.
Please note: #4 and #7 and #10 are now sold.
This will be showing at The Second Wedge, Uxbridge Ontario from December 10 to February 7 with the OPENING on Saturday December 13, 1-4.
The Hands are the stars of the show. Below are good pictures and approximate sizes of the hand series so far.
1. Self, I Suppose 7” x 12” $500.002. Wrestler 7” x 9” $400.003. Still Point 8” x 11” $500.004. Know Thy Self, 5” x 15” $600.00 SOLD5. Self (Busy Behind the Scenes), 11” x 12” $500.007. Holy Place 10” x 10” $500.00 SOLD8. Self Care 5.5” x 8” $400.009. One hand Holds the Other 4” x 7” $250.0010. Making Things—like Disguises for Example 8” x 11” $500.00 SOLD11. What is Your Name? 9” x 8” $400.0012. Self 11” x 11” $500.0027. Take Care 13” x 13” $500.0028. Animated Hands 13” x 13” $500.0030. Making Things 8” x 11” $500.00
Escape 5’ x 5’ Acrylic on carved basswood and plywood $3000.00Eye 20” x 20” Acrylic on carved basswood and plywood $800.00BIRDSONG 2’ x 2’ acrylic on hand carved basswood and birch plywood $2000.00QUICK PRAYER 2’ x 2’ acrylic on hand carved basswood and birch plywood $1500.00CANADA 12’ x 12” acrylic and gold leaf on hand carved basswood $800.00Through a Glass Darkly Acrylic on plywood $3000.00SPLENDOUR 6” X 6” acrylic and gold leaf on hand carved basswood $400.00FRAGILE WINGS 6” X 6” acrylic and gold leaf on hand carved basswood $400.00ILLUMINATION 6” X 6” acrylic and gold leaf on hand carved basswood $400.00STRONG WINGS 8” x 12”acrylic and gold leaf on hand carved basswood $600.00SWOOP acrylic and gold leaf on plywood $600.00CENTRE detailCENTRE acrylic and gold leaf on birch plywood $5000.00
There should be a book about Viktor and Judith Tinkl. Their soaring talent as artists and their astounding yet unpretentious art environment has been a precious gift to me personally as part of their huge community of friends, artists, admirers and fans.
Viktor’s sculpture and Judith’s textiles deserve to be properly celebrated and recorded. A book wasn’t their idea. A couple of us approached them with a hybrid model of publishing in which a community sponsors a book which a publisher is interested in publishing but thinks might be too financially risky in this unpredictable world.
You and I and supporters and lovers of Judith and Viktor’s work are that sponsor. I’ll call us “Friends of the Tinkls” for now. Firefly Books would be the publisher and distributor. My job is to raise $40,000 to sponsor the book. This would pay the author, photographer, designer, printing etc.$15,000 has already been raised so I am about to start a kickstarter page for the remaining $25,000.
(You can also donate directly to lynnemcilvride@gmail.com if you are having technical difficulties)
Here is an update. Our kickstarter is doing quite well but still needs your help. We are up to over $17,000. We need to at least reach our $25,000 goal to succeed. There is still time make a pledge. You can only donate once, but you can raise your donation until the kickstarter ends in 26 days.
Good news: our kickstarter page won the coveted “Project We Love” badge.
A few years ago, I thought it would be a good idea to co-organize a show of some former David Kaye Gallery artists who I particularly admired. A shout-out to then Propeller member Janet Read who initiated the process and championed the vision. And it was a GREAT show! That was “TOUCH”. I am VERY happy to say that Loree Ovens has taken the reins and organized “TOUCH 2” April 17 to May 5, 2024 at Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto. We just finished setting up our work and it looks wonderful.
Same artists; new work: Dorothy Caldwell, Kai Chan, Ann Cummings, Susan Farquhar, Vivienne Jones, Susan Warner Keene, Valerie Knapp, Susan Lindsay, Susan Low-Beer, Lynne McIlvride, Loree Ovens
The exhibition contains a variety of media including textile, ceramic, jewelry, sculpture, paper, wood and mixed media.
Opening reception: Saturday, April 20th 2-4pm. Closing Reception: Saturday, May 5th 2-4pm.
TOUCH2 is part of Canadian Art Hop! Canadian Art Hop Events: April 26 to April 28th. Loree Ovens (and possibly others) will be giving free informal 20-30 min talks about the exhibition at Propeller Art Gallery. On Sunday, April 28th the gallery will remain open until 5:30pm.
It is my pleasure to present another annual Easter Art Show of my recent work. March 29, 30 and 31 from 1:00 to 5:00 daily or email for an appointment (LynneMcilvride@icloud.com). 14260 Marsh Hill Road Utica Ontario. I look forward to seeing you! I am working on a new exciting series of painted basswood CATS. As usual, there will also be older work including the painted relief sculptures dedicated to Ken Welsh.
Here is a link to a talk I attempted for the Colour Research Society.
These 7 new cats are acrylic paint on hand carved basswood. They are all just slightly smaller than cat-size. I haven’t named or priced them yet but prices will range from $600-$800.
My show this year will be different in some ways. It is still a celebration of Easter. It still showcases what I have been working on in the last year. It continues to be an open invitation to new people and old friends. Like other years, it’s an art show and sale, though there will be a number of pieces I’m not ready to sell. The bulk of my new work is based on sketches I drew of Ken in the last few months of his life. I dedicate this show to Kenneth Welsh, who was always, always, always wildly enthusiastic about my work; respectful of my vocation and encouraging to me. So for those who knew Ken, this could act as a memorial. Being sensitive to this (and the possible dregs of covid) I decided to add a few more days when you can email me and make an appointment instead of braving a possible crowd (she wrote hopefully). Normal hours are 1:00-5:00 Friday April 7, Saturday April 8 and Sunday April 9 but appointments can be made for anytime between April 5 and April 10. Email me and we’ll figure something out. Come alone or bring your own crowd.
Below is a partial list of works in the show. There is much more but this is the new work. This list is a work in progress so please keep checking in! Prices and lack of them, subject to change.
Ken Sleeping
3' x 1'
2022
acrylic on hand carved basswood, cufflink
In God's Pocket
3' x 1'
2022
acrylic on hand carved basswood
I will lie by your side like the Sunday roast
3' x 1'
2022
acrylic on hand carved basswood
What folly I commit, I dedicate to you.
4' x 2'
2023
acrylic on hand carved basswood
Wrestling with the Resurrection
2022
4' x 4'
acrylic and gold leaf on plywood and hand carved basswood
sold
This piece was originally done for Crossings Toronto, a contemporary stations of the cross. The following is my artist's statement about the piece:
Wrestling with the Resurrection
I wanted to celebrate the resurrection of Christ as the joyous exclamation point at the end of a difficult and sombre journey. I still want that. But in creating this piece, I also want to honour the indigenous children who died victims of residential schools run by segments of the Christian church. I am a Christian settler, haunted by their voices and wrestling with the resurrection. Can this all come together in one piece of art? I’m not sure. In the light of the long ignored evils of the residential schools, looking at the 'Calls to Action' 59-61 especially; can the cancer of colonialism be rooted out of the Christian body? Dare we hope? Dare we celebrate? Can we join The Creator in hearing the cries of these children?
reduction linoprints, monoprints, linoprints with drawing and painting added and collages
2023
$100.00 to $300.00 unframed
King Lear
2022
1' x 1' x 1"
acrylic on hand carved basswood
Ken and Angie
2022
1' x 1' x 1"
acrylic on hand carved basswood
Hello!! Time to make an appointment to see my work on the Uxbridge Studio Tour weekend, Sept 19-20. Email me as soon as you know when you would like to come, how long you would like to stay (15 to 50 minutes) and how many are in your party. Here is the Uxbridge Studio Tour webiste. There are over 40 wonderful local artists: some will be participating only virtually and the rest by appointment. Masks and distancing inside, social distancing outside. See my other post, “How to Visit an Artist”.
I have been doing some slightly smaller work for a pop-up show December 12-22 behind Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge Ontario. Sizes and prices will be published soon. Questions?Email LynneMcilvride@icloud.com. Opening reception December 14, 1-4 with special guest KEN WELSH entertaining the crowd. This is the only kind of shopping experience I can handle! Featuring several local artists. See hours below.
Hello. I have been continuing my theme of “Epiphanies” which I will be happy to show you at The Uxbridge Studio Tour, September 14 and 15. More beadwork, more woodcarving, more colour riots. Francis Muscat was in my studio the other day and and described the series as Psychadelic Baroque.
This last one is a video. Click to see on instagram. All work is handcarved basswood with inlaid glass beadwork and acrylic paint. Oil paint is added to some and many have gold leaf applied. Here is a LINK to the Uxbridge Studio Tour Brochure. I will have extras you can pick up at my studio. I am Site 24: last but not least!! My guest artist is magnificent ceramic artist, Ann Cummings.
Lynne.Mcilvride.Art 