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
Now what? For the past four months I had the privilege of being a caregiver to my beloved partner and recent husband, Ken Welsh. He was a truly great actor with a mountain of accolades you can glean snapshots of in the New York Times and other places. What could I possibly add? That he liked garden gnomes and maple syrup and sang me to sleep? That he was not just interesting but kind. I have only just begun to process his dying and his death. Unlike past events in which I hit the ground running, I find I have come to a full stop. I don’t know what comes next in my studio or when I’m going back to it. I cancelled my yearly Easter Show; the Uxbridge Studio Tour; all my shows this year. I’ll be back of course but I’m giving myself time. I might add to this blog as I think of more things to say about Ken: beloved by other actors; patron saint of make-up artists….meanwhile here are a few pictures, a link to our delightful wedding…maybe even a song.
Ken’s truck: not for saleKenneth Welsh: Hamlet Stratford 1969
Hello. I haven’t written anything for a year. I almost forget how. First of all I am thrilled to have finished the first of two paintings for niches at ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church’ Toronto. I was honoured when Fr. Dan Donovan, priest and Toronto art collector since the 1950’s, asked me to come up with something to fit into the two niches at the church. If you know me at all, you will know that I do not normally do commissions. I find it very difficult. However I embraced the challenge and promptly caught mono so I was out of commission in both senses of the phrase for the rest of the summer. I finally finished and installed the first piece a month ago. The frame which I had great fun carving was made by carpenter, Brent Orenstein. The church is open to visitors if anybody would like to see this piece.
And here is a movie I took while the organist was rehearsing during installation. It isn’t great as far as movies go but it’s kind of interesting.
The Trip to Salvation Mountain
Now you might see a bit of a theme here. Something old is new again. Something interesting is brewing. After the commission was done I had the chance to go on a quick trip to Long Beach California. I quickly sourced local Outsider artists’ environments since that seems to be what holds my interest lately. I had the chance to see Watt’s Towers and Salvation Mountain. Now Watt’s Towers was wonderful: I loved it. But Salvation Mountain with its unabashed bible verses and idealism spoke to me in a whole different way. Here’s Watts Towers first.
Yes my Easter Show is coming up but before it does, I am taking part in another wonderful event. Actor Ken Welsh is doing a live reading of the entire book of St. Mark at the local Anglican church in Uxbridge. He was kind enough to ask me if I wanted to have a few paintings around the church while he performs. Aside from the cross (seen below) that the church commissioned me to do several years ago, I will have two or three new works as a preview of my Easter show and I am also borrowing back ten or so older biblical paintings from local people. Victoria Joannou, violinist, will also be playing. This is a great opportunity to see Ken live. I saw him do this at Soulpepper theatre in Toronto a couple of years ago and it amazed me. Actually it was a sold-out weekday matinee and I went alone and sat beside a woman I didn’t know. I made conversation by saying I was surprised the theatre was so full on a wednesday afternoon. She looked at me as if I had an IQ of about 37 and said slowly and emphatically “well….. it’s Ken Welsh!” So there you go.
Actor Ken Welsh reads book of Mark under my commissioned cross
And Finally My Easter Show
This one is called Postcard from Salvation Mountain. What can I say but I hope you will come. Or should I say “wish you were here”? I hope to open my house this year as well as my studio. It is slowly becoming a piece of art in itself. Give me 20 more years….
And here is a 
Lynne.Mcilvride.Art 