My annual Easter exhibition of new work is my favourite show when I open my studio and home to the public. This year I continue with my series of painted low relief carved hands. Keep checking here for images of new work, prices and inspirations.
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.
Available Work:
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.
Propeller Art Gallery
30 Abell St, Toronto
regular hours: Wed-Sat 1-5:30pm Sun 12-4pm
www.propellerartgallery.com
416 504-7142TOUCH2 online
Cat on a Blanket
2024
2′ x 2′
$2000.00
My 2024 Easter Exhibition
| 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.
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.
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.
And now here is Salvation Mountain in Slab City. Visit if you can. Stay at Cherry and Abel’s Air BNB.
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.
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….
I am astonished there is only one week left to see my show. Although it was great to see the response at the opening, I am touched by those who visited in quieter times and wrote to me of being uplifted. How appropriate, in a show about tornados! I might arrange to be there sometime during the final weekend. I will post information if that is the case. If anyone has any interest in my work, I hope they will see the show. Although many of the paintings and constructions can be seen in my studio at the Uxbridge Studio Tour or my annual “Easter Show”, there is a narrative in this show–a configuration and order that is also part of the creative process. These pieces will never be seen in exactly the same way again. For one thing, I had to borrow a few back from present owners! Show ends Sunday, June 21st at 4:00 PM, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, downstairs in Gallery A.
(I call it the root cellar.)
Tomorrow (Sunday June 7) is my opening for “The Tornado that Turned into a Cat.” Oshawa McLaughlin Gallery, 12-4, downstairs in Gallery A. 
Today I try to figure out what to say in my talk. It will probably consist of what I have written in the last few weeks in this blog. I have put a lot of effort into this show and I admit some trepidation. Please join me tomorrow. My talk is scheduled for 1:30 but it can be avoided if you just want to come to the opening. (Give yourself a little extra time to skirt around Oshawa road closures). The show continues to June 21st. Don’t miss it!
Hello! After 2 1/2 grueling days, my show is finally up. (Thanks to Ann who helped deliver too much work for my little car, and Cria for bringing snacks and Marni, the gallery person who helped me set things up.) I thought I would be all new-fangled and put a price list here so you can wander around with an iPad telling you what things cost in case somebody took off with the paper price list. Here you go: I hope it’s helpful.
Lynne McIlvride’s Price List
*Please note all sales are made through the artist only. If Lynne is not in the gallery, she can be contacted at LynneMcilvride@icloud.com.
2. Giant Tornado, 2013-2015, mixed media constructed painting and installation, $3000.00 
5. Catastrophe, 2015, mixed media installation, $800.00
12.The Turning, 2014, mixed media paper construction, $2000.00
| 13. Touching Down, 2014, mixed media paper construction, $1500.00 |
14. Turn, Turn, Turn, 2014, mixed media paper construction, $1000.00
Lynne.Mcilvride.Art 