Wildflower Art Centre: Over 30 years in Calgary

Wildflower gets a face lift, check out the new red building!

Wildflower Art Centre ia located at 3363 Spruce Dr.SW, in Calgary, AB

For the past ten years I have been privileged to work as a fine arts instructor at the city run facility the Wildflower Arts Centre. In 2012, the City of Calgary's department of Recreation celebrates 100 years serving Calgarians. As we mark this milestone, I wanted to take a minute to highlight one of our city's hidden gems.

My first summer working at the art centre was teaching "Arts Ventures", art day camps for children. We listened to the golden oldies on the radio and dived into numerous projects, using everything from clay and recyclables to conte and acrylics. Looking back to when I first started I really didn't know how to teach art classes, but through a lot of trail and error I began to find my rhythm. The summer was filled with all sorts of projects, we made kites, musical instruments, painted t-shirts, artist trading cards, filled our sketchbooks, and every week tackled the dreaded paper mache project! In the years to come, I taught a variety of ceramic classes including hand building and wheel throwing to children, teens, and adults. As my own practice evolved into one of painting, I taught ceramics less and less. To this day I continue to teach my favorite programs; oil painting, Teen Art Studio, and Adults Arts Combo.

As Recreation celebrates 100 years in Calgary, I pause to reflect on all the great art, wonderful students, and exceptional colleagues I have been lucky to teach and meet over my ten years at the centre.I raise a glass to the next 100 years of recreation in Calgary and the continued access to fine and performing art programs to Calgarians from all walks of life!


For more information about Wildflower and it's programs please visit
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreation/Pages/Arts-centres/Wildflower.aspx

The artist and rejection

Rejection and the artist are two things that go hand in hand. As an artist, in order to have your work seen and appreciated, requires that you put your self “out there”. This means you submit your artwork to exhibitions, galleries, residencies, grants, prizes, etc. The fact of the matter is that you will be unsuccessful or rejected in these endeavors most of the time. From my own personal experience for every ten applications I send out I usually get one letter of acceptance. There is nothing worse than receiving a letter in the mail, with one thin rejection letter inside. It is disappointing, but try not to let it discourage you and these are the reasons why…

1. It is very competitive out there and you don’t know who you are up against. It could be your old college professor or another very well respected artist that “won” the prize you so desperately wanted.
2. Your work may not have been the right fit, for the program, exhibition, or residency you were applying to. When curating exhibitions or awarding grants, juries are often looking for variety. Your work may have simply not fit the mix.
3. In tough economic times the sheer volume increases, especially in granting. When times are lean, there are more applicants. This boils down to math and statistics, the probability of you “winning” simply decreases.
4. Your work is good. This is the last and the most important point. When I started working as a professional painter I believed my work was good. Ten years later looking back, it is not surprising that I did not get into every show and gallery I approached. This is because although there was “something there”, as one gallery owner once told me, I was still developing my voice as an artist. I needed to work from that place to develop and grow into the artist I am today.

Now I get accepted to more exhibitions then I did back then, but I still get my fair share of thin rejection letters in the mail. You are the one person who needs to believe in the strength of your work, because at certain points in your career you maybe the only one in the world who does. If I had listened to the criticism back then, I would not be painting today. Besides, the best stories are made from those that have tried and failed, this makes for a great story when you finally do succeed. Hang in there, keep working, and know that these talents were given to you to share.

New Work: Foothills Study

Foothills Study: Leighton Centre, this painting is the fourth in a new series. As mentioned in previous blogs, I am currently working on a series of mixed media paintings on photographic print. This photograph taken at the Leighton Centre, incorporates oil paint around the subject and a heavy charcoal application, creating movement in to background of the painting.

West End Mural Project

This winter, I have been fortunate to work with a group of clients on the West End Mural Project. Each Friday our group, in conjunction with the Calgary Housing Corporation has come together to design and paint an indoor mural for the building’s community room. As the project closes I am excited to share this image of our efforts and in my opinion our best mural to date! A special shout out to Hannah Poon for getting this project off the ground and for her mural design!

Earth Works, an old school "photoshop" project

I have headed back to the studio recently, with a new project in hand. I have begun a new series of paintings working with oil paint on photograph. Since September, I have been collecting imagery for the project, taking day trips Fish Creek Provincial Park and Elbow Falls photographing the finer elements of nature. The images capture the smallest components of landscape; detailing river rocks, rose hips, and snow covered grasses. Once the photographs have been taken and the prints have been enlarged, I begin experimenting with thick swashes of paint and oil sticks directly on the photographic print. After layering the paint on the photograph, I have been working back into the surface with charcoal pencils, carving in and around the forms within the photographs. Here are a few of the examples of works in progress. The sizes of the pieces range from 24x18" to 12x8", I hope to continue this experimentation and work towards even larger scale prins. The images shown above detail the photographs "before" and the images below illustrate "after" with the addition of oil paints (click images for a larger view).

I am very pleased to announce that I have posted a few new items in my Esty store! The featured artwork includes miniature watercolor paintings and a mixed media piece. Stayed tuned for even more items!

"So this is Christmas and what have you done?"

Dear Collogues, Family, and Friends,
It is hard to believe another year has passed and we are already approaching 2012. As I look back on the highlights of 2011, my favorite part of this last year was the opportunity to connect with both old and new friends; the fellow artists I work with at Wildflower Art Centre, Prospect, and through my Christmas sales. I am very fortunate to work alongside these dedicated and talented people. It has been truly awesome to watch the talents and professionalism of my fellow artists, expand and grow.

Personally, I want to thank (you!) my family and friends for attending exhibitions and sales in support of my artistic endeavors this year. I am always surprised to see your friendly faces in the early morning at some community hall and am amazed how you continued to keep coming out in support me and of my artwork. Lastly, a big thank you to E for his encouragement and assistance over the past year, whether he is helping me with yet another load of artwork or listening to endless "grant rants", he is always willing to lend a hand and an ear.
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas....

Sayōnara 2011 and hola 2012!
Peace
Lisa Tornack

Bridgeland Christmas Market

Please join us this weekend at the Bridgeland Christmas Market. The show runs from 10am-6pm presenting a variety of wares from local artists. From ceramics and jewelry to paintings and needle felting there is something for everyone!

Merry Ho Ho!