There will be a new exhibit at the The Art Gallery in Cornwall from February 6th to March 15th 2013. The open reception for “Losing Jovie” will take place at the Art Gallery on February 6th at 6pm.

The artist featured in the exhibit is Renee Lalande. This high school art teacher was born and raised in Cornwall Ontario, and she studied Visual Arts at the University of Ottawa.

The inspiration for this exhibit was the lost of her only child, Jovie Denise Butcher who passed away in February of 2012 due to a genetic disorder. The artist has used her artistic talents and creativity to express the grief of losing her daughter.

According to Renee, “the inspiration for my series entitled ‘Losing Jovie’ stems from my impressions and reflections of losing my daughter… the paintings reflect my emotional journey as I experienced the different stages of the grieving process. Art became a therapy for self-exploration and understanding as I questioned my my future, my spirituality and my life. Painting became my refuge. My art was an outlet where I felt safe to release my pain and my sorrow”.

To learn more about Renee Lalande and this exhibit, please visit this website: http://www.tagcornwall.ca/losing-jovie/