OUT and ABOUT with Seeker Chick Mai-Liis: attending the 2021 Focus Art Members’ Exhibition

Today (November 18th) was the opening of The Focus Art Association Annual Members’ Show which is taking place on the second level of the Cornwall Square and when I asked my mother if she wanted to come with me as I did my OUT and ABOUT coverage she didn’t have to think twice about saying yes. Sadly my father passed away on October 3rd this year and my mother and father were married for 63 years, together for 66, and always inseparable. Consequently my mother is having a very hard time without her best friend so my sister and I are taking her out as much as we can and as much as she wants to, and I am really enjoying my time visiting events with my mother. Life is short and it is important for us all to spend as much time as we can with family and friends!

The weather outside was damp and rainy when I picked up my mother but when we entered the Art Show we definitely forgot about the weather outside as walking through the doors, we were taken into a completely different world. All the walls of this space were filled with artwork of over 30 local artists. The show displays a variety of styles and sizes in watercolours, oils, photographs, collage and mixed media. They are all original works and I enjoyed walking around with my mother hearing her comments on the works while I was happy to say that I could tell her the names of most of the artists without even looking at the name cards, as I can tell who they are just by their art style.

I am so happy that my mother and I share the love of art. Myself as a Graphic Designer and my mother an artist who studied Textile Design at college so it is no surprise that she is drawn the the Batiks by Elaine Arkwright. Batiks take a lot of time to make she explained as she has made many of these herself.

I introduced her to the President of Focus Art, Claudine Trottier and also Rose Desnoyers, the Secretary. Rose posed for me by one of her paintings. Also at the show was artist Yafa Goawily who came to Cornwall a year and a half ago (at the start of the Pandemic) but has certainly made a home for herself in the Cornwall Art Community. I got a great shot of Yafa explaining one of her paintings to Rose.

The Focus Art Show began today and is open to the public November 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Hours are, Thursday and Friday 11am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm. I advise everyone to stop in as there is definitely something for everyone to admire and of course all the works on show are also for sale so while you are here you can also get some Christmas shopping done.

A question you might ask yourself while in the exhibition is, why are there tables and chairs set up in the middle of the room? Well, these are for members of Focus Art who are hosting the show to come in and draw, paint or just doodle so you might be lucky to even meet some of the artists while you are visiting the show. Not only will you be treated to an eye full of beautiful art but you will be able to see how pieces are created as well.

In the window, you will see a beautiful painting of flowers, titled, “Where You Go, I Go” (valued at $1,000) painted by artist Cynthia Gatien. You can buy tickets for a chance to win this magnificent 36 by 36 inch painting which has been donated by the Cynthia. Tickets are available at the show and the draw will take place at the Christmas Focus Art meeting on December 16th at the RCAF.

Also you will be asked, after seeing all the artworks, to put the number of your favourite painting in a box marked People’s Choice which of course means that the art piece with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award.

Many years ago Seeker Chick Julia and I were on the Board of Focus Art and were lucky to spend some time sitting in at one of the shows and I have to say that Cornwall Square is a great location for this show because over the few hours that we were in the room we got to see so many people coming in to admire the works. People who would probably not venture into a gallery and I am talking people of all ages. To me it was wonderful to see young people taking an interest in Art and Focus Art is always welcoming young artists into the association.

ART IS ALL AROUND US and for more information about Focus Art you can visit the website: www.focusartonline.org or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/focusartassociation