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Showing posts with label art gallery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art gallery. Show all posts

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Canadian Art… it's Good Enough to Steal

This month's FREE mp3 download is  DREAM HARBOUR (part5)
•To save to computer, RIGHT-CLICK the link & select"Save Target As" 
•To listen to it right now LEFT-CLICK the link




HOWL  by judy cooper
There are many world-class Canadian painters, who toil daily, under the radar of national fame.
They all use different styles,techniques, media & fields of interest.
For those who may not be familiar with the esteem with which Canadian art is held, I would draw your attention to some of the attention it's gotten over the years.
We're always hearing how works of internationally famous artists such as van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt etc. are often stolen or show up decades after they've mysteriously disappeared.

Well if getting the attraction of art thieves is any indication as to the value of a piece of art, Canadiana art is right up there with the best of them.

 

"Group of Seven paintings stolen after Toronto gallery window smashed"This is the headline from a story from this morning's a Globe & Mail, as reported by Timothy Appleby. Apparently, last Sunday, Phillip Gevik's Yorkville art gallery, which specializes in work by Canadian artists, was broken into by thieves. They made off with three valuable paintings, including two Group of Seven pieces. Total values of the art is  set at  $50,000. Mr.Gevik suspects the paintings were "stolen-to-order".

Three years ago, a similar smash-and-grab netted three paintings by Quebec abstract artist Pierre Gauvreau. Again “They had a customer already, probably,” said Mr.Gevik. “Somebody, somewhere wanted them.”

ARTIC VALLEY  by leslie rohonczy


In July of 2011, eleven paintings valued at close to $400,000 were lifted from the Canadian Fine Arts store on Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Road. 
Three months earlier, three others worth about $73,000 were lifted from the Odon Wagner Gallery, which is also located in Yorkville.
 


SPRUCE STAND  by lorraine roy
 Quebec is home to Canada’s only dedicated art-crime enforcement unit. Drawn from the RCMP and Quebec provincial police, the group investigates up to 90 cases a year.
Have I established the stature of Canadian painters in your mind yet? 
I have long recognized the stature of Canadian artists. 
On my website I have a number of Canadian artists, whom I help promote through the inclusion of their work in my online greeting cards. Yes, you can send greeting cards to your friends, family & loved ones that feature the work of talented Canadian artists.

My hope is that many people will discover more Canadian artists and visit their websites to purchase art from them directly.As you can see from the art sprinkled throughout this newsletter, we have a wealth of talented painters in Canada.  If you are aware of any artists that I should also know about, please send me their contact info.

FREE LEMONADE  by mona weinstein


    Go visit a show of Canadian art in your city!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Wedding Music… The Ultimate Self-Expression


 This month's FREE mp3 download is  DREAM HARBOUR (part3)
•To save to computer, RIGHT-CLICK the link & select"Save Target As" 
•To listen to it right now LEFT-CLICK the link




Wedding Music…The Ultimate in Self-Expression!

I am often asked by young brides to help them with their song selections for the ceremony, reception and most importantly, the first dance.
I preface any suggestions I give, with the following advice:  "The music at your wedding should ultimately reflect who you are. It should reflect what you want to say to your guests & future husband."

Choose songs that touch your heart, after all you pick out the wedding dress that best suits you… why not continue that train of thought  when it comes to the music?

Most brides are not music experts, and therefore they tend to go with what they've heard done at their friend's weddings. Having said that here are some great ideas for you.

The Ceremony Play List
Keep in mind, that in the spirit of making your wedding as unique as you are, there is no official rule that says your wedding musician(s) must perform all of the "traditional" wedding songs at your ceremony.

Here's some places where you can draw your inspiration from:
1. your favourite hymn
2. type "new age pianist" into a Google search bar
3. a folk song from your own heritage
4. type in "famous opera arias" into a Google search bar

5. use your imagination !

I often interview my clients to get an exact idea of what they want their music to express, and then I make specific suggestions.


The Reception Play List
The key here is to try to create some variety in your music so that there is a little something for everyone, that's why I always perform selections from every decade of music, until I find the "feel" or the "sweet spot" of the room. This is  the cue for the type of music that I will generally follow for the remainder of the reception. "Its not necessarily just the music…it’s more so the way the music  moves."


It's been my experience that many contemporary brides & grooms choose to have traditional jazz standards performed at their reception. It's exciting, yet not intrusive, and promotes plenty of  easy conversation amongst your guests, most of whom are strangers to one another.

The First Dance

Usually the most significant song of your entire wedding, most brides have a difficult time finding just the right song for that very first dance with dad, or with their new husband. In cases such as these, I always recommend one of my custom-made songs, which will express your thoughts and feelings perfectly. You also get to choose the style of music you want as well.

The Band
If you're using a live party band, you don't have to worry about song selection, because the beauty of a live band is not the songs themselves, but the spirit and energy the band puts out during their performance. Your guest will tap into this and dance regardless of the song titles. However, I do suggest that you get a song list  from the band, to make sure that they play the type of music you like. You certainly don't want a Barvarian Polka Band playing at wedding where most of your guests are from Asia.


The  Ipod/D.J  List
Ask your DJ, or person running your ipod to load up some of these songs.

The All-Time Fav's

1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
2. (Everything I Do) I Do it for You – Bryan Adams
3. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
4. Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
5. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
6. Unchained Melodies – Righteous Brothers
7. I Honestly Love You – Olivia Newton John
8. These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
9. Sometimes When We Touch – Dan Hill
10. Breath – Faith Hill
11. Your Song – Elton John
12. Home – Michael Buble
13. This Year’s Love – David Gray
14. Amazed – Lonestar
15. Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
16. Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
17. I Hope You Dance – Lee Anne Womack
18. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
19. You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
20. When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss

Getting the party started:
21. Beat It - Michael Jackson
22. Hey Baby – Bruce Channel
23. I Got A Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
24. Friday, I’m in Love – The Cure
25. Marry You – Bruno Mars
26. Love Shack – B-52’s
27. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
28. Celebration – Kool and the Gang
29. Oh, What A Feeling – Crowbar
30. Kiss – Prince
31. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
32. Billy Jean – Michael Jackson
33. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
34. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
35. I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
36. Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
37. I Feel Good – James Brown
38. Bad Case of Loving You – Robert Palmer
39. You Can Dance – Michael Buble
40. Johnnie B. Goode – Chuck Berry

Necessary Novelties for your late night crowd:
41. Cotton-Eyed Joe - Rednex
42. Chicken Dance - Werner Thomas
43. YMCA – Village People
44. Tootsee Roll – 69 Boyz
45. Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper
46. Electric Boogie – Marcia Griffiths
47. Macarena – Los Del Rio
48. Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
49. Get Ready for This – 2 Unlimited
50. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – Will Smith

Monday, March 5, 2012

March Jazz Concert at McMichael Gallery



This month's free MP3 download is a tune performed by my Jazz trio. 
                                It's called  Blue ConXion

 •To save it to your computer,RIGHT-CLICK the link & select"Save Target As" 

To listen to it right now LEFT-CLICK the link


                           March Jazz Concert 

Most of my professional engagements occur at corporate & private venues. Every so often,I'm invited to perform publicly, so I'm thrilled to announce on 


                 1:30, on Sunday March 18, 2012  
                                  I'll be appearing in concert at 
                                 The Canadian McMichael Art Gallery
                                        in Kleinburg, Ontario.

I'll be there with my Jazz trio, featuring the famous Sonny Milne on Drums, and the incomparable, Russ Strathdee on alto saxophone.


We'll be performing great jazz standards by composers such as Strayhorn, Ellington, Gershwin, plus some original compositions



                            The Canadian McMichael Art Gallery

                              The best part of visiting  the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 
                             is that my concert is included with your entry fee into the gallery.


                        Adults  $15       Students $12         Seniors  $12        Parking   $5
 
                          Family  1 - 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 18  $30

                          10365 Islington Avenue  Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada  L0J 1C0
 
                                                 905.893.1121     888.213.1121




The Story behind the McMichael Canadian Art Collection 

 In the early decades of the twentieth century, circumstances brought together seven artists, the "Group of Seven", who were committed to exploring, through art, the unique character of the Canadian landscape. Collectively they agreed: Canada’s rugged wilderness regions needed to be recorded in a distinctive painting style. This style would break from European tradition and reflect an increasingly nationalistic sentiment. Despite its name, the Group of Seven membership eventually grew to include ten artists.
Opened in 1966, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection was founded by Robert and Signe McMichael to the people of Ontario, with a gift of almost 200 works of art, housed in a hand-hewn log and fieldstone building, on 14 acres of land. The McMichael's goal was to  focus on the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and the Aboriginal artists of Canada.



Who are the "The Group of Seven"?










What's so Important About Kleinburg?

McMichael Canadian Art Collection is located in Kleinburg, Onatrio, a quaint village
nestled on the floodplain of the Humber River valley, a river the early French
explorerSamuel de Champlain travelled during his search for a route to the
Orient while atthe same time strengthening France's  ties with the First Nations.
He was a prolific writer, who published some of the best early descriptions of Ontario.

Samuel de Champlain
Kleinburg was founded in in1848 by John Klein. Today Kleingburg is a genuine tourist trap, alive with Canadian traditions and architecture, beautifully restored buildings, and is home to various local galleries, boutiques, design, home decor, book and gift shops.
Today the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, has almost 6,000 pieces of artwork & houses thirteen exhibition galleries with  the floor-to-ceiling windows, that  give you marvelous views of the  surrounding wooded valley below.

It sits on 100 acres of wooded conservation land. This area was originally cleared for farming & is in a state of regrowth .The slopes that connect the floodplain with the uplands remain forested. There's a wide variety of wild animals and insects including birds,deer, fish, even the occasional wild turkey, fox and beaver. It welcomes on average 120,000 visitors annually. In 2009, spending by overnight cultural visitors generated over $3.8 billion for the provincial economy and supported over 64,000 jobs.


The Tree: Form and Substance
This spring, the McMichael celebrates the artistic, cultural, and natural aspects of the tree with two breathtaking exhibitions, a variety of programs, and special installations, that provide an exciting opportunity for visitors to connect the gallery’s interior spaces with its' newly invigorated outdoor spaces and forested landscape.
McMichael Canadian Art Collection offers an array of programs and events for people of all ages. They include curators’ lectures, tours, music performances, kids’ camps, workshops, school programs and hands-on art activities. 

There's also a network of trails for hikers, naturalists, walkers and mountain bikers. Some of trails are wheelchair accessible. There are even paths  that have giant outdoor sculptures on display. 
Six of the Group of Seven members, and gallery co-founders Robert and Signe McMichael have been laid to rest in a small cemetery on the grounds of the McMichael.
Next door you'll find the Kortright Conservation Centre.
Hope to see you there.     
Please come up & say hello 


Contemporary Canadian Artists

Canada has plenty of world class artists who are busy carrying on the legacy of the "Group of seven". I am continually searching for them everywhere I can.

You can send your friends & family free greeting cards, featuring the work of these Canadian artists.
 Take a look at some of the beautiful work of these great artists do. Like me, I'm sure you'll be really impressed with the quality of their work. 
If you know of any Canadian artist that should be included in with this group, please let me tell me about
them.



    Planning a Special Event? 


Corporate Events
Weddings
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is also an ideal venue for all your special occasions, be it a meeting, corporate function, a wedding, or a private dinner or cocktail reception.Spaces accommodate 5 to 220 guests.