“What’s the Point?” by the Casa Décor’s Art Collective in the KAC Hallway Gallery

What’s the Point asks the artists to consider what art is all about and the connectedness of art through different genres, styles and conversations. The CasaDécor’s Art Collective encourages dialogues surrounding art history, critiques, intention, political lens and expression, whether it is emotional, representational or intuitive. All the artists in the Casa Décor’sArt Collective learn the rules of classical painting and drawing, and then when they feel comfortable, they are encouraged to break them for as Katherine Hepburn whispered to the Casa Décor painters “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” The results can be amazing and create a new way of thinking. We invite the viewer to consider “What’s the point?”

About the Artists:

Lois Williams began painting with Tricia Sellmer two years ago. She explores colour, line, shapes, balance and textures. Her work combines a conversation between abstraction and nature. She has shown her work with the Art Collective at Casa Décor and is one of the artists showcased in the Residence’sGallery at Orchard Walk.

Penny Heaslip, born in Ontario, arrived in Western Canada over 40 years ago and began her career as a nursing educator. She was an active member of the nursing program at Thompson Rivers University. Her educational ideas and influences often took her to different parts of the Globe such as Nepal, Africa and the US. During these many travels, she often visited artists’ and artisans’ colonies and galleries. While a teenager, not only did she meet, A Y Jackson, but she enrolled in art classes. Her first painting was exhibited at the Ottawa City Hall. Retiring from Thompson Rivers University’s nursing faculty eleven years ago, Penny started painting again and is now being mentored by Tricia Sellmer. Thom Thompson’s work influences Penny Heaslip. Currently, she is exploring landscape abstraction and is now informed by Diebenkorn, Ted Smith and Louise Fletcher’s landscape work. She has exhibited at Gallery 635, the Kamloops Art Council’s gallery and in Casa Décor as part of the Art Collective. Currently, she is one of the artists showcased in the Residence’s Gallery at Orchard Walk.

Bonnie Kavanagh has lived in Kamloops most of her life and spent many years involved in entrepreneurial endeavours as well as 6 years with the Kamloops Art Gallery. Three years ago, she allowed her creative spirit to bubble forth and began her professional career as a visual artist. Her images of angels and abstract paintings have been well received. She has exhibited at Gallery 635, the Kamloops Art Council’s gallery and in Casa Décor as part of the Art Collective. Currently, she is one of the artists showcased in the Residence’s Gallery at Orchard Walk.

Tara Hess arrived in Kamloops two years ago and joined the Pond Painters where she was encouraged to develop her creative expression. She then started in the Art Collective at the Casa Décor studio and began to look more seriously at colour, line and form. She has worked on representable art but moved into abstraction where she has found an affinity. Since moving to Kamloops Tara has exhibited her work at Gallery 635 and Casa Décor. Currently, she is one of the artists showcased in the Residence’s Gallery at Orchard Walk.

Wendy McKenzie has retired from a professional career in the military, nursing and academia. She is now transitioning into her creative passions which include writing and the visual arts. She started with the Pond Painters and now is painting with the Casa Art Collective (the Hive) under the tutelage of Tricia Seller. Wendy participated in both the Paint for the Peace Project and the Summertime exhibitions at Casa Décor. When considering What’s the Point Wendy, after reflection, chose to depict the interconnection between nature and humankind. We all have a part to play. Perhaps that’s the point.

Pat Owen brings a sense of curiosity to her art practice. Since she was a child, she searched for creative expression. Her search was guided by an innate sense of intuition, balance and harmony within her connection with nature. Harmony and Balance come from Pat Owen’s ongoing practice.

After returning from Victoria, Jennifer Melville started painting sessions with Tricia Sellmer and the Casa Décor’s Art Collective. She explored line, colour and form, and soon her creative expression bubbled forth. Jennifer’s response to What’s the Point explores the notion of a tulip bulb through historical lens. Just as paintings can be viewed as a symbol of wealth and appreciation, so too was the tulip. In the 17th century, tulip bulbs were such a “hot commodity” that a single tulip bulb could buy a house. Tulip bulbs have been sent to the Canadian government from the Netherlands since WW11as a form of gratitude because Canadian soldiers liberated Holland.

Victoria Decaire has been working with Tricia Sellmer for the past three years and has explored travels across various landscapes through different lenses relating to her personal experiences. She combines an in-depth study of art history and culture through Tricia’s tutelage. Recently, Victoria was selected and then participated in The Creator Space, an art residency for youth at the Kamloops Art Gallery. As well, she has exhibited at Gallery 635 and is one of the artists showcased in the Residence’s Gallery at Orchard Walk.

Anonymous, with reference to Banksy, tackles the question of the colour Red. How is it used in visual images? The primary colour opposite green on the colour wheel represents Christmas. What does it depict? Power, love, sacrifice, danger, wealth, revolutions, blood, passion, fire, cultural practices, the Renaissance, poppies, the Louboutin signature, sin, stop, a red velvet cake, The Red Hat Society and heart. A Red Dot means sold.

What’s the Point was curated by Tricia Sellmer, a contemporary Canadian artist based in Kamloops. She is a lifetime member of the Kamloops Arts Council and holds an MFA from the Trans Art Institute of Creative Research.