Le Manteau Rouge, oeuvre de Shirley Anne|Photo de Doré Productions
thelasource.com
http://thelasource.com/fr/2014/05/12/lignes-courbes-et-plis-hommage-a-lhumanite/
Lignes, courbes et plis, hommage à l’humanité
Isabelle Bloas // Culture, Exposition // Volume 14, Édition 8 - 13 au 27 mai 2014
Explorer le corps humain, s’attarder sur ses courbes et ses plis, pour mieux appréhender notre propre humanité et au-delà l’univers auquel nous appartenons, voilà l’invitation philanthropique lancée par l’artiste visuelle multidisciplinaire Shirley Anne.
Following the Line
Canadienne aux origines métissées, galloises, françaises et mi’kmaq, Shirley Anne a parcouru le pays d’est en ouest, et la planète du nord au sud. Pour la vingt-sixième exposition de sa carrière et la première en solo à Vancouver, l’artiste chevronnée a choisi de montrer au public dessins et peintures de corps humains, regroupés sous le titre Following the Line. Tout en surface et en profondeur, elle nous livre un regard touchant sur l’humanité, inspiré des rencontres substantielles faites au gré de ses voyages. De formation anthropologique et artistique, Shirley Anne s’intéresse aux différentes cultures et, au-delà de la diversité, à l’unité palpable entre les hommes et à la ressemblance singulière entre les mythes fondateurs des peuples du monde. Allant plus loin, l’artiste affirme que « tout l’univers est concentré dans le corps humain : en l’étudiant, vous apprenez comment tracer de merveilleuses formes, lignes et croquis, comment capter les couleurs et la lumière. Vous capturez l’essence même de l’univers et du monde dans lequel j’adore voyager ». Armée de crayons de graphite, fusains et crayons Conté, elle s’est appliquée à retranscrire de façon sensible sa vision des corps dans des dégradés de noir, de rouge, agrémentés de feuilles d’or, de peinture acrylique ou à l’huile, selon son inspiration. Pour ce projet, on notera la présence de titres français pour certaines œuvres, clin d’œil essentiel à son héritage linguistique francophone, ainsi que l’influence du peintre figuratif Lucian Freud et son travail sur le corps humain.
Shirley Anne, artiste visuelle multidisciplinaire|Photo par Anne Marie Slater
Point de mire sur l’artiste
La passion de Shirley Anne pour l’art s’enracine dans l’enfance, lorsque sa mère acadienne décide de déménager du Nouveau-Brunswick à Montréal. Enfant, elle s’enthousiasme pour l’architecture et les galeries d’art de la métropole québécoise et décide de consacrer sa vie au monde de la création. Plus tard, elle s’installe au Nord de l’Ontario, et découvre le mouvement artistique pluridisciplinaire francophone, le Nouvel Ontario. Musiciens, écrivains, poètes soutiennent le développement de l’art dans ce coin de pays. Ses premiers pas artistiques se font avec l’étude du textile, plus spécialement le batik, qui lui ouvre les portes de l’école des Beaux-Arts de Sudbury. Ses premières expositions très prometteuses à Ottawa lui permettent de vendre ses créations et renforcent son dévouement à l’art. D’études de tapisserie des Gobelins en France aux ateliers de photographie en Espagne, en France, au Maroc, en Indonésie ou au Mexique, sa passion l’amène à toujours se perfectionner et lui permet de capter des moments culturels privilégiés. Shirley Anne s’implique également dans la gestion, la promotion et la défense de l’art et de ses intérêts : directrice de galerie d’art, de conseil des arts, productrice de festival de théâtre, sont quelques-uns des chapeaux qu’elle a portés dans plusieurs provinces canadiennes.
Quoi de plus normal que de la retrouver aujourd’hui à Vancouver, résidant dans un des ateliers d’artistes des Railtown Studios, dans l’ancienne zone industrielle à l’Est de Gastown.
Railtown Studios
Ici vit et crée une communauté d’artistes locaux hétéroclite. Depuis trois ans, le photographe et gérant Brian C Cyr s’efforce de faire vivre ce lieu artistique où les résidents bénéficient d’un studio de peinture, d’un autre pour les répétitions de musique, et d’une chambre noire pour la photographie. Accolés aux appartements, ces aménagements donnent aux artistes la liberté d’exprimer leur talent dans des conditions professionnelles optimisées. Cerise sur le gâteau, le bâtiment offre deux espaces d’exposition : Gallery 321 et Gallery Underground. Si vous n’avez pas eu la chance de profiter des portes ouvertes à l’occasion du vernissage de son exposition, Shirley Anne vous invite à venir voir son travail à la Gallery 321. Peut-être pourrez vous aussi accéder à la Gallery Underground, basée au sous-sol, et apprécier l’exposition de photographies. Si vous désirez vous procurer une œuvre, sachez que l’artiste remet un pourcentage de chaque vente à Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre afin de soutenir les femmes, aînés, enfants et Premières Nations. Les dons supplémentaires seront aussi acceptés et donneront droit à un reçu aux fins d’impôts. A la mi-juin, Railtown Studios hébergera deux nouvelles expositions, celle de la designer graphique John James et une encore tenue secrète dans la Gallery Underground. Shirley Anne, quant à elle, participe également à une exposition de textiles à Rhode Island, avec deux cents autres créateurs, et nous promet très prochainement un site Internet dédié à son art.
Shirley Anne. Following the Line Jusqu’au 15 juin
À la Gallery 321
321 rue Railway, Vancouver
Sur rendez-vous au 604-619-7990
http://www.railtownstudios.com
Anne Shirley , multidisciplinary visual artist | Photo by Anne Marie Slater
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE FROM LA SOURCE
Lines , curves and folds , a tribute to humanity
Share : Isabelle Bloas / / Culture , Exhibition / / Volume 14, Issue 8 -
Explore the human body, lingering on its curves and folds, to better understand our own humanity and beyond the universe to which we belong , that is a philanthropic invitation by the multidisciplinary visual artist Anne Shirley .
Following the Line
The Canadian mestizo origins , Welsh , French and Mi'kmaq , Shirley Anne traveled the country from east to west , and the planet from north to south. For the twenty-sixth exhibition of her career and the first solo in Vancouver, the veteran artist has chosen to show the public drawings and paintings of human bodies, grouped under the title Following the Line . All surface and depth, it gives us a touching look on humanity, inspired substantial meetings made by her travels . With Anthropological and artistic training , Shirley Anne is interested in different cultures and , beyond the diversity, the palpable unity among men and the striking resemblance between the founding myths of the peoples of the world . Going further, the artist states that " the universe is concentrated in the human body: as the student, you learn how to draw wonderful shapes, lines and sketches , how to capture the colors and light. You capture the essence of the universe and the world in which I love to travel . " Armed with graphite pencils , charcoal, and Conté crayons , applied to recreate her vision, significantly bodies in shades of black, red, decorated with gold leaf, acrylic paint or oil, according to her inspiration . For this project, we note the presence of French titles for certain works , and wink a critical eye to her Francophone linguistic heritage , as well as the influence of the figurative painter Lucian Freud and his work on the human body.
Focus on the artist
Passion for Shirley Anne's art is rooted in childhood, when her mother decided to move Acadian New Brunswick to Montreal . As a child, she was enthusiastic about the architecture and art of Quebec's metropolis and decided to dedicate her life to the world of creation. Later , she moved to Northern Ontario , and discovered the French multidisciplinary artistic movement, the New/Nouvel Ontario. Musicians, writers , poets support the development of the art in this part of the country . Her first artistic steps are taken with the study of textiles, especially batik, which opened the doors of the School of Fine Arts in Sudbury. Her first exhibitions in Ottawa promising and allow her to sell her creations and strengthen her dedication to art . In studies in France, Gobelins tapestry, workshops in photography in Spain, France , Morocco , Indonesia and Mexico, her passion for continuous learning and allows her to capture special cultural moments . Shirley Anne is also involved in the management, promotion and defense of art and its interests : Director of an art gallery, arts council, producing theater festival are some of the hats that she wore in several Canadian provinces.
What is more natural than to find her in Vancouver today , residing in one of the workshops of artists Railtown Studios in the former industrial area to the east of Gastown .
Railtown Studios
Here lives and creates a community of diverse local artists. For three years, photographer and manager Brian Cyr C strives to live this artistic place where residents enjoy a painting studio , another for music rehearsals , and a darkroom for photography . Contiguous to the apartments , these developments give artists the freedom to express their talent in professional conditions optimized. Icing on the cake , the building has two exhibition spaces : Gallery 321 and Gallery Underground. If you have not had the chance to enjoy open doors at the opening of her exhibition , Shirley Anne invites you to come see her work at the 321 Gallery. Maybe you can also access the Gallery Underground based in the basement , and enjoy the photo exhibition . If you wish to purchase a work , know that the artist gives a percentage of each sale to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre to support women , seniors, children and First Nations. Additional donations will also be accepted and will be entitled to a receipt for tax purposes . In mid -June Railtown Studios will host two new exhibitions , the graphic designer John James and a still kept secret in the Underground Gallery . Shirley Anne, meanwhile, also is participating in an exhibition of textiles in Rhode Island, with two hundred other artists , and promises very soon a website dedicated to her art .
Shirley Anne . Following the Line Until June 15
At 321 Gallery
321 Railway Street , Vancouver
Appointment at 604-619-7990
www.shirleyanneartstudio.com
www.railtownstudios.com
"Cheetah Goddess" by Shirley Anne photo credit: Dore Productions
gastowngazette.com
“Following the Line” is raw and elegant. Each piece uses mixed media to comprise the human form – celebrating strength and beauty, while exposing an edge of vulnerability.
BREAKING SHIRLEY ANNE – FOLLOWING THE LINE Dani Kremeniuk
May 22, 2014
Arts 6
I chose the title ‘Following the Line’ because that’s what drawing is all about. You make a line, on paper, on canvas, even cutting into a piece of clay. They’re all lines – and the common denominator is me.- Gastown Artist, Shirley Anne
In moving her studio to 321 Railway, Shirley Anne seized an opportunity to showcase her extensive body of work, while also giving back to her community. Her new show, ‘Following the Line’, curated by Emmanuel St. Juste and Celine Rumalean, will be on display at Gallery 321 until June 15 – with a portion of the proceeds from every piece sold going to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.
SA: The shelter is doing really good work, and their target groups are ones that I can relate to, based on my experiences. It just seemed to make sense to help – the more I sell, the more I can give them.
Born on the East Coast in St. John, New Brunswick, Shirley Anne relocated to Montreal as a child, and stayed there until her early twenties. She credits Montreal with providing her with her artistic start.
SA: As a teenager, I spent a lot of my time downtown, where all the galleries are, and in small clubs filled with musicians and unusual people. My stepfather also worked in the theatre. He took me to rehearsals and performances; I got to see the opera, I got to see ballet. It was a whole new world.
After getting married and having a daughter, Shirley Anne and her husband decided to go west.
“Wandering With Wonder” by Shirley Anne
SA: We had a grand plan to move to BC and create a commune! Our friends changed their plans at the last moment however we were committed. We had quit our jobs and paid our way out of our apartment lease. We made it as far as northern Ontario.
Arriving in Sudbury, Ontario, Shirley Anne initially thought she had landed in a sleepy mining town. But what she found was a community of artists who would be a huge influence on her career. She began to study batik under an accomplished artist who also ran a local gallery. She went on to strengthen her skills in the three-year fine arts program at Cambrian College, and after graduation she continued with the Anthropology program at Laurentian University.
SA: I studied First Nations, Anthropology, as well as Women’s Studies and Theatre. It opened my mind to the realities of other civilizations and other peoples, and aroused my curiosity about people. Sudbury was the perfect place for me to be. It exposed me to so much in a relatively isolated environment.
She went on to further her formal education at the Alberta College of Art and Design and the University of Calgary, studying painting, drawing, interior design, and visual arts. She’s also studied Gobelin Tapestry in the South of France and attended photography workshops in France, Spain, Morocco, Bali, and Santa Fe.
But even with her abundance of knowledge and experience, Shirley Anne had yet to really showcase her own creations.
SA: It all felt a little self-serving to display my own work.
But when she moved to Vancouver, the artist in her finally emerged.
“Introspection” by Shirley Anne
“Humble Pie” by Shirley Anne
SA: There was an opportunity for me to have a solo show. It was a chance for me to display years and years of practice. Art is like anything else – it’s a practice. I know I have a strong body of work and I wanted to show it.
“Following the Line” is raw and elegant. Each piece uses mixed media to comprise the human form – celebrating strength and beauty, while exposing an edge of vulnerability.
SA: Art resonates with people in different ways. I celebrate the differences in people, trying to reach and find that common place. It’s not meant to be overly comfortable. The discovery is what I am all about. This exhibition is very important to me – but it’s not just about me…
Words by Dani Kremeniuk
Photos by Dore Productions
