Two Dartmouth-based artists are opening shows this week at Swoon, a commercial art gallery in Hammonds Plains.
Bottled, by Toni Losey and Face and Place, by Michael Stowe, are two of four artists featured in the upcoming show.
“I usually spend a lot more time on the form but for this show I was more interested in the glazing...looking at the clay as a canvas,” said Losey.
Losey’s prairie roots are evident in her approach for this show as her bottled “landscapes” depict a very simple horizon with huge skies.
Losey, a 34-year-old mother of two elementary-age children, is originally from Saskatchewan and moved to Dartmouth from Calgary with her family more than five years ago.
Juggling a hectic family schedule with doing art isn’t easy and can often involve a lot of late nights, Losey said. To get the most out of her studio time as she prepared for the show, Losey worked out many of the details prior to putting hands on clay.
“By the time I actually sat down to work I was a lot more efficient. It’s not the way I usually work, but for this show it was perfect.”
Michael Stowe’s work also draws its inspiration from landscapes, along with faces and figurative work.
Stowe said he first works his drawing out on paper, before transferring the image to mdf board. He then uses a copper wash and adds layers and texture with wax crayons.
“I’m very drawn to Japanese woodblock prints,” Stowe said, reflecting on what inspires him as an artist.
Originally from the Eastern Townships area of Quebec, Stowe has lived in Dartmouth for nearly 30 years. Recently retired from his work as an occupational therapy assistant, Stowe is now able to devote more time to art.
Face and Place is Stowe’s second show at Swoon.
Showcasing four artists in one show may seem like a lot but Brandt Eisner, owner/director of the gallery, says the gallery is well-suited to this type of approach.
“What I love about this space is that we are able to showcase very different styles and subject matters without them conflicting. Instead, each artist’s uniqueness lends to the excitement and experience....it is the passion of the artist that brings not only unity but energy to each show,” Eisner said.
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The show opens with a reception on Saturday, July 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. and runs to July 28.
For more information, call 444-8279 or info@swoonfineart.com, or visit the gallery on Facebook.
