Our artist Dorit Elbaz, is showing now at the new Aroma Espresso Cafe, on Yonge and Eglinton:
A Journey
Aroma Cafe
2300 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
February 8-28, 2010
6:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Our artist Irit Lepkin, who was featured in the last Shalom Toronto article, is showing now at the Burlington Art Centre, in a group exhibit “Ark”.
Irit Lepkin
Ark
February 13 – April 25
Collection Corridor
Irit Lepkin, Joni Moriyama, Ann Roberts, Laurie Rolland, Danuta Weizenbluth
The Centre will have their current exhibitions reception on Sunday, February 28, 2010, 2-4pm
Burlington Art Centre
1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON
The other shows on display:
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Burlington Fibre Arts – 15th Anniversary Exhibition
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Lorne Toews: Figurative Paintings
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Pars Pro Toto: A sundry … Ceramic installations by Catherine Paleczny
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ARK: Irit Lepkin, Joni Moriyama, Ann Roberts, Laurie Rolland, Danuta Weizenbluth
Plus poetry reading by members of the Canadian Federation of Poets.
For more information, please visit the Burlington Art Centre website: www.BurlingtonArtCentre.on.ca
Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art (2)
By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, February 18, 2010
The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.
This week I had the opportunity to interview two artists who mainly work in 3 dimension materials. First, one of the founding members of the group, award winning ceramic sculpture and photography artist Irit Lepkin. And second, a more recent addition to the group, Jewelry artist Inna Gorshtein.
Irit was born in Israel to an artistic family. Her father is one of the first graduates from Bezalel art school in Jerusalem and is a well-known artist in Israel. A Fine Arts under-graduate from Haifa University, Irit moved to Canada in 1981 with her husband and two children, where she continued her art studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and later opened her studio in Toronto. Participating in many art shows featured at the Gardiner Museum, Burlington Art Centre and Visual Arts Ontario, Irit’s work has also been published in books and magazines. She has won several awards, grants and scholarships
Irit’s ceramic sculptures are inspired by organic forms found in nature, and have many political connotations involving social issues. Much of her inspiration comes from her photography and her personal background. She often incorporates mixed media such as rusted metal or barbed wire in order to juxtapose the harshness of reality with the softness of clay. Her piece entitled ‘Shattered Dreams’ is an example of this kind of work. Some of her recent work includes sculptural shoes made in clay and mixed media.
Shattered Dreams (detail) by Irit Lepkin, 30x30cm, clay and barbed wire
Shoes 2 by Irit Lepkin, L 23cm X W 8cm X H 13cm, clay
Irit is active in the community through her involvement with the Israeli Women Division of the UJA, several ceramic associations in Toronto, and the Israeli Artists Group. Being one of its founding members in 1992, and served as President in 2006, Irit is proud and excited that the group not only lasted for that long, but is thriving with many new members and activities planned for the future.
The second artist works in very different materials, but her Jewelry pieces are miniature sculptures, ready to be wear and adore any woman’s neck or ear. Inna Gorshtein is a self taught jewelry artist. Born in Ukraine, Inna moved to Israel in 1991, and then to Toronto in 1999. Inna’s one of a kind jewelry is made of quality gemstones, Swarovski crystals, pearls, lamp work glass, sterling silver, copper and leather. Her elegant designs feature many curvy and round shapes, swirls and wire wrapped circles, dotted with colorful centerpiece gems, a very feminine and lavish addition to any jewelry lover’s collection.
Her international background influences Inna’s work, bringing her clients designs that are both elegant and has some oriental hints. In her own words: “I am always inspired by Israeli jewelry artists. I own many jewelry pieces from Israel which influences my own designs. I incorporate a lot of Judaic elements in my jewelry.”
With a full day job in technology, Inna’s plan is to become a full time artist, creating and developing her designs which she is very passionate about. Starting to work into that direction, she utilizes the power of Internet online marketing, and has created an online shop on Etsy, one of the major online marketplaces for artisans. Her clients come from near and far, virtually from all over the world. In addition, Inna sells her collection at few stores around the GTA, as well as in art and craft shows.
Inna Gorshtein and her Be My Valentine Necklace. Sterling silver and Swarovski crystal
Irit Lepkin’s recent work can be seen in the Distillery District Dish Gallery. She was recently invited to participate in a show with six ceramic artists from across Canada; the show is at Burlington Art Centre starting in February for 3 months.
For more information you can e-mail her: ilepkin@rogers.com. Her website is under construction and will be completed shortly.
Inna’s collection can be viewed and purchased via her website and Etsy store, at www.ingojewelry.com. Visit her blog for monthly jewelry giveaway http://ingojewelry.blogspot.com. For commissioned work or special requests, she can be reached via email innag@ingojewelry.com or by phone at 416 803 7131
Both Irit and Inna will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill.
Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto (moshe@mikanovsky.com, www.mikanovsky.com)
Artists Interview, Hebrew
Related posts:
Encaustic Workshop
Introduction to Encaustic – Hot Wax Painting
with Myriam Levy
You will be introduced to the basics of this ancient technique.
Learn to experiment, explore and create in this wonderful and versatile medium!
We will cover:
- Materials
- Tools
- Safety
- Making colors
- Fusing
- Layering
- Smooth surfaces
- Textured surfaces
- Transfers
- Mixed media
Time: Tuesdays 10:00 -12:30
Price: $150 for two sessions, 2 ½ hours per session
Material: $ 35
Location: 115 Codsell Ave. North York
Contact: Myriam 416-627-0182 416-627-0182 mflevy@rogers.com
FLUID ACRYLIC WET-ON WET ON PAPER (CANVAS) WORKSHOP
with BIANKA GUNA www.biankaguna.com
e-mail bianka@biankaguna.com
cell: 416-520-4607
THREE DAYS ACRYLIC ABSTRACTION WORKSHOP
THURSDAY APRIL 29th – FRIDAY APRIL 30th - SATURDAY 1st OF MAY 2010
STUDIO SIX FRAMING AND ART SUPLIES
157 DENISON STREET, MARKHAM, ONTARIO, L3R 1B5
MOTTO
“I believe talent is not essential to be a good artist. Hard work is ” .
“Talent is the ability to spot what looks right or wrong in a painting ” .
(Johannes Vloothuis / Painter )
Expect to learn the use of colour, texture , movement and get inspired from what surrounds you daily: magazines (interior design ,architecture, fashion..), music , a great book, your cherished photo album from your trips abroad, your own sketch books and your “old” paintings.
MATERIALS USED
Cold Pressed Watercolour Paper 200 lb(Saunders Waterford )-12 Full Sheets
If you decide to paint on canvas , bring canvases no bigger than 24”x30” , stretched or un- stretched
1 Foam Board Support Full Sheet Size
1 Big roll of Masking Tape
Colour Mixing Containers deep enough and large enough for big size brushes, many enough (one for each colour)
Golden Acrylic Fluid Paints Recommended (you can bring other brands if you have them at home): Titanium White, Titanium Buff, Hansa Lemon Yellow,Transparent Pyrrole Orange, Napthtol Red Light and Medium ,Quinacridone Crimson, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Antraquinone Blue, Cobalt Teal , Jenkins Green ,Green Gold, Bone Black or Carbon Black( White and Black paints are a must!!)
Water Containers Big enough to hold big brushes
Brushes big flat 1 inch, 1 ½ inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 6 inch the bigger the better
For texture painting plastic wrap, sponges, scrapers, palette knife (or an old discarded credit card will also work)
Paper towel (Bounty) to clean the edges of the painting
ABOUT ABSTRACT PAINTING
“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot physically see with his eyes. Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an explosion into unknown areas”(Arshile Gorky, Painter)
Abstract is an art–historical invention. Historically the word refers to the form only, not to colour, and not to texture. The term non-objective is sometimes offered as a superior term to abstract. Several directions (styles) or abstract art were created over the years Neoplasticism, Surrealism, Dada, Modernism, Minimalism, Postmodernism, etc.
Abstract painting uses the same rules of composition (variety of lines and shapes), division of space (radial, circular, fugal, pyramidal, meander, repetition), design (structure, forms, shape , movement, rhythm), colour harmony (hue, value, light intensity, contrast, energy ,tension, symbolism, dissonance) , texture (decorative, dynamic) as the representational painting.
“Art no longer cares to serve the state and religion, it no longer wishes to illustrate the history of manners, it wants to have nothing further to do with the object, as such, and it believes it can exist, in and for itself, without “things”… feeling, after all, is always and everywhere the one and only source of every creation” (Kasamir Malevich,Painter).
“For me there is no one “technique” that makes every painting work, no matter how technically proficient I might become. Making a painting work is always a negotiation with the painting itself. I always start with a plan, but, if I am not open to tweaking, altering or even abandoning the plan, it is more likely that I can lose the painting” (David Row, Painter).
Bibliography “Abstract Painting” by Vicky Perry
REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISSAPPOINTMENT !
Price: $175 per three days
Register to Bianka’s workshop and pay at Studio Six Framing and Art Supplies before April 10th 2010 :
157 Denison Street, Markham, Ontario, L3R 1B5
Phone: 905-475-1136
Fax:905-475-1271
Website: www.studio-six.com
Toronto is a very international and diverse city. Being an immigrant you actually feel at home because most of the people nowadays living in Toronto are immigrants. We were joking one day at work that there are no Canadians in the house, or Canadian-born… Well, it was almost the truth, since we did have couple of guys that were born in Toronto, but overall, our team consisted of people from all over the world – China, Romania, Turkey, Scotland, Israel, India, Russia, and more!
This weekend I went to a very special art show at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. The Gardiner is a museum dedicated to the ceramic arts. I must admit that I have been many times across the street at the Royal Ontario Museum, the ROM, but never had the chance to visit the Gardiner. So I was glad to have this opportunity. What was so special about it is that for the first time, the Gardiner has a show of Israeli ceramic artists, the “From the Melting Pot into the Fire – Contemporary Ceramics in Israel” show, and coming with the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto, we were honoured to have a special tour with artist Yael Novak of the Ceramic Artists Association of Israel (CAAI), who was instrumental in bringing the show to Toronto.
Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art
By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, January 28, 2010
The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.
This week, I have met with two very talented artists, both have lived in several countries before finally settling in Toronto, both influenced by their multi-cultural experiences, and diverse art education background. But each has developed in a very different way.
First, landscape artist Silvia Philippsohn. Born in Argentina, Silvia, who is better known to her friends as Suzy, made Aliya in her teens with her parents, and in the mid eighties immigrated to Canada with her husband and children. Professionally educated as an interior designer, Suzy always painted and created artwork in different mediums – watercolors, acrylics, ink, sculpting, jewelry making and glasswork. But her love for color and subject matter drew her to focus on painting.
Suzy with her painting “Returning Home”
Her inspiration comes from landscapes, floral and still life, mainly of fruits and animals. Throughout her landscapes and seascapes, an untold story direct the viewer through the usage of bold colors, whether it is a sunset in the Mediterranean or rocky beach on Lake Huron, Californian poppies field, or an unknown path, you can’t keep but wondering what memories these beautiful paintings are based on. And in Suzy’s own words: “The inspiration to my paintings comes from my love to nature and the sea, which symbolizes for me freedom and relaxation. I express my feelings through the warm colors I use and the light emerges from them. It all brings me to my childhood scenery”.
The Path, Acrylic on gallery canvas, 24”x20”x1.5”
Suzy is a member of several artists group in the GTA. Her excited spirit is a blessing in the Israeli Artists Group meetings, helping and welcoming all new artists and making everyone feels at home. In her own words: “My friends at the group influence my art in many ways. We learn from each other, and discuss many artists’ related topics. Everyone is treated equally and it’s a great pleasure!”
The second artist I interviewed is abstract painter Myriam Levy. Born in Switzerland, Myriam first started her artistic education in Lucerne, and later on continued in Avni Institute of Fine Arts in Israel. Thanks to her talent, she had the opportunity to train in painting, modeling and sculpting with distinguished artists such as Israel Hershberg and Zvi Lachman. Myriam lived in Israel for many years, where her work was shown both in solo and group exhibitions. In 2006 she moved to Toronto with her husband and 3 sons as the family wanted to face new opportunities and encounter different atmosphere in a multicultural society.
Contemporary artist Myriam Levy
As an abstract painter, Myriam’s medium of choice is encaustic. Encaustic is an ancient technique also known as hot wax painting, which involves using heated wax to which colored pigments are added. The encaustic medium has a unique ability to be worked and reworked. Modeling, scraping, incising and incorporating different materials are some of the exciting possibilities this medium can offer.
Myriam’s multicultural life experience shows beautifully throughout her body of work. In her own words: “I am interested in rhythm, color and texture and try to achieve a universal language in my paintings through repetition and minimal forms.”
Go, encaustic, 20’’x20’’, 2009
Myriam is involved in the local community in social and artistic events. She has started offering encaustic classes in her studio and would love to teach members of the community this unique artistic medium.
Suzy’s art can be viewed online at http://silviaphilippsohn.webs.com/ and in person upon appointment at her studio. To contact Suzy please email her at silvia2000il@yahoo.com
Myriam’s art can be seen and purchased at the Engine Gallery at the
Distillery District in Toronto, Townesquare Gallery in Oakville, Ontario, and at the Halde Gallery, Widen, Switzerland. Her work is presently shown at the Engine Gallery in a group show until January 24th, and in June 2010 the gallery will have a solo show of her work. Myriam can be reached at 416.627.0182 416.627.0182 416.627.0182 416.627.0182 or by email at mflevy@rogers.com. To view more of her work visit www.mflevy.com
Both Suzy and Myriam will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill.
Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto
moshe@mikanovsky.com
www.mikanovsky.com
Artists Interview Shalom Toronto Hebrew
Artists Interview Shalom Toronto English
The following article was published in Shalom Toronto on December 2009.
By Elad Benari
