“BlizzArt” hits Winterlude
The BlizzArt outdoor art gallery features public art inspired by the theme “Northern Passion.” Visit BlizzArt at Confederation Park from February 3 to 20, 2012.
BlizzArt presents 10 public artworks by Canadian artists and includes a variety of media. Inspired by “Northern Passion,” the artists express their social, cultural and environmental views though their art.
BlizzArt is an NCC Public Art initiative.
BlizzArt Artists
The BlizzArt jury selected the exhibit’s 10 works of art based on over 40 submissions from across Canada. The artists whose work was chosen are as follows:
Jean‐Yves Vigneau (Gatineau, QC)
Beacon
Born in the Îles‐de‐la‐Madeleine, Jean‐Yves Vigneau explores maritime landscapes and island culture through his art. A recipient of several grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts, he has had many exhibitions of his work and has created some 15 permanent works of public art.
Karina Bergmans (Ottawa, ON)
Lost Mitten Mountain
Born in Ottawa, Karina Bergmans is a multidisciplinary artist who creates fibre art, sculpture and installations which are unified by the use of reclaimed textiles. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and her work has been supported by grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa.
Liz Pead (Toronto, ON)
Ice Hockey Trees
Born in Fredericton, Liz Pead has a strong passion for the Canadian landscape, and for Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. The expression of the Canadian identity through landscape painting is her specialty area of research and inspiration. Her work has been exhibited in Canada, the United States and Iceland, and has been published in numerous publications. Liz plays goalie in a Toronto women’s hockey league.
Susan Rankin (Apsley, ON)
Glass Grove
Born in Saskatchewan, Susan Rankin explores the idea of garden and outdoor spaces through her artistic process. Over her career, she has exhibited her work in over 150 exhibits, and has been published in more than 40 publications. She has received numerous grants, and her work is showcased in many public and private collections.
Patrick Thompson (Toronto, ON)
Liquid Tundra Lab
Born in Ottawa, artist Patrick Thompson has exhibited internationally in public and commercial gallery spaces and has been published widely. Highly esteemed for pushing the boundaries of street art, he has also maintained an ongoing practice of painting in public spaces throughout North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. He is the founder of Embassy of Imagination: a mobile art school that uses visual art as a tool for empowerment in First Nations communities.
Jose Luis Torres (Montmagny, QC)
Adrift
Born in Argentina, José Luis Torres has lived and worked in Quebec since 2003. His work has been exhibited in some 30 Canadian cities and around 10 different countries. His works can be found in many public and private collections throughout the world.
Nicole Dextras (Vancouver, BC)
Pharos
Born in Alexandria, Ontario, Nicole Dextras is an environmental artist with an interest in sculpture, photography, text art, typography, eco‐fashion and environmental issues. She has created art installations in Canada, the United States and Mongolia, and has been awarded both Canada Council and British Columbia Arts Council grants. Her work has been published in numerous publications.
Denise Prefontaine (Winnipeg, MB)
Light Paints on Snow
Born in Manitoba, Denise Préfontaine reflects ephemeral, ethereal and playful elements through her art. Her works explore light and reflection and their interaction with their environment. She has participated in numerous exhibitions, both as artist and as curator. She has also received some 15 grants and awards.
Jean‐Philippe Roy (Québec, QC)
Crystal
Born in Québec City, sculptor Jean‐Philippe Roy uses his art to express physical and psychological tensions through metal and convey to the observer. A sculptor and metalsmith, he has had several exhibitions of his work.
Tonya Hart (Toronto, ON)
Infra
Born in Toronto, Tonya Hart explores nature as muse— as source of inspiration, manipulation and transformation in her art. She is interested in the evolving views of nature and in discovering the material means of translating the symbiosis that binds nature. Her exhibition history follows an adventurous track that includes public art, sculpture competitions, tours, installations, performances, and group and solo exhibitions.
Find out more about arts and culture activities at Winterlude 2012.
