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Proof of Life: 2025 Alumni +++ Juried Exhibition

“To live is to leave traces.”  

- Walter Benjamin 

We make art to feel more alive. 
To process, to play, to grieve. 
To remember who we are—beyond roles, beyond routines. 

Proof of Life gathers work from alumni and former students across disciplines—some trained in studios, others in labs, classrooms, or clinics—who turn to creative practice not just as expression, but as affirmation. What they share is the choice to create. To pick up a brush, a lens, a thread—and say, I am here. 

These works are traces of thought, feeling, and memory. They speak not only to what we create, but to why we must. 

This is not just an art show.
It is a record of breath. 
A gallery of gestures that affirm what makes us human.

This is proof. 


*Note about the “+++in the title”:
The call for submissions for this year’s alumni juried exhibition was expanded from our traditional inclusion of  “alumni of any program at any of our three campuses” to include former students (graduate or not) of our Continuing Education courses, SLC + courses, and our 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts. The response to this call was record-breaking, with 122 submissions from more than 45 artists!

Participating Artists

Anne Grickites portrait

Anne Grickites, born in Manchester, England, is a painter based in Ottawa, Canada. Working primarily in oils, she explores a diverse range of subjects, including people, places, and everyday objects. While Grickites has painted throughout her life, she has only recently embraced a dedicated art practice following her retirement, marking a new phase in her artistic journey. 

Grickites’ work is inspired by the people in her life, her travels, and the ordinary elements of daily living.  Her educational background includes a B.A. in Art History from Carleton University (2020), earlier studies in Painting and Drawing at York University, and a summer session at the Banff School of Fine Arts. Over the years, she has also taken numerous painting and drawing courses in the Ottawa area, including the Ottawa School of Art, the Nepean Visual Arts Centre, and the 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts. 

Her works can be found in private collections in Canada and the United States. 

 

ARTIST STATEMENT  

The act of painting offers me a chance to slow down, stay focused, and be present. While each work reflects fragments of my own memories and experiences, my hope is that they transcend the personal, inviting viewers to find their own points of connection.  Whether through a portrait, a landscape or scene inspired by my travels, or through the quiet simplicity and beauty of everyday objects, I strive to create works that commemorate the meaningful in the everyday. 


Website: https://www.agrickitesart.com/ 

Instagram: @agrickitesart 

 

Aurea Georgina Widzinski portrait

My art is purposeful, addressing educational advocacy on issues of gender and human rights abuse, specifically fertile young female reproductive autonomy. 

-B.F.A. and B.Ed. in Art (U.B.C.) 

-Nominated for “LED” award 2015 for co-designer on short film drama “MADNESS” 

 

Barbara Patrick portrait

Barbara Patrick is a Brockville artist who has taken a variety of art courses from St. Lawrence College, as well as many workshops from local artists. She experiments with a variety of mediums, including acrylics, watercolour, alcohol inks, altered papers, collage, felting and Paverpol. Her unique interpretations of flowers, forests, landscapes, figures and animals use bold colours and textures, and her painting style is intuitive.

Barbara works with merino wool, sometimes combined with pure silk, to make unique felted scarves and uses cut up paintings and bits and pieces of her old jewelry to make one-of-a-kind brooches. She makes Paverpol garden sculptures that allow her to integrate another dimension into her artwork. Her original artwork is featured on a variety of wearable art items, including tote bags, aprons, cushion covers and placemats.

Barbara’s art work celebrates creativity, colour, optimism and appreciation of all the opportunities that our imaginations provide. 

Barbara has been a member of TIFAA (Thousand Islands Fine Arts Association) since 2018, and has been the coordinator of the Corridor Art Gallery at the Brockville General Hospital since 2016. 


Barbara’s studio is located at The Arts Hub, St. John’s Church, 32 Park St. Brockville.

Contact information: bgracepatrick@gmail.com

Instagram: @bgracepatrick 

 

Bella Yang portrait

Bella Yang is an artist based in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, originally from the culturally rich Hunan province of China. Growing up in a town surrounded by nature, Bella developed a profound appreciation for the landscapes that shaped her childhood—mountains, rivers, trees, and bird elements that continue to inspire her artistic practice.

Immersed in a creative family, Bella’s passion for art remained steadfast throughout her journey. Beyond completing her Fine Art studies, she expanded her artistic horizons with a year of study at Atlantic Technological University in Ireland, where she pursued a NFQ Level 7 program. This experience further honed her technical skills and allowed her to explore new dimensions in her art.

Bella’s work merges traditional influences with contemporary techniques, creating a seamless blend of her heritage and personal experiences. Her paintings act as visual narratives, capturing human emotions, cultural connections, and the intimate stories that shape identity. Inspired by the landscapes of her homeland, Bella evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and wonder, inviting viewers to engage with her reflections on nature and life.

One of her most notable achievements during her academic journey was winning the People’s Choice Prize for her self-narrative oil painting, showcasing her ability to resonate deeply with audiences. In 2025, Bella was selected as one of artist students to participate in a performance workshop with local artists in Sligo, Ireland, further expanding her artistic exploration. She has toured Chinese Calligraphy and Traditional Art exhibitions in Enniskillen, UK, where she shared her cultural heritage and passion for the arts with native communities.

Through her art, Bella seeks to celebrate diversity and the universal language of creativity, exploring the inner world of the human mind.

Artist Statement 

In my world, a picture speaks volumes where words fall short. Through the language of lines, shapes, colors, and textures, I embark on a journey towards self-discovery and self-improvement.  As the strokes of my brushes dance upon the canvas, I immerse myself in the rhythmic melody, momentarily quieting my mind. It is a pause—a moment of reflection akin to standing at the corner of the world, gaining insights into my existence.

Through art, I have delved into mixed art mediums through diverse avenues, seeking not only artistic expression but also a reflection of my lifestyle. My pursuits extend to voracious reading, encompassing the works of psychologists and philosophers, allowing me to draw inspiration from a broad intellectual spectrum. In my quest to explore humanity, I engage in continual learning, embracing various disciplines.

At its essence, my art strives to evoke feelings of love, kindness, and the innate emotions that define our shared humanity. Through a profound exploration of my inner self from all perspectives, I cultivate a non-judgmental approach to my emotions, yielding a rich tapestry of experiences.

I transcend boundaries, both internal and external, delving into the depths of my being while exploring the vastness of the world. My experiences, from relocating from China to Canada and transitioning from bustling cities to serene communities, shape the narrative of my art, offering glimpses into the tapestry of my life.


Website: https://esabellayang.wixsite.com/bellas-eye 

instagram: yangesabella

Blaine Labelle portrait

Blaine Labelle is a contemporary artist based in Brockville, Ontario. His work explores memory, duality, and connection through both digital and traditional media. Originally from Sudbury, he draws inspiration from artists such as Jean Paul Lemieux and Amedeo Modigliani, as well as his longtime friend Will Morin.

Since 2005, Blaine has worked under the mentorship of Andrea Mossop, whose emphasis on authenticity and intention continues to shape his practice. His work has received Honourable Mentions in juried exhibitions at St. Lawrence College. His images are often left intentionally unresolved, inviting viewers to reflect on what is revealed and what remains unseen.

Artist Statement:

I’m drawn to the quiet balance between intention and discovery, between shaping an image and allowing it to emerge. This tension is at the heart of my layered compositions, which reinterpret traditional printmaking through a modern lens. Using a tablet in place of glass or metal, I build images that evolve organically. The digital process allows for subtle adjustments while preserving the expressive, unfolding nature of the image. The final composition is transferred onto watercolour paper, bridging the digital and physical process. This approach honours both tradition and innovation.


 Website: blainelabelle.ca

Instagram Video Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDZTeUSD8H/

Chris Chrysler portrait

Chris Chrysler is a multi-media artist based in Eastern Ontario, Canada, whose work explores the intricate relationship between home, identity, and place. Drawing inspiration from lived experiences and our collective history, her work delves into the evolving concept of home across different life stages. Guided by an intersectional feminist perspective, Chris examines the internal and external forces that shape our understanding of home, reflecting her personal experiences and emotions through diverse media including painting, sculpture, and assemblage.

At the core of her practice is a commitment to creating a safe, inclusive space for individuals to explore their own identities. Her work engages themes of resilience, displacement, and transformation, often reclaiming traditionally feminine roles and tasks as acts of empowerment. Chris is also a full-time professor of fine art and former art curator. Her art has been exhibited in Canada, the United States, and internationally, with pieces held in collections across North America, Europe, and Australia.

"I am a mixed media artist whose work explores the intricate connections between home, identity, and place. My practice is centered on the emotional and conceptual dimensions of home- how our perception of home shapes our sense of self and belonging, and how, in turn, this perception influences our identity.

In my work, I explore the personal histories that inform our relationship with space, particularly how the idea of home is shaped by societal constructs, family dynamics, and at times the collective experience of displacement. My use of found objects serves as a tool to speak to the lived histories within domestic spaces, allowing the past to inform the present. This process also allows me to integrate the intersection of feminism and societal expectations into the work—especially the role women play in creating and maintaining the concept of home.

The materials I choose, ranging from bird nests and textiles to reclaimed objects, serve as metaphors for both the fragility and resilience of home. Through these, I aim to reframe traditionally gendered domestic labour as a source of power and agency rather than oppression. In times of crisis, conflict, and displacement, my work reflects the resilience required to navigate these disruptions and transform them into spaces of belonging and self-definition.

Ultimately, my work invites a dialogue about the complex dynamics of home and identity. It encourages the viewer to reflect on their own experiences with these themes, exploring how we navigate our place in the world and how we reclaim and redefine what home means to us."

Christina McCarthy portrait

Bio 

  1. Born and grew up in Sweden.
  2. Teacher, Moved to Brockville 1977.
  3. Ceramic Arts Certificate 1999.
  4. Ceramic instructor St. Lawrence College. 

Artist Statement

Most of my work has been functional pottery, creating it to touch and hold and become part of someone’s daily life.

Shape and texture are most important in my work.  I created glazes to be earthy and rustic, except for the vibrant copper and cobalt effects on my Raku fired pieces.

Rocks and trees are ever present in my life and are my inspiration, but I also love the colours and the quiet of the Arizona desert.

I particularly love the colours of rocks with broken flat surfaces protruding into the landscape along the highway in our area.  I love the shoreline of rugged sedimentary rocks on sparsely treed windswept islands in the Baltic Sea.

 

Chris Munro portrait

Chris Munro is an artist based in Seeley’s Bay. She began painting full-time after retiring in 2016, though her love for painting and drawing began in childhood. 

Chris is inspired by the natural landscape surrounding her home. She primarily works in oils, capturing the beauty of water, trees, and sky—especially during the early morning or evening hours, when the sun casts long, dramatic shadows.


Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chris.munro.944 

 

Cindy Arthurs van Lanen portrait

Cindy Arthurs van Lanen

(born in 1986) is a painter who specializes in Pet Portraits.  She works predominantly in acrylic paint and has always had an interest in art.  In 2009 Cindy graduated from The Fine Art program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, Ont.  It was then that she began her Pet Portraits and Murals business.  Cindy also works full time as a scrub nurse in the Operating room at Brockville General Hospital.

After graduating the Fine Arts in 2009, she began selling her paintings at the local market and was able to gather enough money for a down payment for a house.  She began working as a colour technician in 2009 and married in 2012.   In the following years, she had a boy in 2013, graduated nursing school in 2017 and had her second child, a girl in 2020.  Cindy graduated from the Operating Room course at Algonquin College in 2021.  Currently she is taking painting commissions and has 5 spots available for 2025. 


Contact information

Email: Cindy_Arthurs@hotmail.com
Text: 613-246-1821
Website: CindyArthurs.com

 

Gallery Showings

  • 2020- Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, 13th Annual Alumni Juried Exhibition Show.
  • Cindy received third place for her painting “Evening Tea”.
  • 2023- Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, Alumni Juried Exhibition Show “IT COMES IN WAVES”.
  • 2024- Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, Juried Exhibition show “FACING FORWARD”.
  • 2024- Noel Bullock Gallery, Juried show in Gananoque.
  • 2024- Art Battle Ottawa, Overflow Brewing Company.
  • 2025- Fulford Place Third Annual Juried Art Show- Received Peoples Choice Award.
  • 2025- Joined the South Grenville Guild of Fine Art.

Denise Bowes portrait

In the 1980s, I took 3 Art History courses at night school at SLC with Andrea (Green) Mossop.  These were very comprehensive and challenging courses, very much at a university level.  I had no thought of making art at that time.

After an adventurous career as a rural family doctor doing comprehensive care, I retired early in the midst of my second serious episode of Guillain Barré syndrome.  I had begun a life drawing class at SLC at night school a few months before, and loved it.  So my first series project after retiring from work life was painting portraits in watercolour and pastels of my former patients who were 80 years old or older.  I took a short course in Photography at the college and went to visit each of these elders, doing a photo and a gesture drawing while visiting them, and working on the portrait at home afterwards.  These were all sold to family members as fundraisers for the GBS Canada Foundation.

I went on to work in acrylics and oils, including a large oil portrait of Judge John Matheson which is in the collection of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.  I also did some abstract work and some protest art.  Some works were collaborative with other artists.

I enjoyed many art classes over the years 1997-2009 at SLC, including some Summer Art School courses.  I graduated with Fine Art Diploma in 2011.  I lament the loss of these programs to this community.

In 2008 I began violin lessons and joined the Brockville Community Choir.  I am not currently making art as music takes up my leisure time.

Sincere thanks to the art teachers and former administrators who had the courage and foresight to provide such challenging Arts programming.

Artist Statement 

  1. “Before Emigration, Donegal c. 1928". Oil on canvas.

is a portrait based on an old torn sepia photo, the only photo I have ever seen of my maternal grandmother who died in 1935.  The oldest 2 girls in the family are missing , as they emigrated first, leaving Ireland for Toronto.  In the portrait are my mother and grandmother seated, 3 brothers standing behind, and the youngest brother sitting in front of them.  They are wearing corsages as for a wedding.  All had arrived in Toronto by 1930, and all are long since gone.

  1. “Shaping the Truth” Mixed Media Collage on canvas and wood.

is a protest against the Afghanistan war and Canada’s involvement there.  After hearing George W Bush say the phrase “shaping the truth” I built this mixed media work in the shape of a coffin, full size, and included sand, fabric, newspaper clippings, acrylic paint and varnish.  It represents our military, their sacrifices, and the difficulties of the work they were expected to do.

Much of my art work has tried to tell a story.  All of it has had meaning for me.

Diane Hazeldine, also known as Diane Taylor, is a talented artist based in KIngston, Ontario, Canada. She was a member of the Greater Napanee & Area Arts Association and enjoys working with various mediums like oils, pastel’s watercolor’s, and charcoal. Her artistic focus includes landscapes and portraits, often inspired by her travels to the UK, France and Tennessee, as well as her Canadian surroundings.

Some notable aspects of her art and background.

  • Artistic influences: Growing up, Diane was influenced by her father, who painted and drew as a hobby. She spent time drawing with him during vacations and majored in art at school.
  • Career and family: Diane has a nursing background and spent 14 years as an army wife. She’s now focused on her, with plenty of inspiration from her 14 grandchildren.
  • Artistic Style: Diane’s artwork reflects her love for landscapes and portraits, showcasing her creativity and skill with different mediums.

If you are interested in learning more about Diane’s art or viewing her work, you can visit the Greater Napanee & Area Arts Association website, also Diane Hazeldine Art on Facebook .

 

Dorothy Adlington headshot

DOROTHY A. ADLINGTON

Dorothy Adlington is an award-winning Ottawa area artist specializing in Figurative Painting, Mark Making & Sculpture. She has been creating art for over 50 years and always follows her intuition in whatever direction it takes her. Dorothy continues to explore the figure and Mark Making in paint, drawing, and mixed media.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"It's about putting down a Mark then being open to the possibilities."

CV: ART EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Dorothy received her Diploma in Fine Arts in 2009 and a Fine Arts Certificate in 1997 both with Distinction from St. Lawrence College.

She graduated from High School of Commerce -Four year Vocational Art program in 1974

Winning the most promising art student award in 1972.

Dorothy has taken many classes and workshops throughout her career. Her Greatest Influence has been from Andrea Mossop and Hugh MacKenzie.

ART-RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Juried Graduating S.L.C. Art Students Virtual Show 2021

Dorothy has taught several figure sculpting workshops with the focus on sculpting the head, hands and feet.

SELECTED SHOWS

  • Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, S.L.C. Brockville: Juried 2023 Alumni Show: It Comes in waves. "It comes in waves of abstraction #1". Won 3rd place.
  • Isolation Creation "Brush Dance" series. (Virtual Show) 2021. Marianne Van Silfhout, S.L.C.
  • Brockville.
  • Medium Effort, "Black & White - 2 Artists 2 Directions. July- August 2020.
  • OBO Studio Show/Cornwall "Littles Show" November 2019 - January 2020.
  • Go figure art group/ MAG Artists Tour 2019
  • Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, S.L.C. Brockville: Juried Shows: 2006 to 2019
  • St. Lawrence College Fine Arts Alumni Juried Shows: 2006 to 2019

Contact Information

Dorothy Adlington can be reached at:

Cell: 613-360-0642
Email: dorothyadlington@gmail.com
Instagram: instagram.com/dorothy_ann_adlington 

 

 

Elaine Armstrong headshot

Elaine Armstrong Bio for SLC Alumni Juried  Annual Show 2025

Elaine Armstrong graduated from the Creative Arts program at St. Lawrence College, Kingston Campus in 1979. Her later studies took her through university programs in Biology, Education and Business and she led a busy career in education. During those years, she had little time for creating, but always took many photos and collected interesting materials as she traveled the world and explored different cultures.  Now, since retiring, she has the luxury of time to concentrate on artistic pursuits. Her work is inspired by the everyday beauty she sees in her environment.

When not outdoors walking, cycling, kayaking, and exploring, Elaine can usually be found in her home studio dyeing fabrics with both natural and synthetic dyes; working with wool roving to make wet or dry felted pieces, using photography, lino printing and eco printing  to create surface designs on fabric,  and using both hand and machine stitching to create fibre pieces that combine all the skills and techniques in her toolbox.


Elaine’s work and reflections can be found on her website and blog https://InspiredByEverydayBeauty.com and she is active on Instagram @ElaineSArmstrong

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, self-taught artist Elaine McCurdie had an interest in art at an early age, but when life got busy art was put on the backburner. After raising a family, her time and passion for art grew once again and she realized it was time to get back into it. In 2015, Elaine took a very early retirement from a career in Timmins and relocated to Prescott in order to study the Visual & Creative Arts - Fine Art program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville. She then moved to Sligo, Ireland in 2017, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. Since returning back to Canada, Elaine has continued participating in exhibitions and shows, and winning awards & recognition with some of her submissions.

Inspired by her own surroundings, nature, or ideas, Elaine tries to capture a hint of something from her everyday life, and is continuously exploring and trying new things. She enjoys a wide range of artwork, from realism to abstract, with a range of different subject matter and plays with acrylic, oil, watercolour, ink, pencil, printmaking, and/or mixed media. Her main focus is realism, but she also enjoys thinking outside of the box to see what happens when you let things happen and not having to focus on crucial detail. She looks at things like, "... ‘Life is a highway’ ... just as the scenery is constantly changing as we travel down the road of life, so does our artistic creativity and outcomes."


Instagram: elainemccurdie

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Elizabeth Twiss is a visual artist whose subjects are landscapes, still-lifes, and figurative works, many of which are semi-abstracted.  She paints under the name Howells Humm.

Originally from Aurora, Ontario, Elizabeth earned a B.A. in Politics from Trent University, and worked in various federal government positions in Toronto, before focussing on raising her family and moving to Ottawa.  After a decade of classes in watercolour and life-drawing at Ottawa School of Art and various municipal centres, Elizabeth decided to study oil painting.  She earned a Certificate of Fine Arts from St. Lawrence College in Brockville.  Elizabeth was a long-time volunteer and Executive member of Arteast, a participant in Ottawa Art Association shows, and painted with the Stanley Street Workshop. 

“I love the experience of planning my paintings, from the first idea, to the decision about size and format of my canvas, the careful composition and the scaling up of drawings.  Shape is the most exciting element of an artwork to me.  What does it express in itself, and what feeling or narrative can be suggested by the arrangement of several shapes?  This is what typically motivates me to create a new piece.” 

Elizabeth now works in her artist’s studio, the Old Stick Cooperative Studio on Canotek Road, and continues to exhibit paintings in local venues and juried shows.  Viewings of work at the studio can be arranged by appointment.

Elsie Gallinger headshot

Artist statement

I love to paint. Whether from a photo or from a memory I am focused on capturing that image onto a canvas.

The landscapes of Canada’s beautiful country provide my inspiration, especially those in my area. Using oils, a painting knife and a canvas, I paint the colours and moods I feel in the landscape around me. I love the earth colours and I love the texture I get from using a knife. My paintings favour the impressionistic style. Through my series work I explore the concept that the same scene can be portrayed in many different ways subject to colours used, time of day, seasons, weather etc. My paintings explore the influence of man and nature in my world.

Emily Conger headshot

Artist’s Statement

One fall afternoon in 1970 something, I stumbled into the Lion’s Hall in Athens, because I’d heard painting classes were being held there, and met Andrea Mossop, who became my teacher and mentor over several decades, inspiring me with her encouragement, and pushing me ever further along my anything-but-straight artistic path. 

I’d immigrated to Canada knowing that rocks, trees and lakes were my natural home-place. But with a background mostly in drawing, it took a lot of experimenting with paint before I realized that I’d end up in with a paintbrush in hand in front of an easel, characteristically decorated with paint that didn’t make it onto the canvas.   

I’ve never liked making decisions, so playing with a variety of styles and media has suited me well. What is consistent has been my love affair with colour, and an appreciation of pattern, particularly from nature.

I have been privileged to have studied under excellent teachers at St. Lawrence College, the Haliburton School of the Arts and privately.

General Biography

  • Born 1946 Albany, New York, raised in Virginia
  • Education: University of Wisconsin (Madison) B. Sc. 1969, graduate work English Literature (1968-1969). Took further studies at the University of Victoria, Queen’s University
  • Immigrated to Canada in 1969, granted Canadian citizenship 1995, now holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada
  • Was a teacher and educational consultant for what is now the Upper Canada District School Board from 1971 to retirement in 2001
  • Obtained Specialist qualification in Special Education, as well as qualification as Teacher of English as a Second Language
  • Taught Special Education in the teacher education program at Queen’s University
  • Completed numerous courses in art, Spanish and French at St. Lawrence College and Fleming College (Haliburton School of the Arts)
  • 1995-1996 Taught one year in Costa Rica: Escuela Blue Valley
  • Taught art to grades 7 and 8 at Sweets Corners School

Volunteer Career:

  • Became involved in environmental issues in the late 1970s; continues to work on environmental, peace and social justice issues 
  • Taught English as a second language to refugees 2017-2020
  • Joined the board of the Algonquin to Adirondacks Conservation Association (now the 2A Collaborative) December 2000, served as president of the organization 2002-2016, continues to serve on the Executive of the organization
  • Donated 55 acres to the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust
  • Has hosted over 250 WWOOFers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) from over 30 countries
  • Lives with her partner, Cameron Smith, at Lost Bay Organic Farm where she has her art studio.

To inquire about more of my work, please contact me at emconger.lostbay@gmail.com

Françoise Graham headshot

Françoise Graham Contemporary Artist

Born in Eastern Ontario, Françoise was encouraged at a very young age to develop her interest for art. In the past 30 years she has studied under the guidance of several accomplished artists across Ontario.

Now, as a retired teacher Françoise winters in Spain along the Mediterranean and enjoys travelling to galleries across Europe gaining inspiration, exploring new techniques and art forms from abroad as well as the being inspired by the beautiful vistas of the Thousand islands. Her preferred mediums are palette painting in oil, clay sculpting and charcoal drawing.

Françoise is known to paint passionately from the heart using an impressionistic and abstract style.


You can contact Françoise Graham at anchoragebaystudio@

 

Frank DeSa headshot

Frank DeSa

Frank DeSa is an artist who lives and works in Kingston Ontario.
He uses a variety of materials and processes to make  work.
He is a NSCAD graduate (97'), a St Lawrence Fine Art graduate (93') and has studied at Queens University.


Website: https://www.frankdesa.com/

 

Frank Taker headshot

Frank Taker

I was born on a farm outside the village of Wroxton in Oxfordshire. My family were were wonderful people but were not interested in art and we had no art displayed at all. When I was 10 my aunt Eva took me to London and I saw the Fighting Temeraire in the National Gallery and I was hooked.Most of my life I worked at sea so I never painted but but never stopped looking and reading. That changed on a visit to the Royal Academy when an artist I had gotten to know (Ken Howard RA) told me to stop looking and start painting. When we moved to Domville I started going to the Summer School of Art and had the great pleasure of attending classes with Diane Godwin Sheridan and Andrea Mossop. I was a member of the South Grenville Guild of Fine Arts and use both watercolour and oils. I just enjoy the challenge of painting and very happy to be just a happy amateur artist.   

Biography

            Fraser Radford was born in 1987 in Brockville, Ontario. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Art History, with a minor in Religious Studies (graduated in 2009) from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, a Fine Arts diploma from St. Lawrence College in Brockville, Ontario (2014), and a post-graduate certificate in Studio Process Advancement from the Haliburton School of the Arts (2014). He has apprenticed with Shayne Dark, one of Canada's prominent sculptors based out of Kingston, Ontario. 

            His work is represented by Rothwell Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario and Oeno Gallery in Bloomfield, Ontario. His work is held in numerous private collections in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Barbados, France, Australia, and New Zealand, and has been exhibited across North America. His work has also been published in several magazines in Canada, and the U.S, as well as The Peace Project, a catalogue produced by Gallery 9 in Culver City, California in 2010.

Artist Statement

I am a non-objective painter. The preference to work in this manner is a natural avenue for me to express myself. Colour and light are the main subjects in the work. This creates a tension within myself to produce something that is thought provoking, imaginative, balanced, and ultimately, great. Whether working with raw, stained canvas, or a built up, thicker surface, the intention is always the same: to excite the viewer and evoke an emotional response. The primary influence of the artwork is in the artists who are commonly associated with the Colour Field, Post-Painterly Abstraction, and Washington Colour School movements of the 1960s. Their sense of colour, light, and balance has always resonated with me and inspires me to paint.


www.fraserradford.com.
Instagram:  @fraserradford.

I began drawing and painting at a young age but set aside my art while enjoying raising our family.

I am a watercolour purist who loves the calm and beauty of nature's landscapes.

Spending time in the woods speaks to my soul - whether hiking, kayaking, cycling, or cross-country skiing.

I use my photographs as inspiration for my paintings.

Glenda Mosher headshot

Artist Statement

I turn to painting as a way of tracing what words can’t quite hold – joy, wonder, grief, memory, presence. My creative process is rooted in gesture, layering, and listening: each mark becomes a response to what’s seen and felt, to the inner urges that ask to be made visible. I don’t paint to explain life, but to touch and process the invitations to see, to listen, and be present. In the studio, time slows. I pay attention, I let the invisible take shape.

The pieces in Proof of Life – Wild Geese, Slip, and Wood Sprite – reflect different states of being: rising, resting, rooted. They speak to the human experience through the language of the natural world. The figure and the forest, the current and the body, the breath between grief and grace–these become ways of saying: I was here.

“To live is to leave traces”, says Walter Benjamin. These paintings are a few of mine: imperfect, intertwined, and offered in reverence to the ache and beauty and gift of being alive.

Bio

Glenda Mosher is a Canadian visual artist whose work explores the emotional and elemental layers of human experience through gesture, colour, and form. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, memory, and the quiet thresholds of transformation, she creates paintings that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. Glenda’s practice is rooted in presence and process – she paints to listen, to remember, and to bear witness.

Glenda is a graduate of the Visual and Creative Arts program at St. Lawrence College, 2019. She continues to deepen her practice through independent study, daily walks, and close attention to the natural world. 

Her paintings have been shown in both group and solo exhibitions and are held in private collections across Canada. Whether through figurative or abstract work, Glenda’s art is rooted in the quiet conviction that to create is to be fully present.


glendamosher.blogspot.com

@glendamosherart 

Hugh Hamilton headshot

Hugh Hamilton Works End Ceramics

Graduated in Industrial Design Ontario College of Art 1969

I followed my heart, designing furniture, museum exhibits, keeping bees, planting trees, herbs & flowers.

In 1997 I changed from design professions, & built a studio & walk in kiln. In 2000 I began my art of hand-built Ceramics.

Today a constant interaction with nature offers rich visual resources and insights for ceramic work. Many large pieces are technically challenging, often taking four days in the first firing process and then are subjected to additional multiple glaze firings. My work is created for inner and outer landscapes. 


Web Site: works-end.com

Joshua Hopkins portrait

I have always viewed art as a form of escapism that can offer various atmospheres the deeper you look into it. My creations are just that, atmospheres that you can interpret in your own way. I like to highlight the world in all its beauty to remind us that the positivity continues to out-way the negative. Empathy is still around; you just need to take another look at the nature you are living in.


https://www.instagram.com/bosf_productions_ofc 

 

 

 

 

Kristina Ward headshot

Kristina Ward
Photographer | Storyteller

Kristina Ward is a Cornwall-based photographer who explores the intersection of photography and storytelling. Her work captures the quiet poetry of landscapes, backlit subjects, natural surroundings, and candid moments. Inspired by the ever-changing motions of the St. Lawrence River, her photography reflects natural environments, dramatic lighting, and the ephemeral stories that unfold in everyday scenes.

Initially pursuing photography as a companion to her writing, Kristina’s creative journey took a pivotal turn during her foray into local media as a community reporter. There, she discovered the power of visual storytelling—where images could speak as profoundly as her words. Her perceptive eye for compelling backgrounds and natural light swiftly became a signature of her style.

Kristina graduated from Business Management, and has worked in communications, marketing, web development and client services. One of her photographs was displayed in the 2018 St. Lawrence College Alumni Art Exhibit, and she is proud to be part of the 2025 Proof of Life SLC Alumni Art Exhibit. Her work, including pieces like Return to the WavesSummer Lights, and Soaring over Stormont’s Atlantis, showcases her talent for capturing fleeting, luminous moments that evoke emotion and narrative.

Artist Statement – Kristina Ward

I photograph the quiet in-between—the hush of golden light before dusk, the beauty of a new day at dawn, the shimmering of water, and the unspoken stories in a passing glance. I’m drawn to the nuances of nature, the backlit, the beautiful proof of life. I am inspired by my parents, who have kept extensive photos of their 68 years together. Although I was a stubborn subject who didn’t like being photographed, I’m glad they instilled in me the importance of capturing these moments.

What began as a companion to my writing became another way of storytelling. I seek rhythm and reflection, a sense of presence that lingers. The St. Lawrence River is both muse and mirror—teaching me to see not just what is there, but what is felt. When I travel, I don’t just look for tourist attractions but also try to capture the moment and the subtle subjects.

I believe photography is a way of holding space for light, for memory, and for the fleeting moments that pass. Through my pieces, I invite you to pause, and perhaps to find a piece of your own story.


https://www.instagram.com/kriscrossroads/

 

 

 

Michèle LaRose headshot

Michèle LaRose Information for MvS Gallery

Michèle LaRose is a painter based in Kingston, Ontario. She studied fine art in Québec City, Montréal and Brockville. She has a B.A. (Hons) in Art History from Queen’s University in Kingston and a Certificate in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence College. Michèle worked for many years with the federal government in the cultural field, before moving to the private sector. In 2002 she turned to painting full-time. 

Michèle has focused primarily on painting, with forays into printmaking and book illustration. Her focus is abstraction and colour, the nature of which she plumbs for new insights. She is intrigued by the interaction of colour and form and the spontaneous and intuitive leaps that occur. She is driven by curiosity and challenges, investigating what different processes yield or how the application of constraints opens up new avenues of exploration. Like many before her, she likens her work to instrumental music, with its orchestrations of multiple and competing instruments, sometimes complex other times minimal. Of equal interest is the function of the brain, which seeks to decipher any image into recognizable shapes, and how this reveals itself no matter how non-representational the paintings are.

Michèle has exhibited extensively since 1994. She illustrated 2 books of poetry: ‘X’ by Phil Hall, Governor-General Award-winning poet, published in 2013; and ‘From the Mouths’, by Shane Neilson, 2014; both published by Thee Hellbox Press of Kingston. In 2018 she published a book of her paintings with poetry by herself and Bruce Kauffman entitled ‘The Elm Suite’.

General Artist Statement

Why do I paint? I suppose we all produce marks because we are human and want to make our mark somehow. In many ways it is a ‘proof of life’, meaning I was here and this is what I was thinking or feeling. A record of our reaction to the world we lived in and how we coped. It is also a way to see if anyone else reacts the same way. When we connect with viewers it is a validation of our perceptions, a feeling that we are not the only ones to react this way. It reassures us and makes us feel part of the human family of sensing, sentient beings. It touches us, and we hope the viewers are touched in equal measure.

I also seek to produce images that surprise me or are new to me. I also like to bump myself out of my comfort zone by using different format, materials or colour palettes. Although there are similarities in each series that I work on, there are always some that jump out as new beasts, new avenues to pursue, or satisfying flights of fancy. So, the elements of challenge and surprise are what get me into the studio every day. A path of discovery I hope to pursue as long as I can!


Website: www.michelelarose.ca

Instagram: @michelelaroseart

Mychaila A. Rose headshot

Bio:

I am a multimedia creator that makes physical and digital art from epic high fantasy to short stories, photography, acrylic paintings, and even working on a video game. I have two cats: Phoenix and Pippin and they are both loveable jerks at times. As the eldest of five siblings, I try my best to be the best example I can be even though being an artist by trade is difficult to do that.

Artist Statement:

I want to find the small things in life and from those experiences to others, hoping to give at least a moment of joy and wonder into their lives. Life is short and yet it is the longest thing we’ll ever experience, and I want to try and make even just one moment enjoyable.  


https://www.mychailarose.ca

Nancy Paul headshot

Nancy Paul, Proof of Life (MVS Gallery, June 2025) 

Background

Nancy was born and grew up in northwestern Ontario. She studied art in Toronto (Ontario College of Art), Kingston and Brockville and has had solo shows in Toronto and Kingston.  Her education in literature (PhD, Queen’s) and career in clinical trials research at the National Cancer Institute of Canada have informed her art.  Nancy lives in Lansdowne with her husband, Steve, and their cat, Zarco.

Artist's Statement

My work represents my search for understanding and hope in these times of accelerating degradation of the earth and extinction of species. The world is burning and it is a time for heroism, though many of us feel hopeless about the effectiveness of individual action.  I make art to counter my despair.

The naked body is an enduring symbol of vulnerability; Shakespeare’s Lear in the storm on the heath knows unaccommodated man to be a poor, bare, forked animal.  Yet the nude in visual art can represent beauty, grace and love; an aesthetic of salvation.  We need her now more than ever.

The female nude for me is at once surrogate seeker of truth and object of scrutiny.  In my work the female figure is both self and other; she represents communication and compassion.

I use contrast and juxtaposition, repetition and sequencing, to explore the spaces between and around us and to suggest relationships. Creatures of the sea and sky are among my favourite subjects.  Times of day and night, the cycle of the seasons, provide context and perspective in my art.

___________________________

Statements with regard specifically to the paintings in the exhibit:

Painting 1 -- Wildfire: Nereids Enter the Burning Forest

The two figures depicted bring water to the flames, running toward danger rather than away from it.  This painting is about bravery in the face of insurmountable odds.  It is dedicated to all the front line workers, the first responders, in a world in turmoil.

 Painting 2 – Leaving Eden: Paradise Lost

The extinction rate of species today is hundreds of times higher than in the past and is accelerating. I make art in quiet protest.  The red-crowned crane, celebrated for its graceful courtship dance, was hunted to the brink of extinction for its plumage.  In this painting, two figures trail behind the departing northern white rhino, all but lost to this beautiful world we are leaving in ruins.  

Painting 3 – Dragonfly Dance: Paradise Remembered

Once, long ago, all living things on earth were interconnected and equal. The Genesis story and other myths of humans’ superiority had not yet been told.  Then, there was no us and them, no separation and isolation.  We were fluid and kinetically charged, born to be of fur and feather, of skin and fin, to grow leaves and flowers and roots, to sing fly dive.  This is my dream of our original paradise.

 


npaulartworks.com

Pam Warren McKinnon headshot

PAM WARREN MCKINNON C.S.P.W.C.

Pam Warren McKinnon, a fourth generation Brockvillian, has sold over 1,500 original paintings and her work can be found in corporate and private collections around the world. In the year 2000 she was elected into the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour and received her certificate from Adrienne Clarkson, Canada's Governor General. In 2009 the members of the Ottawa Watercolour Society made her an Honorary Fellow. Now retired, this professional artist painted full time for 30 years.

Education  

Fine Arts Certificate, with distinction, 2001
Diploma's in Counselling , Gerontology and
three years of Social Work study at Ryerson.

Awards

Marianne Van Silfhout Gallery, St. Lawrence College Alumni

  • Annual St Lawrence College Christmas Card competition, First Place, 2024, 2023
  • Annual Alumni Juried Exhibition-Second Place 2023 .
  • 12th Annual Juried Exhibition- Honourable Mention 2019
  • 10th Annual Juried Exhibition-First Prize, November 2017.
  • 9th Annual Juried Show, -Second Prize, October 2016.
  • 7th Annual Juried Exhibition-Third Prize, 2014
  • 6th Annual Juried Exhibition-Third Prize, 2013

White Flag Gallery

  • Honourable Mention, August 2014

Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, members exhibition,

  • Honorable Mention, 2011.
  • People's Choice Award, 2011.

Ottawa Watercolour Society

  • Jurors award 2000
  • Presidents award 2003
  • People's Choice award 2004
  • Jurors award 2005
  • Wallacks $500.award 2007-Morton Baslow award 2008
  • Best in Show 2009
  • Best in Show and two Juror's awards 2011

Parks Canada,Purchase award 2009

Ottawa Bluesfest, Poster Competition Winner 2001

New York State University, Gibson Gallery, Best in Show, 2002

Juried Art Exhibits

  • Nepean Foyer Gallery; Rideau Valley Art Festival; National Capital Fine Arts Festival; Canadian
  • Watercolour Society Exhibitions; Philip K. Wood Gallery;Ottawa Watercolour Society Exhibitions;
  • Merrickville Fine Art Festival; New York State University, Gibson Gallery; Cube Gallery, Ottawa;
  • Colours on the Bay, Rockland; Ottawa Art Expo; John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto; Pelham Art
  • Festival; Buckhorn Fine Art Festival 2013; St. Lawrence College Alumni Exhibitions; White Flag Gallery, Brockville,Before the Summer Show 2018 and 2019.

Business and Corporate collections

  • Aron Burke Dental office; Boardwalk Dental Centre; Canadian Watercolour Society, permanent collection; Export Development Corporation; Falcon Securities; New York State University permanent collection; Brockville General Hospital; Proctor and Gamble,
  • St. Lawrence Lodge and Burnbrae Farms.

Memberships

  • Fellow of the Ottawa Watercolour Society
  • Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, elected signature member
  • St. Lawrence College Fine Arts Alumni
  •  Brockville Artist’s Studio

Contact Information

Pam Warren McKinnon
96 Water Street East. Brockville, Ontario, K6V 1A5

613-341-8892
pamela@truespeed.ca
www.pammckinnonart.com

Patricia Keeling headshot

Patricia Keeling

I live and work in Brockville. I am a semi-retired dentist, a wife, mother and grandmother.

I enjoy curling and skiing in the winter, cycling and golfing in the summer months.

I am a hobby artist.  For many years I enjoyed taking art classes at St Lawrence College, the Brockville Campus. I have enrolled in sculpture instruction, landscape, figure drawing and painting and art history classes.  I have had the benefit of numerous instructors including Henry Vi Finkle, Diane Sheridan, Bob Shakles and Andrea Mossop.

My favourite type of painting is fast and free abstract figures. I like to use acrylic paint because it allows me to work quickly. I generally use spatulas, sponges, and often just my hands.

This piece I called DETERMINED WOMAN.

It is done on silk with watered acrylic.

I love the strong, focused look on her face.

Definitely not a woman to piss-off. I hope the younger generations of women can develop and appreciate the qualities of a DETERMINED WOMAN.

About the Artist 

I have many joys in life but not many can compare with an afternoon with the brush in hand, surrounded by beautiful music inspiring me to create a piece of art. I have always liked to create in one way or another- even as a child with the knitting needles and the old treadle sewing machine.

I cemented my desire to concentrate on brush and paint work by completing a Diploma of Western Art in Singapore where I lived for 11 years. I had marvellous teachers there- Mr. Tong and Mr. Loy. They were wonderful mentors and generous with their knowledge.

I lived in Asia for 16 years and many summers I took courses from the wonderful teachers in the Brockville Summer School of the Arts. Many inspired me but none as much as an American guest teacher who opened my eyes to see beyond the simple:

I could experiment and from then my passion has been acrylic and mixed media. I rely on the piece of work leading me in its own direction.

Some wonderful and some bizarre results. I love being with artists and creative people- and children they often show me the way!

The simple, complex and beautiful. As with beautiful music, beautiful art and anything created by hand and love can move me to tears.

I hope I will always find the time and the passion to continue my journey of learning to create the more interesting; and in the process, grow, learn and enjoy.


Rosemary Waggott

613 803 3654
waggott.rosemary@gmail.com

Sine Lam headshot

Artist Bio

Sine Lin is an emerging visual artist based in Ontario, Canada. She studied Fashion Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and recently completed the Fine Art program at St. Lawrence College. Her artworks explore solitude, memory, and the silence beauty of nature and everyday still-life, often through cool-toned palettes and contemplative compositions. Her paintings have been featured in several group exhibitions including Marianne van Silfhout Gallery.

Artist Statement 

I create art to explore the meaning of life. I often paint about memories, solitude and time, which is feelings and moments that everyone experiences. My artwork looks quiet and peaceful on the surface, but holds deep thoughts and emotions in it.

I am drawn to exploring themes of contrasts and contradictions – visually beauty yet quite melancholic; relaxation paired with loneliness, much like life itself, where joy and sorrow coexist.

My art often carries hidden messages through symbolic elements. Sometimes apply a bit surreal, and that helps bring out deeper feelings or questions. I usually use cool colors and quiet scenes to create a space for reflection. Slow down, explore closely in life, welcome for thoughts or emotions in the artworks. It is a way to understand both the universe, myself, and life.


Website:

https://sinelam.wixstudio.com/sinelam

Instagram:

@sine.lam

 

 

 

 Susan Blanchard headshot

Susan Blanchard

Susan was born in Montreal, Quebec, and after graduating from Dawson College lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa. After marrying her husband Tom she moved to the beautiful 1000 Islands. Susan has been a lifelong learner, taking classes and workshops in a variety of creative outlets: quilting, stained glass, graphic arts, fine arts, and Paverpol garden art, to name a few. She practices yoga, reiki, and meditation and also loves to golf and curl.

Susan has taken workshops at SLC with Andrea Mossop, Marg Grothier, Anna Krak-Kepka, Bob Shackles, and the late Diane Sheridan, as well as with Barbara Sohn and Jules Crowley. Most recently she has taken online courses to improve her use of brushstrokes and colour. Susan has been a member of the Brockville Artist Studio and the Cornerstone Artistry Guild.

Susan and Tom have two adult children, and two young grandchildren, who keep them very busy when visiting from Toronto.

Artist Statement:

While the style of the Group of Seven and the Impressionists were my initial inspiration, my love of vibrant colour and the beauty of nature drew me to try painting. I enjoy using alcholol ink on tile coasters, trivets and other artworks, but most recently have concentrated on my acrylic paintings, striving to capture the feeling the subject matter evokes.

Susan would like to thank her friends and fellow artists for their support and encouragement to keep making art!!

Susan Woolfenden Hamilton headshot

Susan Woolfenden Hamilton

Age 13, being left to wander the Chicago Art Institute for a few  Saturdays, I taught myself about abstraction, colour & paint. Later I studied Drawing and Painting at the Ontario College of Art 1964-1967. My work can be realistic or abstract. I take equal pleasure in drawing  nature, painting life experiences, or philosophical explorations. All of this is expressed in unique, often dissimilar ways. I just accept what my hand draws, and work happily in many mediums. I have worked as a scientific illustrator drawing from the collections of :Agriculture Canada, Canadian Museum of Man, Canadian Museum of Nature, Department of National Defence, Canadian Museum of Civilization.

1984 to 1993 I was a part time teacher of Art and Design for St.Lawrence College, Brockville,  a part time teacher of Design, for Algonquin College, Ottawa, and lectured on Herb Culture & History, for Kemptville College of Agriculture & Technology, I created workshops for Women in Agriculture for the Government of Ontario, was a Guest lecturer at Queens University Mcarthur College 1990, for 3 summers teaching my own course, Creative Thinking to community college teachers. My art work is in private collections, the National Museums and  Global Affairs. 

I have illustrated the following books:

  • The Tuniit, by Robert McGhee ISBN 0-660-50280-1 
  • The Herb Cook Book, by the Southern Ontario Unit of the Herb Society of America
  • The New Herb Cookbook,  by the Southern Ontario Unit of the Herb Society of America
  • Pound Sounds, by Susan Woolfenden Hamilton ISBN 978-0-9917508-0-1

Web Site : works-end.com

Victoria Hutton headshot

Biography

Victoria Hutton lives on an historic farm of one hundred acres in Acton’s Corners, Ontario.

She draws her artistic expression from the evolving seasonal landscapes of that place and the ongoing evolution of her gardens there.

Victoria enjoys using a variety of artistic mediums, including watercolour, ink, and oil paint. 

Having earlier pursued her career as a Creative Director in the advertising field, Victoria’s artistic vision later benefitted from several extended periods living abroad. 

Victoria’s studies at St Lawrence College, Brockville began in 2007, where she achieved her Fine Arts certificate in 2011.

While continuing workshops and classes there, she also studied Japanese Sumi-e painting at Halliburton School of the Arts.

Artist Statement

I find notable pleasure in expressing myself through the economy of expressive line, whether it is describing the human or animal form or by imitating the grace of a natural floral or landscape’s  profile.

Art for me is a way of expressing my presence in the world.

It is the language that I speak in the world of my spirit.

Virginia Snowdon headshot

Ginny Snowdon always thought her sister was the artist in the family. Born in Windsor, Ontario, her parents later moved the family to Africa, living in Rhodesia which became Zimbabwe. Then back to Canada moving frequently until Snowdon settled in Sydenham, Ontario as a young adult. In her early twenties, she became interested in photography, taking classes and traveling on many photography tours. She worked on a technique that “sort of blurred the image.” This abstraction she experimented with in photography led her to painting. Though Snowdon took classes and workshops she is largely self-taught. Her work is strongly informed by the compositional sense that she gained from photography. While she doesn’t paint from photographs, the two materials share a quality that continues to compel her work – she captures a moment within a moment, always searching for the life energy, the fullness of the story. Her work has been in juried shows and she has had several solo exhibitions and awards. Turns out, there are two artists in the family.

ARTIST STATEMENT       

As an artist, I am both driven and drawn to tease out our common stories, searching for human interconnectedness through my work. I think of my art like the expanding rings of a tree’s growth over time, evidence of deep, inward work. Like the repeated circular patterns in trees, I notice recurring life patterns, paths and emotions that we all experience, forming the core of my narrative. Stories reveal and remind us that our own narrative exists on the back of a larger story, a universal picture of humanity, seeing oneself as part of a whole. Each of our journeys is singular, but through the vehicle of storytelling, fairy tales, legends, myths and archetypes, we inherit a fundamental universal story of which we all take part. Art gives humans the ultimate security that we are not fully lost, nor are we alone.

 

Zwanny Molino headshot

Artist Statement 

Born in the Netherlands but calling Canada home. Enjoying retirement in the Lombardy countryside.

To me art is a getaway to be absorbed in topics that stir an emotion. To express myself in a variety of media, art and photography are a big part of my journey. I was very fortunate to be a part of the Fine Arts Program at St. Lawrence College.

To visualize, imagine and to paint sends me on a never-ending journey of exploration, learning, expression and connection with like-minded people.


ZM

zwanny@bell.net