Written by
Martha Stroud posted on August 13, 2017 12:28
Do you think that an organization you join today, in 2017, will be around in 2051? About 1983, Henry Vyfvinkel envisioned a group of local artists getting together to share ideas, paint together, and learn from each other. His creation, the Thousand Islands Fine Arts Association, is still going strong today, thirty-five years later. Many of the original members were professional artists or art teachers. Entrance to the group was juried, but the group still managed to be inclusive and encouraging to those at the beginning of their artistic careers. Henry's love of plein air painting sometimes took members to different islands by boat where they worked close to nature, battling with changing light conditions, wind, mosquitoes and weather challenges. TIFAA members continue to enjoy exploring the Thousand Islands region, lugging their lunches, paint, canvases and easels through local gardens and over rugged shorelines to paint through the changing seasons.
The current president, Belia Brandow, remembers attending exhibition openings when she first moved to the Mallorytown area before she took up painting herself. "The show in Rockport," she says, "at the end of June was always a highlight, a social event not to be missed. Great art, wine and food and everyone in the area attended." TIFAA still opens exhibitions with a party - food, live music, and exciting art.
The group originally met on the top floor of the library in Escott, then at the school house in Rockport for many years and now meets at the library in Mallorytown. At the beginning, artists who worked in three dimensions, like sculptors, were included, but now the group comprises primarily painters and printmakers.
Since the beginning, the association has provided opportunities to meet other artists and learn through workshops, seminars and “studio day paint-ins,” where the artists learn from each. Working in a group like this provides camaraderie, creative inspiration, and the opportunity to showcase work. Seeing what other talented people are doing challenges each of us and encourages us to raise our own standards.
TIFAA usually holds six meetings a year. This year there were two paint-in days in January and February and a Group Show in March at the Window Gallery at the Kingston School of Art. For the past few years, Parks Canada has generously offered their glorious Thousand Islands location for a group show in September, after their summer season ends, but this year might be the last year at this location because Parks Canada has plans to install a permanent exhibition in the space. We will be looking for a new home for our popular fall exhibition and sale, so if anyone has a good space to offer...
The next show will take place September 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th from 10 am to 5 pm each day, at the Thousand Islands National Park, 1121 - 1000 Islands Parkway (south from Hwy 401 East, exit 647, or 401 West, exit 685). The opening reception is Sunday, September 17th from 1 pm to 3 pm, with the musical group, The Hoolies, performing, and a surprise visitor in honour of Canada's 150th birthday. Join us for some good food, good music, and magical art.
Meet this year’s artists:
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Sian Tucker
“I love to paint! I have to paint ..or garden - oil and soil. Painting slowly in oil, seeing the changes in light, shadow, colour and texture is addictive.”
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Painting by Sian Tucker © 2017
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Martha Stroud
"I am a realistic painter who is trying to loosen up to a more impressionistic style, working with palette knives and painting outside."
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Painting by Martha Stroud © 2017
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Ingrid Schmidt
"St Lawrence River scenes, with their wonderful cloud formations, inspire many of my paintings. Large flower paintings are also a favourite
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Painting by Ingrid Schmidt © 2017
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Jane Ogborne
"I have a particular interest in landscape painting. I try to convey a feeling for the land in all its moods and rhythms. My favourite mediums are watercolour and oils."
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Painting by Jane Ogborne © 2017
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Betty Matthews
"Painting is a very important part of my life; it is all-consuming and I cannot imagine a day without the joy of art in it."
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Painting by Betty Matthews © 2017
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Layne Larsen
"I am a self-taught artist who has turned his fascination with birds and aviation into a second career."
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Painting by Layne Larsen © 2017
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Alan Ince
"I am a recent convert to acrylics and am excited to explore this new medium. After years of interruptions my love of art and all things created has found a new means of expression. I have a deep desire to create art that will encourage and inspire my audience."
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Painting by Alan Ince © 2017
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Cathie Hamilton
"Art is not what you see but what you make others see. I paint in a variety of mediums using vibrant colour. I enjoy exploring what is possible and then taking it a step further."
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Painting by Cathie Hamilton © 2017
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Sheila Goertzen
"I want my paintings to reflect the beauty that surrounds us every day. I like to paint what inspires me, and hope that people enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it."
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Painting by Sheila Goertzen © 2017
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Helma Gansen
"The beauty of the Thousand Islands and the St. Lawrence River inspired me to paint. Capturing nature's beauty is my quest and reinterpreting on canvas colour, light and composition is my on-going passion and challenge."
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Painting by Helma Gansen © 2017
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Margaret Ebdon
“Painting with acrylics is fairly new for me but has brought such joy to my life, spending time exploring colours and techniques while capturing the mood of the moment. I thank God for this new journey and give Him all the glory.”
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Painting by Margaret Ebdon © 2017
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Line Donnelly
"I love to create with most medias: it is like going to a movie, an escape to another world, only it is your world. How much fun is that? Nothing like it!"
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Painting by Line Donnelly © 2017
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Mary Crawford
"I explore the potential of colour and brushwork in the painting in oil of vintage and antique boats in the 1000 Islands as well as the textures and patterns in the rocks on the land as they pass. I do work in acrylic at times exploring things in the garden interspersed with other "things," giving the painting a bit of drama!"
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Painting by Mary Crawford © 2017
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Barb Carr
"I am inspired by the subtle colours and textures of the rural areas of Eastern Ontario and the Thousand Islands. My works are monotypes, a form of printmaking, in which inks are applied to a smooth surface and then put through the press, to transfer the ink to paper. Many of my pieces are printed in several layers, to build up the image."
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Painting by Barb Carr © 2017
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Catharina Breedyk-Law
"I have used my love of colour, line and pattern, to transition from fibre to watercolour and mixed media. It has been quite a ride."
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Painting by Catharina Breedyk-Law © 2017
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Belia van Essen Brandow
"A contemporary realist painter, working primarily in oil and acrylic, I find simple inspiration and beauty from the world around me. I find pleasure in working Plein Air, capturing a moment, the changing light and seasons of local country scenes. I love painting still life and will find myself intrigued by an object for its colour, texture, shape and how the light and shadow relationships define the subject matter. Working from life, I will develop a staged setup, starting from a single object of interest and then develop a story around it."
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Painting by Belia van Essen Brandow © 2017
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Beth Bailey and Paul Fournier will also be participating in the show.
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2017 Thousand Islands Fine Art Association (TIFAA) Show
September 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th
10 am to 5 pm
The Opening Reception is Sunday, September 17th from 1 pm to 3 pm. The musical group The Hoolies will perform.
Join us for some good food, good music, and magical art.
http://tifaa.weebly.com/
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By Martha Stroud
Martha Stroud's family emigrated from Ireland, around 1908, to live first in Gananoque, then Kingston and finally Toronto, where she was born. She has lived and worked on three continents, but is very happy to have retired back to Kingston and the Thousand Islands area, where she tries to capture nature ever-changing on canvas. Martha puts together the publicity for the TIFAA show each year and we are grateful that she includes TI Life in the roster.
