Credit: Janusz Wrobel
On the Rock: Merging Art and Ecology held its opening on Friday, March 7, 2014 at the Carnegie Gallery in Dundas, ON.  Ten artists brought their 25 works together to form a unique exhibition all inspired by one property—Cedar Haven Farm. Among the 25 art pieces, visitors find an intriguing variety of media, including metal sculptures, pottery, textiles, photography, woodcut prints, as well as watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings. All together these pieces bring different perspectives of this beautiful property.
Credit: Janusz Wrobel
Credit: Janusz Wrobel
The ten artists, gathered one by one by A Rocha Hamilton, showed great enthusiasm for the idea of using their inspiration to celebrate and showcase this 95 acre property to the public. The show included works by Barry Coombs, Kristen Brittain, Floyd Elzinga, Guennadi Kalinine, Diana Scholtens, Kim Rempel, Ralph Heather, Janusz Wrobel, Lorraine Roy, and Aleda O’Connor. Â
Peering over Floyd Elzinga’s one meter high cedar cone installation and stepping around fallen seeds forces visitors to interact physically with the exhibition. Stepping into the shelter of the woods of Ralph Heather’s woodcut we meet the resident deer. Lorraine Roy and Janusz Wrobel showcase the winterscape while Aleda O’Connor and Barry Coombs highlight the softer hues of summer.
Visitors to the gallery are invited to enter into this property and challenge themselves as to how they see their place in the spaces in which they live. The exhibition takes us around the property throughout the three seasons of summer, fall, and winter with bold colour contrasts and soft subtle beauty.
Approximately 200 people came out on Friday to view the exhibition and mingle with the artists. Visitors engaged the artists in conversations about the work and its inspiration throughout the evening. Having viewed the art, people also expressed their interest in touring the property as well as learning more about A Rocha Hamilton.
This is an inspiring and educational exhibition—a chance for Hamiltonians to reconnect with local people and places and whetting our appetites for our own change in season. The exhibition runs till March 31, 2014. Visit the Carnegie Gallery web site at http://www.carnegiegallery.org/ for more information.
Special guests are invited to attend a visioning banquet for A Rocha Hamilton & Cedar Haven Farm. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-rocha-hamilton-visioning-banquet-tickets-10953683763
By Diana Scholtens
