Despite the rain and sombre atmosphere pervading the streets of Elora, evidence of sunnier days dots the walls of the Minarovich Gallery, providing a much needed reminder of the season to come.
On April 10 especially, the Elora Centre for the Arts seemed to glow with the spirit of local artist Shirley Dilworth Jaychuk, as artists and friends gathered to view the annual exhibition and competition held in her name.
Fifty-three paintings were submitted from 34 artists across the region, and 31 were selected to hang in the Minarovich Gallery. Entries were required to be representational or impressionistic in nature and celebrate the character of Elora, Fergus or other rural environs of Centre Wellington, using acrylic, oil, pastel, or watercolour.
Cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $300 were presented to winners that evening after deliberation by jurors Don Russell, Shirley Al and Don Kilby, 2011 Shirley Dilworth Jaychuk Painting Competition winner.
Also present for the show’s opening was its benefactor Stan Jaychuk who created the competition after his wife Shirley Dilworth Jaychuk passed away in 2006.
“Shirley would have supported this,” said Jaychuk. “This is something to commemorate her love of the arts. The fact that the competition is for representational painting would make her very happy.”
“She was just a beautiful human… who had a lifetime love of art,” said Talia Rose Yeo, special events coordinator at the centre. “The group she was most passionate about was the Group of Seven, so I think a lot of what you’ll see (at the show), is people trying to depict that style.”
Sara lin Barron, administrative director of the centre, was especially happy to see such a large crowd out to the event.
“It’s wonderful when we have opening receptions and there is a crowd this size at the gallery,” she said. “(Because) if you look around, you can see that there are some absolutely beautiful works here.”
The third place prize went to Katie Wilde for her oil and mixed media piece, Roots in Elora Gorge— Racination in Wellington County. Julia Vandepolder was awarded second for her oil painting Shivering the Air, and first place was given to Karen Huband and her acrylic work, Field.
Huband, who had submitted two works to the competition, was especially gratified by the win, as Field represented her foray into a new style of painting.
“I always go for tight detail (in my work), and I’ve always wanted to go completely abstract, but I have never allowed myself to even attempt to rectify those two visions on a canvas at the same time,” Huband said. “This is my entry into that journey, where I try to compose with space and let the paint have it’s own life and to allow myself some control as well.”
The exhibition will be available for viewing until May 4.
