More inspiring artwork at the Hub - thank you Art Allies

Thank you to Art Allies for the beauty you share with us. We have been blessed with wonderful colours and thought provoking pieces throughout the Hub space. Two local artists are currently featured at the Hub, Amy Ferrari and Soheila Esfahan.

Amy Ferrari's oil paintings are bright and colourful, somewhat whimsical. In her own words “Life is a joyous celebration. I celebrate color as a glorification of life. My vision is that vibrant, joyous potential thrives in everybody, everything, and every situation. My current work is acrylic on canvas.” 

You can really see this vision in her work. All of her paintings are really beautiful and the colours draw you in. These two paintings are my favourites but check out more of her collection at Art Allies.

Soheila Esfahan pieces are very dynamic and tell their own story. One of her pieces (left) has inspired lots of discussion, for different reasons. The Vagireh Pattern sculpture is provocatively displayed in the centre of the networking space and many have been curious about this piece. When I first saw it, on the first day of this exhibit I thought it was the packing crates for the other pieces and would eventually be moved out of the space. But when you examine the intricate and delicate carving on the front of the sculpture you realize there is more to the story. Jacqui Murphy explains that the crates represent the artists transition of culture and being as she moved from Iran to Canada.

Her paintings are somewhat moody and a little more aggressive in presentation. I love her use of texture on the canvas. Art Allies describes “Esfahani’s work incorporates traditional Persian script within a modern composition. While the essence of calligraphy predominates and reveals an eastern origin in her work, forms, lines, and texture attest to a western abstract influence. In her paintings, the mystical concepts of transformation, spirituality, and alchemy manifest through the meaning of poems by Persian poet, Rumi.”

Another great reason to visit the Communitech Hub -- come, enjoy the artwork. And maybe feel inspired to begin your own collection. 

Reason #132 of why I love Hubbub - the Artwork of James Nye

New artwork arrived at the Hub with the new year and we have all been enjoying our latest Art Allies contributor, James Nye. His paintings seem to fit seamlessly into our surroundings, blending very nicely but standing out just enough to draw appreciation.

"In my paintings the beauty is in looking and not necessarily what you are looking at. So whether they consist of clouds, graffiti or people, means little. What matters to me is how these things are given shape through the fundamental principles of light. My paintings are rooted in the realist, descriptive tradition of oil painting. I try to paint honestly, accurately and economically. I use a camera to try and capture what I see. Fleeting moments of light. Quick glances. The photograph outlines the scene and becomes the starting point for me to express my ideas. What is uninteresting and what is beautiful are the questions I pose to viewers" James Nye

I love the way his paintings appear to have so many layers, giving them a reflective look that is very unique. I feel like I am witnessing two parts to every story that he is telling. His paintings represent a wide variety of street scene settings, all with this very modern look and appeal. There are also a range of sizes in his collection to allow you to easily begin collecting and incorporating them into a home or office. 

I recommend you stop by and enjoy his paintings... reason #145 to stop by the Hub. If you can't stop by, check out his collection here.

Art at the Hub

It is not just about digital media here at the Hub!

Prints by Aaron Bartley have been displayed and appreciated at the Hub. These prints have blended very nicely with the interior design of the Hub and have added some colourful touches to the walls.

There will be a new collection displayed soon. I will post information as it is updated. These exhibits are a great opportunity for local artist to present their collections. The rotating exhibit I believe will be managed by Art Allies.

"Art Allies was founded to build bridges between the fabulous artists and untapped art collectors in Waterloo Region. Our goal is to build the art collector community by making it easy for people to purchase original fine art. We scour the Region for the most interesting, innovative artists so you don't have to."

There has also been an intiative within the Hub to provide further financial support to the displaying artist; this is also a sign of our appreciation for en living our space with their talent. You can make an anonymous contribution of support and if support is strong enough there may be an opportunity for the Hub to purchase one of the prints. Feel free to make a contribution when you visit the Hub and support local artists. There is a ballot box behind Hub reception.