Artists play ‘guess who’ at new exhibit
Rick Taylor, artist.
Springbank Artists member Rick Taylor puts the finishing touches on his acrylic piece The Young Maestro while Mississauga Youth Orchestra member Andrew Dicker poses. Taylor is one of 15 artists who will have work displayed at The Springbank Artists 14th annual fine art show and sale this weekend at Riverwood .
Staff photo by Nikki Wesley
Each year when Springbank Artists organize their spring exhibition, they host a contest to help generate interest and good-natured fun.
Traditionally, the group's 15 member artists each paint a piece without affixing their respective signatures to them.
They then hang the paintings on one of the gallery's walls and let the public guess who painted which piece.
The person who correctly identifies the most paintings takes home one of the works.
"Even I can't guess them all, and I'm one of the painters," said Gabby Tutak, laughing.
"I find I'm very surprised because, although a couple of the artists have distinct styles and are gimmes, there are others where all I can say is, 'who the heck painted that?'"
The Springbank Artists host their annual exhibition this weekend at Visual Arts Mississauga.
It opens with a reception, which is emceed by Mississauga Arts Council executive director Linda Thomas, on Friday from 7-9 p.m.
The exhibition continues until Sunday.
Some 200 paintings in a variety of media, including acrylic, oil, pastel, mixed media and watercolour, will be on display.
There's no theme to the show; the artists are given the go-ahead to "paint from the soul.
"Each artist has their own passions, so it leads to an eclectic show," said Tutak, adding landscapes, florals, street scenes, portraits and still life paintings are all part of the exhibition.
The theme for this year's artist contest is music.
Mississauga Youth Orchestra musician Andrew Dicker, who'll perform on violin during the exhibition on Sunday afternoon, volunteered to have his portrait painted by member artist Rick Taylor to help promote the exhibit.
Tutak believes this weekend is a good opportunity for members of the public to support local artists.
"One of my objectives is to do everything I can to give the public an opportunity to enjoy original art and I think it's important to partake in what Mississauga has to offer," she said. "Come out and enjoy some of the art your neighbours have done."
Visual Arts Mississauga is located at 1475 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.
For more information, visit www.visualartsmississauga.com.
cclay@mississauga.net