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Artists Statement Spring 2008
Paradisiaca.... in my mind is a Latin paradise... a spring- like breath of fresh air, a poetic loudness, a whimsical elegance, intuitively contemporary and renaissance in spirit.
Through a conscious awareness of the zigzag compositional undertones in Japanese ideologies, these paintings are a research on light and colour, a brave and vulnerable exploration of gesture and composition.
The subject of still life is inspired by life, memories, things I own, places I’ve been, dreams I've had and my own personal energy.
As I move along in life and fearlessly embrace the changes that I’ve had to adapt to, I realize that art is life and life is art. The elements I apply to my own being are one and the same to the ideologies I apply to my work; and I trust that, as I remain true to myself, I will remain true to my own voice.
Through these works, I hope to take the viewer on a visual journey… with ideas that have become distinct, raw and emotional to me while embracing a more adventurous, sensual and playful femininity.
These are my dreams, my fears, my love, as well as my torments.
These are the raw words and emotional elements from the journey of the paintings that hang on these walls.
BIO
Valerie Butters is a 30-year old Canadian artist who has burst upon the art scene in Montreal, Toronto and New York City. Butters is fascinated by the subconscious and influenced by surrealism and expressionism. She says that as well as having studied under some prominent contemporary artists, she was inspired by the revolutionary Canadian artists, Paul-Emile Borduas.
Borduas created a very different vision of life and art with his spontaneous expressions of emotions, feelings and sensations. While his work was considered radical in his time, Butters’ work is seen as joyful explosions of colour and emotion. Her quick evolution and exuberant exploration of colour and composition make her still-lifes and landscapes flamboyant and exciting.
BIO
Valérie Butters
International Artist
Born in Chicoutimi, Québec
Lives and works in Montréal, Québec
Education:
· Summer 2007 – Private studies with Artist Jennifer HORNYAK, Magog, Québec
· 2007 – Contemporary Nude mix media sessions @ Centre Culturel Georges-Vanier in St-Henri (every Monday & Tuesday)
· 2006 – Contemporary Nude Painting: Laura ENDACOTT, Montréal, Québec
· 2006 – Encaustic Painting: Eric DEMERS, Montréal, Québec
· 2005 – Sculpting with Models: Jean-Louis ÉMOND, Montréal, Québec
· 2005 – Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts, Montréal, Québec: Diploma in Fine Arts – three-year Comprehensive Arts Program including instruction from Marilyn RUBENSTEIN, Seymour SEGAL, Shirley KATS, Roslyn SWARTZMAN, Sophie JODOIN, Jacques CLEMENT and the late Philip IVERSON
· 2005 – Private studies with Artist Jennifer HORNYAK, Magog, Québec
· 2004 – Private Studies with Artist Jacques CLEMENT, Magog, Québec
· 2003 – Private studies with Artist Dominique SARAZIN, Magog, Québec
· 2003 – Private studies with Artist Carolina ECHEVERIA, Montréal, Québec
· 2001 – Ottawa School of Art: Diploma in Fine Arts – one-year program; Co-founder of the Ottawa School of Art Students’ Association
Scholarships:
· 2004 – Hester Ruth Katz Memorial Scholarship, Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts, Montréal, Québec
· 2003 – Hester Ruth Katz Memorial Scholarship, Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts, Montréal, Québec
Teaching Experience:
· 2003 - 2005 – teaching children painting at various schools, Outremount, Montréal, Québec
Solo Exhibitions:
2008
Paradisiaca- La Gallery sur Greene, May 2008
2007
· L'Air du Printemps, Studio 10 King, Old Port, Montreal, June 2007
· New Spring Paintings, Terence Robert Gallery, Ottawa Ontario, May 2007 -- new paintings
· Chai: Hollander York Gallery, Yorkville, Toronto, February 2007
· HBO’s Comic Relief Comedy Show Co-hosts Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams
Sun Nov 12, 2006 - Wed Jan 31, 2007
2006
· Angel Ball: Jewish General Hospital, Westmount, Québec, October 2006
· Inspired by Summer: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec, October 2006
· Les Fleurs: Koyman Galleries, Ottawa, Ontario, May 2006
2005
· Carmen: Avenue Art Gallery: Westmount, Québec, December 2005
· The Harmonia Series: Ateliers Marconi, Outremont, Québec, August 2005
2004
· Fall In Love: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount Québec, September 2004
Group Exhibitions
2007
· Canadian Gardens, West End Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, June 2007
· Group show: Terence Roberts Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, March 2007
2006
· Fleurs D'été: Hollander York, Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario, August 2006
· Hollander York Group Show: Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario, July 2006
· Beauty Surrounds Us: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec, May - August, 2006
· Koyman Spring Show: Koyman Galleries, Ottawa, Ontario, May 2006
· Annual Spring Show: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec
· Ottawa Art Festival: Ottawa, Ontario, April 2006
2005
· Christmas Small Format Show: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec, December 2005
· Elmwood Art Show: Rockliffe, Ottawa
· Fall Group Show: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec
· Quatre Artistes: Espace Trois, Montréal, Québec
· CAP Exhibition: Saidye Bronfman Centre For the Arts, Montréal, Québec
· Ottawa Art Festival: Ottawa, Ontario
2004
· Fall Small Format Fall Show: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount Québec
· Pediatric Liver Foundation Auction: Ottawa Hunt & Golf Course, Ottawa, Ontario
· Ottawa Art Festival: Ottawa, Ontario
· Annual Spring Group Exhibition: Avenue Art Gallery, Westmount, Québec
· Barrie Birks Bursary Fund Auction: Montréal, Québec
· CAP Exhibition: Saidye Bronfman Centre For The Arts, Montréal Québec
· Valentine’s Group Exhibition: Featured as a Valentines’ special on Global TV, February 2004, Rome-Antics, Montréal, Québec
2003
· Valentine’s Group Exhibition: Rome-Antics, Montréal, Québec
2001
· Group Exhibition: diploma program: Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa, Ontario
Media:
· Chris Hand from Viva City (Westmount, October 2006)
“… She churns out painting after painting as if her life depended on it. It
is the process of painting, and how her brush interacts with the canvas
using acrylic paint as the catalyst that is as important to her as the
process of breathing. This vibrancy is evident in every brush stroke in
every painting she creates …”
· Henry Lehmann of the Montreal Gazette (11 September 2004)
“… interestingly gaudy, exuberantly messy …”
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