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Wednesday, August 9th | 7:00 - 9:00PM
The Carrot's August gallery features brightly coloured abstracts by Monica Prescott that spark an experience of light in the human heart.
Join us for our: GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, June 14th | 7:00PM-9:00PM
The Carrot Community Arts Coffee House invites you to join our June Gallery Opening. Through the motif of the pear, Marilyn Nilsson Grabinsky uses nontraditional watercolour methods to explore themes of sensuality, health, and longevity. Her artistic technique allows water, paint, and paper to spill, pool, and blend to the point where the textures and colours themselves to become the subject of her work.
Join Us for our Gallery Opening Reception
The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse invites the community to share coffee and conversation with artist Randy Daummann, whose work is featured alongside Nicole Pakan in the May Gallery Installation. These two artists capture moments and concepts of natural and urban spaces through a full spectrum of mediums- from Pakan’s encaustic art with roots in 6th century to Daumman’s 19th century lino-cut print making.
Join Us for our Gallery Opening Reception
In the month of April, The Carrot Gallery hosts the combined works of Gary Phil and Julie Drew. While these two artists work independently, both of their works are inspired by nature: flowers, mountains, and landscapes.
Gary R Pihl was born in New Westminster BC in 1948. At an early age his family relocated to Vancouver Island where at 13 he became the youngest member of the Crofton Art Group, a group that has become one of the oldest established art groups in Vancouver. In 1965, at only 17, Pihl moved to Edmonton to attend the Shepy School of Art. After his graduation in 1971 he continued his practice and distribute his work across Canada, from BC to Nova Scotia. His pieces can now be found across Canada, the US, and in the homes of Edmonton art collectors.
Julie Drew has always been attracted to the beauty of nature—mountains, oceans, animals, and flowers. Inspired by the world around her, she explores the depths and nuances of color, light, shadow and shape through watercolour on her own handmade paper. Her passion for art led to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, USA in 1987. After completing her degree, she continued her work in America until 1997 when she and her family relocated to Edmonton. In addition to her own practice, Julie teaches papermaking, watercolour and other art mediums.
Join us for our Opening Gallery Reception
Allison Argy-Burgess' inspiration comes from her travels abroad and the local places she loves. Using sketches, photographs and memories as resources she creates botanic and landscape works. As a studio painter, Argy-Burgess searches for a quality of mystery and the ‘not quite real’ rather than photographic reality in her watercolours. Instead of a faithful rendering, her strong forms and rich colours illicit feelings of nostalgia and atmosphere to achieve an emotional response.
Come to the opening night of the March gallery for a first peak at fantastic watercolours and a meet and greet with this month's artists, Allison Argy-Burgess. While her work can usually be found at her gallery at Harcourt House Society, this month it will brighten the walls of the The Carrot Community Arts Coffee House.
February’s gallery features one-of-a-kind works inspired by the groundbreaking NYC artist Jean Michele Basquia, curated by Edmonton artist Pedro Rodrigeuz De los Santos.
The gallery features:
Artwork by Elsa Robinson, Dora Restrepo, and Pedro Rodriguez De los Santos
Performances by: Allan Suarez, Sebastian Suarez
Spoken Word & Poetry by: Shima Robinson
and The Last Flower Project Animation Collective (Aloide Larochelle, Pedro Rodribuez De los Santos)
February's gallery features one-of-a-kind works inspired by the groundbreaking NYC artist Jean Michele Basquia, curated by Edmonton artist Pedro Rodrigeuz featuring his works alongside Elsa Robinson and Dora Restrepo. In addition to visual art, this opening will also feature live poetry readings by Shima Robinson, performances by Allan Suarez and Sebastian Suarez and live projections.
Pedro is from Montevideo, Uruguay and has been living in Edmonton, Alberta for 12 years. Since this time Pedro has established himself as a successful visual and public artist in Alberta. He has completed multiple exhibits, coordinated public art and education workshops and completed several murals included two with youth.
Dora originally hails from Columbia but now calls Edmonton, Alberta home. Still a newcomer to painting, her inspired works show the depth of her artistry. Painting on canvas with acrylic, her use of colour and perspective speaks of her time growing up in South America.
Elsa Robinson was born and raised on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. After taking a few art classes in high school and post secondary, she moved to Edmonton in 1984, the same year she welcomed her daughter Shima into the world. Robinson went on to earn her Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Alberta in 1990. After nearly a decade of teaching, Robinson’s artistic curiosity caught up to her when she completed her first painting in 1999. Since then she has gone on to win awards and earn her Bachelors Degree in Art and Design.
Amiskwaciwâskahikan aka Edmonton (Treaty 6)-born poet and spoken word artist Shima Robinson embodies, with every poem, the ancient meaning of her chosen pen name. Dwennimmen is the name of an ancient African Adinkra symbol, which means strength, humility, learning and wisdom. It is no surprise, then, that this veteran of the Alberta poetry community uses a searing intellect and dynamic precision-of-language to create poetry which ushers her readers and listeners toward greater understanding and poignant reflection. For Dwennimmen, poetry has long been a compass, a salve, an anchor and guiding light. She uses the potential and force of poetry to uncover the full range of her cerebral, linguistic and spiritual fortitude. This is why her every poem and performance testifies to an emerging power and wisdom, an authentic, deeply human potency which she hopes to pass on to listeners and poetry-lovers around the world.
This month The Carrot Gallery will feature the L’hiver | Pipon | (zyma) Visual Arts Gallery
Visit this special January exhibition featuring artwork by several local Francophone, Indigenous, and Ukrainian artists.
Oksana Zhelisko Classically trained in Eastern Europe, Oksana began her career as an artist in L'viv, Ukraine. Oksana entered the Ivan Trush College of Decorative Arts in 1996. There, she studied all aspects of art and decided to make painting, especially of murals, her major. In 2001, she held her first solo exhibition at the L'viv University of Ivan Franko. It was in preparing her works for this show that she realized she had a love for the medium of oil. She finds that the truest hues are to be found in this medium due to its prolonged drying time and its ease in mixing. She finds it best to begin her work, not on a crisp, blank canvas, but on one that has been coloured, and or stained to allow her chosen medium to release its inner beauty and charm. Although aptly able to capture any image with an artist's eyes, Oksana's work as of late has revolved around the theme of woman in various stages, poses, and emotions. She equates her disdain of starting on a blank canvas to that of simply painting woman as an exercise in figure. In her view, woman is neither crisp nor blank, but coloured and tinged; each being an image or an iconoclast that is warm, or perhaps cold, but always strong, alluring, full of mystique, and of course, true inner beauty. Her most recent works are displayed in Webster Gallery, Calgary. She currently resides in Edmonton.
Candace Makowichuk professional visual artist, arts educator and arts administrator, specializes in alternative photographic processes and techniques for her artwork. She works with a variety of photographic materials and printing proceses including: gum bichromate, cyanotype, tin type, gel and other transfer processes, multiple image printing, handpainting, and mixed media. Candace has extensive experience in educating the public on the importance and impact the visual arts have on our community and lives. Through workshops and residencies on historical photographic processes she has instilled a renewed interest in non-digital and historical photography.
Her education includes Art & Design from the University of Alberta, Photographic Technology from NAIT, Arts & Cultural Management from Grant MacEwan and various workshops. Her work is represented in public collections within Alberta, private collections within Canada and exhibitions throughout the province.
Theodora Harasymiw is Visual Artist and Art Educator working in Edmonton, Canada. In addition to working in her studio she has been working as an Artist in Residence since 1997. Working with schools I develop art programs which culminate in a permanent installation...
MJ Belcourt Moses Melissa-Jo Belcourt Moses comes from a rich Métis ancestry and possesses a wealth of cultural skills acquired from Métis and Aboriginal elders throughout northern and central Alberta. As a certified instructor, she has taught decorative arts and creative skills within the Native Cultural art programs on Native reserves and Métis settlements. A deep connection to her roots is the inspiration for much of her artwork and ongoing research in developing in others an appreciation for the Métis contribution to our country’s homeland. In 2006 Belcourt Moses was invited to represent Alberta cultural heritage in Washington DC for the 49th annual Folk Life Festival. Belcourt Moses was also given the Aboriginal Role Model of Alberta Art Award in 2009 for her work as an Artisan and as a recognized cultural art instructor.
Curtis Johnson My name is Curtis Johnson and as you might have guessed I'm an artist who loves hockey. From realism to abstract, I try to explore the many facets of our national obsession. I also create paintings that have nothing to do with Hockey – these abstracts represent my experience growing up on the Canadian prairie.
Jaye Benoit invokes artistic expression as a gateway to self-understanding, and ultimately seeks societal evolution. Her work is a searching for the place where the tangible and intangible meet, to express a value that has been lost in our time.
Jaye holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the university of alberta, with a focus on painting and drawing. Her studio practice includes painting, mixed-media works, and installations, which are exhibited throughout canada, and are in private collections in canada, the usa, and the united kingdom. Jaye provides instruction and mentorship for artists of all ages and abilities, and has been involved in the development of many community events and artistic initiatives.
A born artist and yogi, jaye practices and instructs sattva yoga as a foundation to her life’s work. She resides in Airdrie, Alberta with her husband and two feline friends.
Rebecca Pickard
This month The Carrot Gallery features collage artist Jess Dupuis.
Jess began secretly drawing cartoons all over her walls around 10 years old (much to her parents dismay). She managed to avoid becoming a graffiti artist extraordinaire and instead went to design school and graduated a graphic designer (much to her parents delight).
Fast forward eleven years, a few awards, loads of design clients and projects, an awesome husband and two small kiddos... Jess is now pushing to find time for herself and focus more on her art (you know, for her sanity). :P
"I find collage to be incredibly rewarding. The treasure hunt to find that first image that sparks an idea/concept. Cutting, pasting, painting - the bits and pieces that combine to tell their own new story. I relish in the artistic process the most as I am the only one making decisions for the outcome of the piece. There is no client to deny a mark or colour or combination of anything. Only myself, my gut and my critiques. It is liberating and therapeutic after many years of client-driven design and illustration projects.
My art (and heart) are a tad curious / odd / strange – and that's just the way I like. Enjoy."
This month The Carrot Gallery will feature two artists. Ivana Tisler and Jacquie Cyr.
Ivana Tisler is a multi-disciplinary artist who has had an entire lifespan of unique experiences from which she draws upon for her creative storms of self-expression.
She was born in Sarajevo to creative parents: her mom, a creator and designer who delved into many savvy ventures that Ivana looked up to greatly, and her father, a concert violinist. She lived in her birthing place until the beginning of the Yugoslavian war when her life changed forever. Ivana’s existence became a mantra reliant on faith. Her life, thankfully, was spared. However, her eyes and ears were not.
Images of people, places, and things burned into her memories. Tastes, smells, sounds, and sights impressed upon her. She was constantly meeting new people, learning new things, and exploring new places. These things are part of what makes Ivana such a dynamic and expressive creator. Ivana comments that “art has been seeping out of my veins, in one form or another,” but as she got older and she moved from country to country, learning languages and different education systems became the priority.
“I have discovered that beautiful things happen when you fully give yourself to something, and I have started creating works that with each day, grow and change, which feeds new ideas for future pieces.”
She has been part of an artist community for three years while showing and selling canvasses via Edmonton cafes and art galleries.
The Carrot presents Denise Lefebvre, Fine Art Painter for the month of September. Come enjoy the view (and maybe even purchase) some of her beautiful work!
Denise Lefebvre was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1970.
She continued her post-secondary education at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta in 1988. After graduating from Visual Communications in 1992, she continued her education with a major in photographic arts for 2 years and a minor in printmaking.
After college, Denise did some traveling in South East Asia and Eastern Canada, and since 1999 she has called Edmonton home once again.
She is currently employed as a free-lance artist specializing in menu chalkboards, murals, and numerous styles and mediums included in her fine art paintings. She has several art shows each year and is included with a talented group of local artists who call themselves Night of Artists. www.nightofartists.com
She is also involved with Lewis Lavoie and Phil Alain doing several mural mosaics which can be viewed atwww.muralmosaic.com These giant, stunning murals have included hundreds of artists including Robert Bateman and celebrities like Felicia Collins and Kevin Hearn.
The Carrot presents Larysa Eliuk Matchak, Fine Art Painter for the month of August. Be sure to come in and view (and maybe even purchase) some of her beautiful work!
Color, rhythm, contrast, and forces of nature, all contribute towards the inspiration for my paintings. When I paint and express myself through art, I am able to experience a euphoric feeling of freedom and contentment. My paintings are characterized by vivid colors and bold expressive brush strokes. I rely on my Ukrainian heritage, extensive travel, nature, and my surrounding environment for inspiration. I believe that we are all drawn to original works of art because they represent and radiate the soul and spirit of the individual who created it. Thus, through my artwork I strive to share my life and my spirit with others.
The Carrot is happy to present Jay's abstract landscape paintings during the month of July! Drop by before July 30 to view and purchase one of these great pieces!
Jay is a self-taught artist who paints abstract landscapes, skyscapes and spacescapes. Known for his use of colour and movement, his paintings are a reflection of his love of nature and science.
“My work is inspired by the landscape, sky, water and ice of a place, and especially of my home, Alberta. I try to capture the feeling and not a literal representation. I am particularly inspired by the sunset. The grand light at the end of the day, reflecting upon clouds, the landscape and the falling off to the deep indigo of the night sky. We are all familiar with the saying, “In Alberta, if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.” I use colour and movement to try to capture the sense of change we see on a daily and even minute by minute basis, whether it be the slow movement of a glacier, a violent summer storm or a lingering summer sunset.”
You can follow Jay on Instagram @JayIsPainting Facebook @JayIsPainting
The Carrot is pleased to show Nicole's interesting and unique art during the month of June! Drop by before June 30 to view and purchase one of her pieces!
Nicole Deibert is the Head Scenic Artist at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. She also is a professional photographer who has a passion to find old trucks and cars and photograph them.
These gel transfers are Nicole’s photographs with enhancements done with acrylic paint. The paintings are her interpretations of those same photographs. With College diplomas from Grant MacEwan in Theatre Production and Digital Arts & Media, Nicole also briefly attended Alberta College of Art before returning to pursue her theatre training. Nicole is also a grad from Victoria School of the Arts where she first learned her deep appreciation for painting and the need to be creative.
See more of Nicole's work: Instagram and @nixpaints
CONTACT
9351 – 118 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T: +1 780 471-1580
E: manager@thecarrot.ca
SPRING HOURS
Monday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 10:00pm
Sundays: Closed for Private Rentals
