The WASM Blog

Marilyn Rubenstein

2011-11-21T11:42:00.015-05:00

In her talk, The Work and Thoughts of an Abstract Expressionist, Marilyn Rubenstein took us through the different stages of her career, delving into the ideas and emotions that inspired each period of paintings and installation. The mantra of contemporary art is process, and Marilyn generously shared the many and varied practices of her studio work. An artist with an always interesting trajectory and a great passion for art.

Marilyn Rubenstein and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph before the talk

I love the simple black&whiteness of this photo of Josette Wecsu

Marilyn Rubenstein richly illustrated her talk with slides of her work from throughout her career

Marilyn Rubenstein during the question period

And after the lecture, speaking with members.

Photos: Jackie Rae Wloski

Annamaria Popescu: Voice and Words in Music

2011-11-13T14:12:00.013-05:00

Annamaria Popescu, mezzo-soprano, opera, stage and concert performer; Italian diction and voice teacher, brought 2 voice students and a keyboardist with her from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.

She had the students perform and then corrected their renditions and brought out a better performance, all the while explaining what she was doing and why. It was a very entertaining and enlightening performance–lecture!

Stephanie Hradsky : soprano, Lukus Uhlman : baritone, Cheryl Emery on keyboard.

Photos and text by Jackie Rae Wloski.

Cultural Outing: Chinese Pavillion at the Botanical Gardens

2011-10-28T13:56:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Josette Wecsu for these enchanting photos. A few words from Josette:

I thought you might be interested in hearing about our cultural outing on Tuesday, October 25th.

This year our visit to the Chinese Pavillion of the Botanical Gardens was especially inspiring. As we strolled through the gardens, the exhibition of the of the First Emperor Qin and his Cavalry lit our path. I tried to capture some of the beautiful colors of the luminescent lanterns on camera for our WASM members. This was a perfect type of excursion for a cool autumn evening.

Our group (from left to right): Sharon Galligher, Marilyn Bridgeman, Josette Wecsu, Bridget Howlett, Frances Balough, with Ruth Pidduck standing in front.

Members' Day: Tex Dawson

2011-10-28T13:44:00.009-04:00

The Members' Day lecture and meet-and-greet was on October 18th, apologies for posting this with some delay. Here are Jackie Wloski's wonderful photographs and notes from the occasion:

Tex amused us all not only with his artworks but with his amusing stories of his travels and experiences. He spent about 20 minutes explaining his technique and who he did these drawings for (himself while on his travels, and for the Gazette when he was employed to do drawings of buildings etc.). He started out professionally as an architect, hence the great interest in buildings.

The largest part of the meeting was handing around a huge quantity of his drawings on paper and answering questions, so we all got a close look at his works.

The last part of the meeting was reserved for new members, who stood up and talked briefly about themselves, and then we all enjoyed coffee with delicious baked goodies by Shirley Cohen.

Kathryn Gabinet-Kroo: A Painter's Path

2011-10-14T12:34:00.016-04:00

Kathryn Gabinet-Kroo started out in art in black and white photography, and only when she found herself without a darkroom after marrying a Canadian and coming to Montreal from the States, did she start doing watercolors and using color. Eventually she switched to oils. She is a realist painter using her photographs as reference for her paintings, altering the colors or only using part of the photo to enhance composition. She always enjoys painting nature, and coy fish are a favorite subject matter. She does portraits sometimes, but not on a regular basis.
The lecture and the animated question and answer period afterwards were thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.

Kathryn Gabinet-Kroo with one of her paintings. Usually she works in larger formats (3'x5', 4'x6') but her smaller works are obviously more portable.

Kathryn Gabinet-Kroo holding up one of her works from student days

Notes and photos by Jackie Rae Wloski.

Matthew Hays: Women in Film

2011-10-06T11:12:00.013-04:00

The 118^th season of the WASM opened with a scintillating start. Matthew Hays, film critic, writer, film festival programmer and academic, who won a Lambda Literary Award for his 2007 book “The View from Here: Conversations with Gay and Lesbian Filmmakers", was our first speaker. He teaches film studies at Concordia University and has written film reviews for The Montreal Mirror and many other publications.

Yesterday his lecture was on Women in Film: Evolution of Representation. He talked about the history of women in film production and the possible reasons behind the dearth of female directors in today’s film industry. He spoke of the National Film Board and “Studio D” that funded and promoted women making films , including one on anti-nucleur activist Dr. Helen Caldicott. Many of the films, eg: “I’ll Find a Way”, “If You Love This Planet”, “Forbidden Love”, “Hookers on Davey”, “Not a Love Story” were ground-breaking, controversial, and internationally recognized. To learn more about this incredible era of creativity, check out the book; “D” is for Daring.

Notes by Diane Canuli, Photos Jackie Rae Wloski.

Dr. Helen Caldicott

Scenes from the film If You Love This Planet

A scene from Raging Bull, edited by Thelma Schoonmaker

Matthew Hays with WASM President Leslie Cohen

Today's bloggers, Jackie Rae Wloski and Diane Cannuli

Dave Laing, Greg Clayton & Paul Johnston

2011-04-13T08:57:00.017-04:00

The last meeting of the year featured the jazz ensemble of Dave Laing (drums) Greg Clayton (guitar) and Paul Johnston (bass) who performed as well as providing a master class of sorts, initiating us into the inner workings of jazz improvisation. As in all art forms, effortless on the surface, complex below that surface.

Before the performance, the Annual General Meeting was held, and we took time to recognize Carol Lodge, now a member for 25 years! Congratulations and thank you for your loyal support.

Carol Lodge and Leslie Cohen

Dave Laing

Greg Clayton

Paul Johnston

President Leslie Cohen has put her heart and soul into Women's Art this year, working tirelessly, continually bringing new ideas to the table and finding ways to adapt to the ever changing cultural environment. Energetic, engaging, always ready to listen to the needs of the members, she has provided innovative leadership. From all of us, an appreciative thank you, Leslie!

Here are Dave Laing, Greg Clayton and Paul Johnston performing Body and Soul

Caroline Derome and Margaret de Castro

2011-04-01T10:35:00.010-04:00

Last Tuesday we had a fabulous recital given by flutist Caroline Derome and pianist Margaret de Castro, both from the Schulich School of Music at McGill. They played a full program with works ranging from Joseph Bodin de Boismortier to Fauré and Schumann. They finished with a lovely choice of Celtic melodies. The recital truly conjured up images of springtime. Thanks to Liliane Goldman for bringing this duo to us.

Caroline Derome

Margaret de Castro

A bit blurry but we love this photo

Submitted by Jackie Wloski and Diane Cannuli

Zsolt Alapi: Underground Women Writers

2011-03-30T20:05:00.018-04:00

Underground was truly the key word in the title of Zsolt Alapi's talk, as he introduced us to a world of women writers few of us were familiar with. Alapi, editor/publisher of Siren Song Publishing and the literary journal The Loose Canon, is passionately involved in this non-mainstream, edgy writing world and he provided us with both history and context to what is going on today. I'll post his photos of some of the principle participants in this movement as well as the Powerpoint summaries of their career highlights which I copied by camera rather than by pen.

Diane di Prima whose life Alapi presented in great detail, was really the forerunner of the women who followed her. She lived her life at the center of the Beat and psychedelic revolutions.

Di Prima with Amiri Baraka, formerely known as Leroi Jones

Di Prima's memoir of the Beat years gives a gritty portrait of the times

Di Prima's autobiography talks in depth of her life

Laura Hird, the Scottish novelist and short story writer, who publishes the work of young writers

Heidi James is one of the young writers showcased by Laura Hird

President Leslie Cohen, before the lecture, with the McCord Museum's tech guy, Dave Carmichael who makes all the presentations possible. Thanks Dave!

Jackie Cytrynbaum

2011-03-19T13:14:00.024-04:00

Jackie Cytrynbaum, fine art photographer, gave last Tuesday's talk, "The Camera is My Paintbrush", and for those who may have doubted that photography is fine art, I am sure Jackie's work has won them over. About her many series, she explained to us not only her process but also the emotional roots of her complex and layered images.

Before the lecture -- Shirley Cohen (left), Annette Wolfstein-Joseph (right) who organized the talk, and (center, with the camera) Jackie Wloski, soon to be part of the WASM blog team

Layered images composed from several negatives, and based on archival family photographs in The Continuum series

Eikoh Hosoe was one of the photographers who influenced Jackie's decision to do a series of nudes

Here are some images from the stunning series Music in the Metro

From Jackie's Intimate Florals series, inspired by the photographs of Karl Blossfeldt

From the series Spaces In-Between

Jackie Cytrynbaum and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Bonnie Stamos Destounis and Selena Liss at Annual Art Show

2011-01-15T14:49:00.006-05:00

Bonnie Stamos Destounis, the President of the Montreal Council of Women, was our guest of honor at the vernissage for our 2011 Art Show at Ogilvy's Tudor Hall. This is the second half of her speech where she talks personally about her beginnings as an artist.

Our second speaker was Selena Liss, Marianopolis College professor and Coordinator for the college's Arts Trip, one of the projects that receives help from the Bursary Fund. Ms. Liss also joined the original panel of judges for the final judging for the awarding of prizes.

The 2011 Annual Art Show

2011-01-14T15:08:00.022-05:00

The well attended Annual Art Show held its vernissage last Saturday at Ogilvy's Tudor Hall. The show was beautifully hung thanks to the many volunteers on the Hanging Committe and the works delighted and inspired the large viewing crowd. Bonnie Stamos Destounis, President of the Montreal Council of Women and our guest of honor spoke about the ties between Women's Art and the Montreal Council as well as her work as an artist. Selena Liss, Marianopolis College professor and co-ordinator of the Arts Fest and Arts Trip at the college, projects sponsored by the Bursary Fund, said a few words about the students who benefit from the fund. This year, a portion of the proceeds raised by our sale and silent auction will be donated to support students in arts, music and theatre, especially directing funds towards the arts trip.

Bonnie Stamos Destounis

Mary Jane Telfer with Leslie Cohen

This year's Art Show prizewinners (from left to right): Lillian Moore, Diane Cannuli, Jane Wigglesworth, Roxanne Dyer, Sandy Baylin, Leslie Cohen (president), and Bonnie Stamos Destounis (guest of honor)

Shahnaz Bagherzadeh's Nocochi Café Patissérie provided irresistible cookies

Jackie Rae Wloski, Sharon Gallagher, Diane Cannuli

Women's Art in the Gazette

2011-01-04T15:51:00.006-05:00

The Gazette photo of Leslie Cohen and Mary Jane Telfer

In case you missed it, or haven't picked up your newspaper yet, today's Gazette had a terrific article by Kathryn Greenaway about Women's Art and about the upcoming Art Show. You can read the article here:

The vernissage is Saturday, January 8th, starting at 2 p.m.

Holiday luncheon at the University Club

2010-12-08T15:35:00.026-05:00

The snowstorm did not slow down WASM members from attending our annual holiday luncheon. A great success and greatly enjoyed by all. The music, the food, the company was lively and entertaining, and this year saw a silent auction and raffle with items generously donated by a number of people. A festive occasion all around.

Suzy Charto and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

This magnificent quilt made by Mary Jane Telfer has been donated to the silent auction to be held at the art show in January. At the luncheon we all had a sneak preview.

Derek Yaple-Schobert and Shirley Cohen, the Hospitality Chair

Alma Faye Brooks and Louis Toteda provided the musical entertainment

Alma Faye Brooks and Louis Toteda at the Holiday Luncheon

2010-12-07T22:12:00.007-05:00

The highlight of this year's holiday luncheon was entertainment by the marvelous Alma Faye Brooks and Louis Toteda. Here they are performing "What the World Needs Now". Tomorrow I'll try to post some of the photos of the luncheon and the silent auction.

Dorothy Grostern - Art as a Second Language

2010-12-01T15:27:00.023-05:00

Yesterday painter Dorothy Grostern talked about her artwork, the thoughts and processes that lie behind the finished images and the themes that have attracted her over the years. She showed many slides and explained her particular penchance for creating images without a fixed meaning, images that allow the viewer's interpretation to interact with the emotions and gestures of the figures.

One interesting aspect of Dorothy Grostern's lecture were notebook pages with preparatory drawings for some of the paintings.

Windows are a major theme for Dorothy Grostern - Through a Green Window

Entry

A second major theme, staircases. Staircase

Figure and stairs

Her fondness and familiarity with cats translated into a series about cats. Below Living Together. Later she moved on to larger cats with a series on tigers.

Memory as a subject became expressed in the clothing that her grandmother fabricated. The Dressmaker

Wild Roses

After the lecture

I know this photo is blurry, but I find it beautiful and full of atmosphere. Facing the camera on the right, Dorothy Grostern, and on the left, Shirley Katz.

Members' Day: Luncheon and talk by Sandy Baylin

2010-11-04T15:16:00.025-04:00

Members' Day (Tuesday, October 26th) began with a luncheon for the new members at the Delta Hotel's Aroma Room downtown. Each member introduced herself and as always, I was amazed at how various and interesting the different backgrounds of our members are. The food was terrific and the buffet provided a pleasant and relaxed backdrop for the get-together. A big thank you to Hospitality Chair Shirley Cohen for making it all happen.
After lunch, we moved over to the McCord for the Members' Day lecture, delivered this year by painter Sandy Baylin. She spoke about her artistic path, the experiences from her growing up and the people and places that have influenced her. Her talk was generously illustrated with slides of her paintings of the Laurentian landscape.

Shirley Cohen saying a few words

Back at the McCord for the Members' Day lecture

Sandy Baylin setting up for her talk

President Leslie Cohen and Sandy Baylin before the lecture

Kathleen Hamilton - Botanical Perfumery

2010-10-23T09:29:00.026-04:00

Kathleen Hamilton, an artisan perfumer, gave last Tuesday's talk on botanical perfumery, taking us on a thorough tour of the subject, so dense in information that I would hardly know how to summarize. Fortunately, for those who attended and can't remember all the facts or for those who missed the lecture, Wikipedia has a nice, detailed article at this internet address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfumery
It covers much of the subject matter that Ms Hamilton spoke to us about.

Dr. Hans Moller introducing the speaker

Perfume making is dense in science, human labor and, of course, the poetry of fragrances. Below is a scent laboratory, and the blotter strips used to test scents.

A fragrance pyramid which shows the complicated "structure" of a perfume

A Fragrance Chart

Enfleurage is a technique developed in 19th century France, to capture fragrant compounds from plants. A large framed plate of glass is smeared with a layer of fat and allowed to set. Petals or whole flowers are then placed on the fat and their scent is allowed to diffuse into it. The process is then repeated by replacing the spent flowers with fresh ones until the fat has reached a desired degree of fragrance saturation.

Grasse, the French perfume capital

Distillation vats in India

Flower pickers

The Indian marigold market. These "ropes" of marigolds are draped over everything.

Since antiquity, perfume bottles are their own art form

After the talk Ms Hamilton set up a table with blotter strips and samples of the scents she has created

John Fox at the Klinkhoff Gallery

2010-10-15T09:36:00.025-04:00

I'm a bit late with this posting, but it's definitely worth getting these images up.
The first cultural outing, organized by Shirley Cohen, was our annual visit to the Walter Klinkhoff Gallery on Sherbrooke Street. This year's retrospective exhibit featured paintings by the late John Fox. Well known art historian (and wife of this marvelous artist), Sandra Paikowsky, spoke to us about Fox's artistic trajectory, his studio practices, his teaching and enthusiasms. A true portrait of the artist.

Gallerist Eric Klinkoff introducing the speaker

Shirley Cohen making some opening remarks. Behind her, one of the large paintings from Fox's abstract period

Sandra Paikowsky

John Fox had a deep passion and abiding love for the city of Venice which he visited and where he worked for several months every year. He died in Venice, suddenly, as he was about to return to Montreal, and is buried there. Below is a painting from one of his early visits in the 1950's, followed by a painting from a later period.

Ramo di muti, Venezia

Montreal, home for most of the year, was a frequent subject for Fox

The Cleaners

His late period featured a lighter palette of ravishing colors

Sandra Paikowsky speaking with members after the talk

You can see more of John Fox's artwork at: http://johnrichardfox.com

Other web references:

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/insight/story.html?id=692c95e0-fc54-43de-86c9-e07b77cc9d74

http://www.klinkhoff.com/canadian-artist/John-Fox

Cultural Outing -- Chinese Lanterns at the Botanical Gardens

2010-10-14T08:40:00.009-04:00

Josette Wecsu was kind enough to provide photos of last Tuesday's cultural outing, along with this note: "The cultural outing to the Botanical Gardens yesterday was great fun. We saw the magnificent Chinese lanterns and I took a few pictures for WASM. Although only 5 women attended, we had a very enjoyable lunch there and we were very impressed by the beautiful lanterns.
In the photo of our group: Audrey Hanf, Josette Wecsu, Jane Wigglesworth, Annette Wolfstein-Joseph, Jackie Rae.

Philip Szporer talk on Canadian Dance Films

2010-10-07T11:45:00.023-04:00

President Leslie Cohen opening the new season

The 2010-2011 season began with the Jean Ford Memorial Lecture, this year delivered by dance writer and filmmaker Philip Szporer. Titled "Northern Exposures: The Development of Canadian Dance Films", Mr. Szporer treated us to a history of dance filmmaking in Canada, explaining the complexities and nuances of both media, dance and film, and showing us, through a series of film extracts, how the interaction between the two create a new art form. His website is: www.mouvementperpetuel.net

Pas de deux by Norman McLaren, one of the pioneers of dance filmmaking

Lodela by Philippe Baylaucq, an experimental dance filmmaker

Amelia by choreographer and founder of La La La Human Steps, Edouard Locke

Philip Szporer and Marlene Miller's The Greater the Weight

Shirley Cohen speaking with Philip Szporer before the lecture

The beautiful day was celebrated by everyone, including old James McGill who I passed on my way to the McCord Museum

Musique! exhibit at the Mile End Gallery

2010-09-17T12:53:00.016-04:00

The fall art season is just firing up and several of our members participated in the exhibit titled Musique! which opened this week at the Mile End Gallery. The show runs until September 26th at 5345 avenue du Parc in Mile End.

Annette Wolfstein Joseph with the print she is exhibiting

A highlight of the vernissage was a performance by Nathalie Cora. She takes her name from the west african instrument she is playing, the kora, which has a beautiful harp-like sound, and her playing enchanted all of those in attendance.

I loved this piece by Raymond Furlotte, entitled Maria Callas et le miel du toit de l'Opera de Paris. Apparently beehives are maintained on the roof of the Paris Opera and one can buy small jars of their honey in the gift shop.

Raymond Furlotte with his work

Cultural Outing: Violins Etc.

2010-04-11T12:36:00.012-04:00

On a cool Thursday April 8th 2010, there was no better place to be than at VIOLONS ETC... 2129 Saint-Urbain street, with a dozen members of the WASM, just as eager as myself, to learn more about this wonderful musical instrument wich is the violin. Our host Mr. Gilles Blouin welcomed us with open arms in his small shop and studio. All morning, he talked about the beginning and evolution through the ages of the violin and demonstrated how he proceeds to make it. Mr. Blouin is a highly skillled craftman who has had "pignon sur rue" for about 30 years. He is a passionate and generous man with a deep love of woods, violin, people and languages . Here are some of my souvenir pictures of this memorable outing.

Louise G. de Tonnancour

Louise Lemieux-Bérubé from the Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles

2010-04-07T20:39:00.032-04:00

Some of you remember last year's visit to the Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textile and Jacquard Weaving, organized by Louise de Tonnancour. On Tuesday, the Centre's founder, Louise Lemieux-Bérubé was our guest speaker and we heard about the history and anniversary activities (this year they are celebrating the 20th anniversary) of this wonderful educational and cultural resource. The talk was generously illustrated, with many slides of the school's installations as well as the work of its talented students. Here are pictures of some of what we saw.

Last minute preparations before the lecture

Louise Lemieux-Bérubé and Louise de Tonnancour getting ready to start

The school's two Jacquard looms were major acquisitions. The preparatory work for the looms as well as for the knitting and embroidery machines are computerized, compressing what used to be a hundred hours of labor into half an hour.

Some of the students' creations

Here a student incorporated glass bulbs into the weaving

The envelopes are embroidered textiles!

Dance has been one of Louise Lemieux-Bérubé's major themes in her work. Below is her weaving that hangs in the Place des Arts foyer.

An earlier piece

Recent weavings that makes use of portraiture

The two Louises

Annual Art Show 2010 of the Women's Art Society

2010-03-23T21:53:00.031-04:00

The 2010 Annual Art Show is up and looking fantastic at Ogilvy's Tudor Hall. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, the show will have a shorter run than usual, but that did not discourage turnout at the vernissage last Saturday afternoon. A large crowd, much praise for the artists and an enthusiastic response to the varied artworks. Many thanks go to all the members who took time and care in planning, hanging the show and in preparing the food for the vernissage. Here are my photos from the event:

President Leslie Cohen introducing our guest of honor

Guest of honor Eve-Lyne Beaudry is Conservatrice de l'art contemporain
at the Joliette Musée d'art

The prize winners of the WASM 2010 Annual Art Show. From the left: Eleanor Perkins (honorable mention), Marilyn Lamond (third prize), Sara Barnoff (second prize), Mylinh Vu (honorable mention), Annette Wolfstein-Joseph (first prize winner), and Guest of Honor Eve-Lyne Beaudry.

Eve-Lyne Beaudry and Leslie Cohen

First prize winner Annette Wolfstein-Joseph with her work, Tropicanna

Norma Lehrer and Pauline Shapiro

Jackie Rae Wloski (on the left)

Deanne Hall-Habeeb and Suzy Charto Dunkelman

Marilyn Lamond (on the right)

President Leslie Cohen enjoying the vernissage

Annette Wolfstein-Joseph and Sandy Baylin

Jane Wigglesworth

"Behind the scenes", Shirley Cohen at work

Agatha Munroe (1935 - 2010)

2010-03-19T08:50:00.024-04:00

Last Tuesday, after the lecture, we lingered on to remember, celebrate, and regret the passing of Agatha Munroe -- artist, mother, friend, couturière extraordinaire, lover of life (and the Shopping Channel!), an active force in our local art scene. She never did anything halfway but threw herself with passion into all she involved herself with. Many people stood up to remember her generosity and share memories of good times with Agatha. Her son and daughter-in-law, Robert Munroe and Deborah Pinnell, from Kingston, were present to share this warm-hearted moment with us. It was a privilege to share a bit of life's road with you, Agatha, and we will miss you greatly.

Shirley Cohen opening the memorial service

Josette Wescu and Frances Balough (above) share memories.
Below, Jane Wigglesworth, Lillian Moore, Shloime Perel, and Joanna Bayles.

Robert Munroe and Deborah Pinnell

Signing the memorial book and looking at the photo album

A couple of photos from the album

Candies for Agatha

Poster for the Art Show

2010-03-09T17:16:00.006-05:00

I was unable to attend today's talk, so unfortunately I have no photos to show. However, I did just receive this year's poster for the upcoming Art Show from Leslie Cohen. A real stunner!

Shirley Katz: A Changing Vision

2010-03-08T18:30:00.022-05:00

Shirley Cohen and Frances Balough leading the annual meeting

After our annual meeting last Tuesday, Shirley Katz, well known to many of our members, gave a lively talk, showing slides and talking about her work and working techniques, and taking us through the different media that she has experimented with over the years. Many fans (and dedicated collectors) in the audience.
I know Shirley was not always happy with the slides projected (faulty color or color saturation), and my photos are taken from those slides, but I hope they give you a feel for her tremendous talent and imagination.

Shirley Katz and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Multimedia works from Shirley's latest show, Altered Egos

Shirley's early work had autobiographical roots (below: her gradeschool teacher)

Singers are a recurring theme, in and out of the shower

Shirley's sculptures are also mixed media

Time for all art critters to wake up

2010-02-26T10:57:00.004-05:00

Our winter hibernation is about to come to an end. Next Tuesday Montreal artist Shirley Katz will be speaking about her artwork in a lecture titled, "A Changing Vision:A Selection of My Paintings."
As usual the lecture will begin at 1:30 pm at the auditorium in the McCord Museum.

Montreal Highlights Festival

2010-02-19T16:18:00.013-05:00

I was downtown on Wednesday evening as the Montreal Highlights Festival was just warming up its magical light show. There are many different Festival activites and sites, here is a link to their internet site:
http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/accueil_en.aspx

Like Cinderella, daylight shows a more prosaic story.

Montréal mon amour opening at Mile-End Gallery

2010-02-05T11:59:00.014-05:00

Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Three of our members-- Annette Wolfstein-Joseph, Deanne Hall-Habeeb and Judith Pickard-- are part of the new show Montréal mon amour that opened this week at the Mile-End Gallery. Here are a few photos from last night's vernissage.

Deanne Hall-Habeeb

Myrna Bercovitch print

Painting by Sandra Glenns

Visit to the Musée d'art de Joliette

2010-02-04T08:42:00.009-05:00

Two of our members, Deanne Hall-Habeeb and Cheryl Braganza, attended the vernissage of Gisele Amantea's exhibit at the Musée d'art de Joliette, one of our organized cultural outings. A big thanks to Cheryl for sending me these photos. She found the show "interesting and thought provoking".

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T17:32:00.002-05:00

Holiday Luncheon at the University Club

2009-12-23T13:00:00.015-05:00

I was out of town in early December and missed the annual Holiday Luncheon, so we have Louise de Tonnancour to thank (once again) for these lovely photos of the festivities at the University Club on Mansfield Street.

Best wishes to all for a happy holiday time and for the New Year. See you in 2010!

Musical performance by Carol Brodkin who sang Gilbert and Sullivan

Cultural Outing: Opera de Montréal

2009-11-29T18:57:00.020-05:00

Our second cultural outing, beautifully organized by Louise de Tonnancour, was a backstage tour of the Opera de Montreal. General and Production Director Pierre Dufour led our visiting group through the labyrinth workshops, sets, and costume racks behind the scenes.

Thanks to Louise for the wonderful photos, captions...and of course the memories.

General Director Pierre Dufour begins the tour

The costume workshop, a real Alibaba's cavern

A smiling Pierre Dufour has plenty of reasons to be proud.

"Producing an opera is a very long procedure. It can take up to five years."

Sometimes, new fabrics get to be aged, in this little corner

Costumes everywhere!

Props. It takes what it takes!

Isles and isles like this one..each well identified. Rest assured we did not loose anyone.

Mark Abley

2009-11-28T12:47:00.009-05:00

Mark Abley gave an absolutely terrific talk on November 17th...which I unfortunately missed out on, but I have heard rave reviews from everyone who was in attendance. He spoke about his travels and all the interesting encounters he has had with English around the world.

Much thanks to Lily Goldman who took these photos for our blog.

Mark Abley and Hans Möller, who organized the literary talk

Louise de Tonnancour introducing Mr. Abley

Mark Abley

Hans Möller and Frances Balogh in the audience

Hans thanking Mark Abley

A lovely photo of our president, Leslie Cohen

Mandolinata

2009-11-26T20:26:00.014-05:00

Mandolinata's program was quite eclectic, ranging from the lovely Partita Antiqua to ragtime to Vivaldi as well as Japanese and Italian melodies. Musical director Johanna Hebing first started playing in her native Holland and has continued performing and teaching here in the Montreal area.

Pre-concert bustle in the auditorium

Johanna Hebing and Adele Lafrance preparing

WASM member Carol Thom plays the Mando Cello with Mandolinata

Mandolinata

1st Mandolin: Johanna Hebing

2nd Mandolin: Adele Lafrance

Mandola: George Evers

Mando Cello: Carol Thom

Guitar: Pierre d'Etcheverry

Mando Bass: Ernest Zuidinga

Johanna Hebing introducing a piece

Carol Thom, Ernest Zuidinga, Pierre d'Etcheverry

Adele Lafrance

An Italian mandolin

Ann Chippendale thanks Mandolinata for their performance

I had a second concert riding home on the Metro!!

Rita Briansky -- "What is Jewish Art?"

2009-11-21T10:23:00.044-05:00

Sometimes there are traffic jams in our lives, and so I am playing catch-up with WASM blog postings. A cancellation for November 10th lecture had a very happy outcome when Annette Wolfstein-Joseph, on short notice, managed to get Montreal painter Rita Briansky to deliver a talk on Jewish art.

In one short hour, Rita covered the history of Jewish art from Biblical times up to the present time. Early Jewish culture was dominated by religious tradition, with its prohibition in the visual arts of what would qualify as graven images. In the ghettos of Europe it was even illegal for Jews to create art, and Jewish artists were relatively rare until they lived in assimilated European communities beginning in the late 18th century. And yet, Jewish artworks are rich and varied; creative expressions of Jewish life are found in mosaics, murals, manuscripts, illustrated Haggadahs, micrography, papercuts, graphic arts and paintings. Contemporary Jewish art is vital, and perhaps, the most prolific in all of Jewish history.

Annette Wolfstein-Joseph presenting speaker, Rita Briansky

Rita Briansky

Jewish artists of the Modernist period incorporated current visual language (cubism) into traditional subjects

During the early 20th century Jews figured particularly prominently in the Montparnasse movement, including Marc Chagall.

and Amedeo Modigliani

Felix Nussbaum's famous Self Portrait with Jewish Identity Card (1943). He perished in the Holocaust.

Ben Shahn, a painter of the Diaspora, was known for his involvement in

social causes. Below is his painting Sacco and Vanzetti.

Ben Shahn, synagogue

R.B. Kitaj, If Not

R.B. KItaj, Jewish Rider

Larry Rivers, Portrait of Primo Levi

Post-war American artist Barnett Newman, Black Fire

Rita tied Newman's abstraction to medieval illuminations like the Sarajevo Bible.

Mark Rothko, another of the great post-war abstractionists.

Jewish art comes full circle, one could say

Rita presented slides of many of the renowned Montreal painters of her generation.

Below, a scene by Jack Beder

Louis Muhlstock, rue Ste. Famille

Sam Borenstein, Winter Scene

Sam Borenstein, Summer

Rita Briansky, from her Kaddish series

Rita Briansky, Prayer Shawl, from her Kaddish series

Rita Briansky and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph after the lecture

Kids can go green too!

2009-11-16T14:01:00.008-05:00

Lily Azerad-Goldman doesn't just organize music programs for WASM, she has also brought out a book for kids about composting. You can learn about her project at her blog site:

http://lilyloulou.blogspot.com/2009/11/mrs-nosy-composting-story.html

A funny thing happened on the way to the McCord...

2009-11-15T12:51:00.014-05:00

On my way to last Tuesday's art talk, as I crossed McGill College Ave, this is what I saw. Being of a curious nature (and also arriving somewhat ahead of schedule for our lecture) I decided to check it out.There were crowds cordoned off and waiting, journalists and photographers jockeying for position. But why were all these people waiting in front of a bank building? My neighbor enlightened me --- Jean Charest was receiving a royal visit! I whipped out my camera, which just happened to be in my bag, and staked out a spot along with the other fans lined up behind the orange tape. Here are the fruits of my chance encounter with The Royal Visit.

In my next post I'll get up the photos from Rita Briansky's art talk.

Pascal Yiacouvakis -- Complexity of Weather Forecasting

2009-11-04T14:05:00.020-05:00

Complexity was certainly the mot du jour for Pascal Yiacouvakis' talk, but let me add the word engaging. His lively observations and well-organized presentation made this topic, so close to Canadian hearts, one of our most popular ever.

Pascal Yiacouvakis setting up for his talk

Taking care of the shop -- Shirley Cohen and Ann Chippendale

receiving ornaments for our Christmas Tree at the MMFA

Great hats department! Rose Raba and Frances Balogh before the lecture

Veronica McDermott and Deanne Hall-Habeeb

The basics from Pascal Yiacouvakis. Here he explains "thermal justice", how the too-hot and too-cold spots trade off energy

If you look carefully at this slide, you can see the gigantic computer

(bottom photo) that tracks global weather information

Complexity in action. All the different souces of weather data.

A satellite photo of Hurricane Katrina. To collect information, planes,

Hurricane Hunters, fly over the storm and right into its eye.

This lovely photo is the first satellite photo ever taken, in 1960.

Pascal Yiacouvakis and Louise de Tonnancour who organized the talk

Lots of questions for Mr. Yiacouvakis, during and after the lecture

Jackie Rae Wloski -- Members' Day Lecture

2009-10-31T16:38:00.018-04:00

The traditional Members' Day talk is, unsurprisingly, given by one of our artist members, and this year Jackie Rae Wloski spoke to us about her work and the ideas and processes behind her finished pieces. Jackie works in a wide range of mediums, improvising, experimenting, and using whatever techniques make the piece work. Many subjects are revisited, creating a theme and variations over the years. She showed us a great number of slides, covering highlights from a career that has included not just personal art work, but also design assignments with Import Bazaar and Pratt and Whitney. Here are a few pictures from the talk.

Jackie Rae Wloski

One of Jackie's "red prints"

Ink left on the printing roller and passed over Jackie's

palms gave rise to this series of prints

A printing plate, cut up and ready to serve in new role

Vermeer had his camera obscura. Here is Jackie with her

projector, one of the tools of her trade

Paintings from Jackie's series of Decarie Blvd.

Leaf print, variations

Louise de Tonnancour signing people up for the

Cultural Outing to the Montreal Opera

New members' luncheon at the McCord Museum

2009-10-30T10:59:00.015-04:00

Last Tuesday was the new members' luncheon in the atrium of the McCord Museum, our annual getting to know you get-together. Each new member had a chance to tell us a bit about her/himself and I have to say you couldn't ask for a more interesting, active and talented group of people. Here are some photos...I confess that with so many new names, few of them are yet attached to faces but I look forward to getting to know you all during the year and don't hesitate to jog my memory!

Shirley Cohen, the Hospitality Chairman, welcoming the new members

Our new members (first table)

More new members

Lily Azerad-Goldman who organizes the music programs

Show at the Mile End Gallery

2009-10-29T14:06:00.012-04:00

Annette Wolfstein-Joseph and Sandy Baylin, two of our artist members, have a terrific show up at the Mile End Gallery. Since this is right in my neighborhood I stopped by on Tuesday night and thoroughly enjoyed the works presented by the three artists who share a passion for the outdoors. The third artist, Richard Redwood, is an accomplished watercolorist (and perhaps soon to be member of WASM...). Sandy works in acrylics on canvas, and Annette is a printmaker.

The Mile End Gallery is located at 5345 Park Avenue, just south of St. Viateur street.

Richard Redwood, Sandy Baylin and Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Prints by Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Sandy Baylin's Overlooking the Lake

Richard Redwood's Peggy's Cove

Claire Holden Rothman's literary talk

2009-10-23T15:00:00.021-04:00

Claire Holden Rothman, Montreal author of The Heart Specialist, gave last Tuesday's lecture, leading us through the different stages of her research for this riveting historic novel, based loosely upon the life of Dr. Maude Abbot, one of the first women to practice medicine in Canada. Lots of Montreal history, even more feminist history as we heard about Rothman's discoveries during her research at McGill. But the lecture also gave us a glimpse into the process of transforming facts, research, the details of everyday Victorian life into fiction. Here Ms. Rothman was generous, showing us numerous "before" and "after" views into her work. Members who have already read her novel were delighted, those who have yet to open its pages were defintely inspired to walk down the street to the nearest bookstore!

Claire Holden Rothman and Dr.Hans Möller who

organised the lecture

Dr. Möller introducing the speaker

President Leslie Cohen thanking Ms Rothman for her interesting talk
Hidden behind the camera is WASM archivist Shirley Cohen at work
...and the photograph that will go into the archive

Claire Holden Rothman speaking to members after the lecture

Exhibit: Loto-Quebec Collection -- 30 ans

2009-10-21T15:54:00.011-04:00

Last week I visited the exhibit up in Loto-Quebec's exhibition space (perhaps some of you noticed the article last weekend in the Gazette). The exhibit celebrates 30 years of collecting by Loto-Quebec,one of the largest corporate art collections in the province, and is divided into sections, each panel curated by an invited luminary from the Quebec cultural scene. This is a large show, full of wonderful works by many of the Quebec artists you are familiar with.
Loto-Quebec's gallery is located just two blocks east of the McCord Museum, where we have our lectures, but most unfortunately it is not open on Tuesdays, so you would have to make a special trip down to visit the exhibition. Good news is that it is open on both Saturday and Sunday. Here is info for location and times (and, of course, some photos from the show):

Loto-Quebec
Espace Création
500, rue Sherbrooke West

Wednesday 11am - 8pm
Thurs. Friday 11am - 6 pm
Sat. Sunday 12 - 5 pm

Metro McGill
Entrée libre

Kent Nagano's selection from the collection

A porcelain jar by Mahmoud Baghaeian

Sculpture by Akiko Sasaki

Visit to McGill's Schulich School of Music

2009-10-19T17:34:00.023-04:00

Louise de Tonnancour sent in these photos from the cultural outing last Thursday to the Schulich School of Music. Thanks also to Louise for providing information for all the photos.

The new building on Sherbrooke StreetA beautiful granite sculpture adorns the entrance

to the new building
Margareth Folkimer and Thomas Pryce welcoming us in Pollack Hall

Architectural detail inside the Schulich School of Music

At the door of Tanna Schulich Concert Hall

Inside the hall

Thomas and Margareth explaining the amazing recording

studio--a box within a box

(I like this caption that Louise provided)

"Who is this gentleman ? No, not the one on the floor.

We know it's Mac Pendleton one of our members looking on.

But who can the bust of the famous musician be? Nobody could tell us."

When we entered the Schulich School we saw the golden violin displayed.

Music students at work in the very bright library.

"Oh! to be young again and enjoy the student life...

this is what many of us thought."

A moment in the library to enjoy the view.

Visiting a practice room.

Prof. Don McLean, dean of the school, with WASM members Carole Thom and Adaire Schlatter.

Bicycles everywhere!

Marion Wagschal lecture

2009-10-14T16:02:00.021-04:00

Montreal painter Marion Wagschal titled her talk Seeing the Unspeakable which for her describes painting's capacity to convey complicated, and sometimes contradictory, ideas without words. It is a silent language, and her dense, figurative paintings certainly have much to say. Throughout her thirty year career she has circled around issues relating to women --- family, masquerade, rituals of beauty, the body as metaphor for experience. Her talk was richly illustrated with many slides of her paintings, including numerous portraits, and she privileged us with a glimpse into the working process surrounding these paintings.

Postscript: Marion has learned that a book exists titled Seeing the Unspeakable - the Art of Kara Walker (by Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw, Duke University Press,2004). Using the same title was an oversight.

Marion Wagschal preparing her talk

President Leslie Cohen and attending members

Slide preparations

Marion Wagschal with Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

who organized the lecture

Louise de Tonnancour and Shirley Cohen

Leslie Cohen with Marion Wagschal

Marion Wagschal's portrait study of her father

The painting of her father and family

Wagschal's painting entitled Beauty

Wagschal's sculpture

James Turner: The Persian Carpet

2009-10-07T07:39:00.022-04:00

You know you are in for a treat when the lecture begins with the speaker quoting the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:

Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night

Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:

And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught

The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.

James Turner gave a fascinating talk on The Persian Carpet, touching on the main themes of his recently published book of the same title.
For Mr. Turner there is the obvious beauty of these carpets, the aesthetic thrill, but there is as well an inner meaning to be discovered. Many wonderful ideas woven into the talk....the persian mind which bends toward the metaphysical, Y.B. Yeats' vision of a whole world, and (I particularly loved this image) the dervish belief that they can polish the human heart like a mirror...to reflect the divine reality.

Here are some photos from our first lecture of the season which was very well attended.

Louise de Tonnancour speaks with James Turner before the lecture

President Leslie Cohen opening the 2009 season

Carol Donoghue and Leslie Cohen at the reception table

James Turner after the lecture

Louise de Tonnancour signing up people for this fall's cultural outings

2009-09-27T19:15:00.014-04:00

Welcome to the WASM blog. With any luck (in finding the time) I will be able to keep you up to date on the Women's Art Society, posting photos of lectures and outings, as well as of things of interest in and around the city.

As usual, our first cultural outing of the season, which took place Thursday Sept. 24th, was to the Klinkhoff Gallery on Sherbrooke Street where we were graciously received by Eric Klinkhoff. He spoke to us about Montreal artist Paul Vanier Beaulieu (1910-1996), a talk rich in detail---both of Beaulieu's life and artistic trajectory and the Montreal art scene of his era. An afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Here are some photos from our visit.

Louise de Tonnancour introducing Eric Klinkhoff

Erick Klinkhoff giving his talk

Annette Wolfstein-Joseph

Mary Jane Telfer and Shirley Cohen

Here are two of P.V. Beaulieu's stunning lithographs.

One of Beaulieu's many still lifes on display.