Louise Lemieux-Bérubé from the Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles

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

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)

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

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!