“In Progress” Blog

Leyton Gallery Summer Exhibition, Etc.

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:38:14 -0230

The Leyton Gallery would like to invite you to attend Michael Connolly's solo show all about the wonders found “Close to Home.”

Also opening is our annual group Summer Show - a very large show that is really something to see!

Featuring all new work by: Iakov Afanassiev, Jack Botsford, Audrey Feltham, Jonathan Green, Sarah Hillock, Bonnie Leyton, Sue Miller, Undrea Norris, Jonathan O'Dea, Michael Pittman, Toby Rabinowitz, James Rosen, Margaret Ryall, Phil Simms, Anita Singh, Ginok Song, Louise Sutton, and Jillian Waite.

Exploring the Aesthetics of Outport Interiors

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:35:21 -0330

I’ll be participating in an artist’s residency/workshop on Fogo Island for most of the month of February. Exploring the Aesthetics of Ouport Interiors will run from February 11th to the 27th. It seems to be a really good fit for my present work, as it seems to deal largely with furniture design (I’ve been working on an art project about beds for the last 3 months or so, and furniture has often featured heavily in my work, often to signify a presence, or the body).

The event is described as “an experimental art/design project and workshop designed to develop the ideas for contemporary furniture and interiors inspired by traditional Outport living conditions and reality.”

Click the image above or visit outportinteriors.blogspot.com to learn more and follow the progress of the participants.

Christmas Shows

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:16:21 -0330

I’ll have new work up for the Christmas exhibitions at The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art (St. John’s, NL) and View Art Gallery (Victoria, BC) throughout December. If you’re in town, please drop in and have a look - lots of new work by numerous artists.

In neutral...sort of

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:24:28 -0230

Well...lets see. I’ve spent the last week trying to get organized; looking back and taking stock and looking ahead to see what’s next. Time to think out loud...feel free to join me.

I’ve spent most of the last bunch of months making work for my show with Rhonda Pelley at The Leyton Gallery. I think the show looks great. Hats off to Bonnie for the putting us together. Its been nice to have contact with someone whose work seems to come from a similar place as my own (thanks to Rhonda for loaning me an awesome book).

Last month I was also able to finish up my funding proposal for a new project that I’m hoping to start in the early in the new year (fingers crossed). I don’t want to say too much about it at this point (though some of you may have heard me blabbing already...hard to keep my mouth shut when I’m excited). It’s not that it’s a big secret, it’s just that I’m not altogether sure where it’s going to lead me. Practice wise, it will likely mean a pretty big departure from what I’ve been doing lately, and many more trips to the surplus store. It everything works out, I’ll post my first successful “experiment” on the site. Lets hope that’ll keep everyone glued...

What else is new? I’m on the board of VANL-CARFAC now...that’s been interesting. I haven’t been around long enough to figure it all out yet, but it’s been nice to have some input on things that effect all visual artists in the province, while having more contact with some people who share some of the same art-related concerns as myself. One of the other board members and I had brief a discussion about “career building” as a visual artist (not necessarily in a commercial sense). This really started me thinking about how active, or inactive, I am in growing my “career” as an artist, and what steps might be involved in the process. I’ve often said that my biggest successes or surprises have come when I’ve kept my head down and just made art. I realize that this only goes so far; at some point you to have to disseminate the work that you’re making, and exhibitions don’t always fall right in your lap. This is hard work for me...not the process, as such, and not necessarily the act of putting your work out there for judgement (which one gets accustomed to as an artist). I think it’s a fear of getting tangled in the “not-making-art” part of art, and letting this effect the art-making part. I don’t mean in a time sense, but more in a psychological sense. It sometimes seems that insecurities bleed from one side to the other and paralyze both. This will likely have to be my first “career building” hurtle.

Anyhow...having said all this...I’d better get back to the real reason I sat at the computer to begin with. Exhibition Proposals.

New Work by Rhonda Pelley and Michael Pittman

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 15:18:53 -0230

Please Join Rhonda and I for the opening of our show, “Penetralia”, at The Leyton Gallery on Friday, October 9 at 5:00PM. The show will feature more then twenty new pieces and will run until November 7. All are Welcome.

Checking in and A Sneak Peek

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:46:05 -0230

I’ve been busy in the studio lately finishing up work on the Hagridden pieces, and preparing to write my report for the Arts Council. So many small projects popped up while I’ve been working on this, that it’s drawn the process out a little longer then anticipated. I’ve also been writing a number of proposals.

The image above is a detail of one of my latest pieces. My imagery seems to be moving in two directions at once; it incorporates more “drawing” while becoming more minimal. I’ve also returned to a more limited palette (not quit the stark black and white of a couple of years ago). I’ve been making an effort to push myself in directions that I’m not necessarily comfortable with. The subjects that I’ve been dealing with, and the feelings they have evoked have really made it necessary to adjust the way that I’ve been working. If anxiety is heavier then air, I’m going to drown in the basement.

Terra Ephemera

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:38:50 -0230

Starting April 17, the View art gallery will be presenting Interface; an exhibition of work by Elizabeth Barnes on the main floor gallery and a small exhibition of my work in the upper gallery. Terra Ephemera will run until May 16. Many thanks to Maureen Flanagan and View Art Gallery.

Artists Talk & Exhibition Confirmation

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:33:21 -0230

I would like to thank everyone who came out to the gallery on March 12 to listen to Anita and I speak about our work. I think the talk went quite well - we had a good crowd and plenty of good questions. As nerve racking as it can sometimes be to speak about ones work in public, the resultant improvement in communication between artist and audience is worth it. I think both parties end up learning quite a bit. Look for more events like this from the Leyton Gallery in the near future.

An upcoming exhibition of my work has also been confirmed for October at the Leyton Gallery. Rhonda Pelley and I will be participating in a two person show. Stay tuned for details.

Leyton Gallery Talk

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 08:37:27 -0330

The Leyton Gallery of Fine art will be presenting a talk on March 12. Anita Sing and I will be speaking about our work and answering some questions. Please contact the gallery for additional details, (709)722-7177 or by email at leytongallery@nf.aibn.com

Hags and the Hunt

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:16:49 -0330

I’m continuing my research for my “Hagridden” project (studio component slated to start in early February), as well as starting to compile some information and images on the work for the “Madness” project, which was exhibited at the SWGC gallery in the fall. I’ve been scoping out some possible venues for this fairly substantial (fourteen 4ft. x 4ft. paintings) body of work, and will be making submissions for exhibition soon. This is long overdue. To date, only those who attended the Grenfell exhibition have seen these images - I’ve been holding off posting them here...I’ve been thinking that they need to be presented with some kind of context because of the specificity of the subject. Stay tuned. In the meantime, please enjoy a sneak preview of one of the pieces (above).