Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Art

Somewhere In Time, Olexander Wlasenko Presents Images from the Past

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:14:06 +0000

The other day I visited Aurora Cultural Centre to see the Aurora Collects Exhibit and I came out with something else that blew me away. Artists always have a way to surprise me. Perhaps it is a time for me to retire looking at Rembrandt or Picasso and start looking what local artists can intrigue us with.

Somewhere in Time, Olexander Wlasenko at Aurora Cultural Centre Exhibit

Every artist out there is unique – paints, sketches, draws what inspires him or her. Styles are differ. Some like abstract and some like to recreate reality.

I walked upstairs and these huge black and white charcoal sketches grabbed my attention immediately. It felt like I was part of the art. The full size images, people interacting, waiting in the waiting room, looking at me – unfortunately lot of sadness but that’s how it was. The sketch of crowd of people engaged me to the point I wanted to know what they were looking at.

Somewhere in Time, Olexander Wlasenko at Aurora Cultural Centre Exhibit

Images from the past. The fact that I grew up studying World War I and World War II extensively in elementary school – in history, in literature and in art I was able to connect. Images of war – in the movies and in books. These images weren’t that pretty. Definitely the knowledge of the past connected me to Wlasenko’s Somewhere In Time intriguing exhibit.

O. Wilde, Olexander Wlasenko at Aurora Cultural Centre Exhibit

Perhaps this can be a nice trip to visit Aurora Cultural Centre after the November 11th ceremony at the Cenotaph.

On the side note I will always miss precious days with Matthew. Especially when I would take him to places around Aurora and when enough was enough he would be pulling on my jacket – can we go now?. The beauty is he will have memories of Aurora. He will remember Aurora in his own way.

Somewhere in Time, Olexander Wlasenko at Aurora Cultural Centre Exhibit

It is hard to believe that Matthew is 5.5 years old, and this blog is 4.5 years old. The first year of its existence the blog was practically unknown and now …

Hillary House Full of Hidden Treasures, Be Curious It’s Fun

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:12:07 +0000

Hillary House is full of hidden treasures. I visited the house many times, of course with my photo gear, and I always find something interesting. Apparently, there were many hidden treasures hidden away and now are exhibited.

The Hillary House is now open for the season so definitely you can check it out for yourself and explore, be curious and have fun.

Hillary House National Historic Site, Aurora, Ontario

I always considered myself a bookworm. I find books and journals more interesting than any thing else, but that is a personal preference. The reason – books are not just historical objects that age, books tell the stories. Even if it is a simple recipe – this is what they ate.

Hillary House National Historic Site, Aurora, Ontario

What else is interesting about old books is the writing style. We don’t write like that anymore, as a matter fact with the introduction of texting we made our words even shorter, or we write acronyms to communicate. We live in the fast changing world.

Hillary House National Historic Site, Aurora, Ontario

History is fascinating, the change, the similarities – what you see in the Hillary House will never be encountered again. Hillary House will always will be a unique place. It was a doctor’s office but it was also a house to many families that lived there and left memories behind. In some cases memories that we will never know.

Hillary House National Historic Site, Aurora, Ontario

I must say that I also enjoyed Art of the Manor 2013 exhibiting original artwork by Elena Yim, Kallista Haughey and Nancy Falconi inspired by the medical collection of Hillary House. Check out more photos from Hillary House on my Facebook page.

Hillary House National Historic Site, Aurora, Ontario

Melinda’s Room, I’ve Always Considered Myself A Lucky Person

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:02:50 +0000

I was thinking about Dierdre and she was also thinking about me. She tried to get hold of me and invite me to the Melinda’s Room opening reception evening on May 2nd, 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre. At the same time I was planning as well to visit Melinda’s Room exhibition that evening, but a bit later.

I also wanted to see Dierdre as I have not seen her since last fall. After all, it was a pleasure to meet smiling Dierdre and David again.

Melinda’s Room, Images & Words, Aurora Cultural Centre

Dierdre Tomlinson, Melinda’s Room, Aurora Cultural Centre

The exhibition was assembled to celebrate Melinda’s life who lost her battle to extreme Bi-polar disorder. Dierdre and David Tomlinson’s showcased Melinda’s intriguing artwork and writings. I was privileged to receive from Dierdre her speech notes quoting this:

“Her subjects were often the disadvantaged, the bullied, poor or handicapped; bag ladies and strippers. Eccentric paintings, framed by several tiny written lines of text, cast a compassionate eye on people trapped in unenviable lives. She knew that well – for almost all her adult life she displayed dignity and courage in an incremental battle with extreme Bi-polar Disorder.“

Dierdre Tomlinson, Melinda’s Room, Aurora Cultural Centre

It was such a beautiful and peaceful evening, an evening of closure, and I got an opportunity to observe almost all through my lens. Amazing level of engagement from visitors looking at Melinda’s artwork and reading Melinda’s writings that were posted on the walls and also assembled into binders.

David Tomlinson, Melinda’s Room, Aurora Cultural Centre

In the early days when I was just getting to know Dierdre she always told me stories. She also told me a bit about Melinda. More so she sent me home with material to read. She never explicitly told me about her daughter then, but she did give me pages of words that told stories about Melinda’s life.

“I’ve Always Considered Myself A Lucky Person“, these were the words written to Dierdre by Melinda, and she always will be lucky to have such inspiring parents.

Melinda’s Room, Images & Words, Aurora Cultural Centre

Melinda’s Room exhibition is open to public at the Aurora Cultural Centre until mid June and I encourage you to visit if you can.

Michelle, Melinda’s Room, Aurora Cultural Centre

Aurora Art Show 2013 at the Town Hall, A Lovely Evening Expressed

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:39:48 +0000

I was invited to the reception and award presentation evening at the Aurora Art show last Friday (May 3rd, 2013). Another exceptional collection of unique and intriguing art on display that filled all three floors of our Town Hall.

Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

Great snack food & drinks and great choice of live music performed by Andy De Campos. Most of all great people who made this lovely event alive that evening.

The more I attended such events, more and more I feel like I am now connected with people in our community. I met and keep meeting many great people along my photographic blogging journey. I also owe big time our Aurora community for allowing me to explore and teach me how to appreciate how important is to be part of the community.

Nancy Newman, Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

Mayor of Aurora, Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

I am learning. An art is a form of expression, and not just a painting or a photograph. An expression of feelings, moods and moments. We all express ourselves in a different, unique and original way and that evening was filled with all that.

I will repeat, we all express our selves in different way. Some through words and some through painting or playing a guitar or singing.

Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

I now recall how Matthew felt going to JK. He was so happy to go to school but once he realized that I will not be with him in school his mood changed. He used to bring his artwork home and all it was a big black blob.

When he painted at home – there were rainbows, birthday cakes, people, carrots and many other colorful objects. He still misses me and asks for home school but he matured a lot since the first day of school. I see much more color in his school work, more rainbow colors.

Every art created has meaning, some express symbolically via abstract and some tell us directly that today is a beautiful day with a blue sky on the horizon.

I posted more photos on Facebook – Aurora Art Show in Black & White and Aurora Art Show 2013 in Color.

Feel free to follow or to be my friend on Facebook and thank you to Nancy Newman for a special invitation.

Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

Andy De Campos, Aurora Art Show, Town Hall

Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life in Aurora Public Library, Stepping Outside The Box

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 03:14:13 +0000

On my last visit to the Aurora Public Library I still wasn’t able to convince Matthew to go on the elevator. Last time we took an elevator, Matthew’s first impression going down to the basement by accident wasn’t what he expected.

As usual we did our regular routine – played I Spy games on the computer, visited children’s reading area and borrowed one DVD. But first we took some pictures of the unique Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life picturesque exhibit at the Colleen Abbott Gallery. The display was vibrant, vivid and rich in Taiwanese culture.

Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life Display in the Aurora Public Library

In the last couple of months I have been experimenting a lot with black and white photography so I turned this Taiwan photo showcase into millions shades of gray.

However, that does not changes the impression one can experience from the images regardless of color. The natural wonders and cultural expression in the form of art, the history, the festivals shows how rich the Taiwanese culture and heritage is.

Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life Display in the Aurora Public Library

However, I must say that it was very intriguing to see Aurora Public Library to step outside the box and showcase something different and unique – to spread the awareness about the Taiwanese culture to further promote Taiwanese tourism for Canadians.

So you know the Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life will be on exhibit in the Colleen Abbott Gallery (from March 25th) until June 1st, 2013. This reminded me also the first time I came to the Aurora Public Library and I looked for the Colleen Abbott Gallery. I didn’t realize then that it was just a wall on the second floor. I was looking for the room.

Taiwan: the Jubilee of Life Display in the Aurora Public Library

As always, I enjoyed looking out the window from the second floor towards the Yonge Street and snapping photos. I always tend to find something different. Last drastic change was demolition of the George Browning house.

This time I found this, just looking from this angle I cannot figure out who is moving, the spa salon or prefect spaces.

Looking Out the Windows, Yonge Street, Town of Aurora

I almost forgot, I also spotted this book on the shelf in the youth section when passing by – The Kissing Diary, a novel by Judith Caseley. Well, how little I knew about kissing when I was a youth myself so let see what the book will tell me how it was like. Yes I borrowed it as well and I am going to read it.

Flirting Nature, Snow Shapes Left To Your Imagination

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:21:20 +0000

Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy looking at the clouds. I look for shapes I can recognize. Well looks like I will be enjoying snow as well.

First photo was taken of snow drifts in the field. The second one is a covered table with chairs on our backyard. Hope you can see what I see and enjoy but don’t enjoy it too much.

Snow Drifts, Hamilton Park, Aurora

Snow Shapes, Our Backyard

First Major Snowstorm Is Here in Aurora, Dressing Up For The Art

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:44:40 +0000

It was a long wait for the snow and we finally got it, and it is in February. May be we should call it first Sesquicentennial snow storm. It has been snowing, snowing and snowing all day and it is still snowing. I didn’t come out to shovel the snow in the morning or lunch time. Some of our neighbours did it already twice, or three times by then.

I and Matthew watched the falling snow from each window in our house today. Snow drifts formed on our garage roof and at the entrance. Our BBQ height doubled. We watched neighbours bundled up and shoveling the snow. Few minutes later their tracks were covered.

Neighbour Shoveling Snow, Snowstorm in Aurora, Ontario

We watched neighbours helping each other. A man across the street shoveled his and the neighbour’s driveway for at least one. Then in the afternoon the other neighbour came from work and shoveled both driveways.

Another man, further up the street, shoveled his and his neighbours driveway. The lady arrived on the cleaned driveway then later she came out and shovel both driveways.

A man next door shoveled his driveway and then cleaned up our sidewalk as well.

Later before dinner I came out and I only lasted for 15 minutes. Snow in front of our porch was up to my knees. Snowplow came twice and formed snow pile in front of our driveway at least 24 inches high. We are very blessed to live in such a nice neighborhood where everyone is willing to help – I watched it all day long. Then later when my husband was shoveling the snow, a neighbour with his son helped. May be this is why we never moved, it is not just the house, it is a good neighbour.

Now to change a topic a bit. Here are some pictures that show ‘dressing up for the art’. Last year during SOYRA showcase I took many pictures and not even realizing I took some color to person matching photos.

I think you can figure out for yourself looking at the following three photos, themed with red shades, blue shades and black shades.

Happy Snow Day!

SOYRA 2012, Red Wall, Aurora Cultural Centre, Town of Aurora

SOYRA 2012, Blue Wall, Aurora Cultural Centre, Town of Aurora

SOYRA 2013, Next Room, Aurora Cultural Centre, Town of Aurora

G. W. Williams Secondary School Senior Art Show, Fearless Expressions

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 02:00:52 +0000

‘Not all who wander are lost‘. I wasn’t lost that day, but I was wandering.

It was announced at the SOYRA reception last Saturday that students from G. W. Williams Secondary School have their own gallery showcase on the second floor at the Aurora Cultural Centre. I visited that room last year, and I wasn’t going to miss it this year. One small room full of art created by G. W. Williams Secondary School students.

It was like walking into painters studio where the art is created, and not the gallery. Youth is fearless I must say. The room was artistic chaos, and not in the bad way, just full of fearless great expressions. Few caught my eye, and few got on my camera.

Lori Birkbeck, G. W. Williams S.S. Senior Art Gallery, Aurora Cultural Centre

G. W. Williams S.S. Senior Art Gallery, Aurora Cultural Centre

Mario Wang, G. W. Williams S.S. Senior Art Gallery, Aurora Cultural Centre

Photo Social And Photo Shooting During SOYRA Showcase 2013

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:07:09 +0000

Last weekend January 26th, 2013 I attended SOYRA Showcase 2013 reception at the Aurora Cultural Centre. If you have not seen it yet, I already had my first post out few days ago. It was my photography from the show in black and white, something different.

So you know the show is still on until February the 2nd, 2013.

SOYRA Showcase 2013, 2nd Floor Aurora Cultural Centre

As mentioned before I have few more photos to share with you. However, I must admit that on that day I was actually chatting more than photo shooting the showcase. Well if you get to see your friends once a year, of course there is a lot to talk about. When I arrived home and processed my images I realized that I had a little less than expected. Well you will just have to visit the show for yourself and experience the moment.

Introduction by Nancy Newman, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

I was glad to meet again Nancy Newman, Shawna Patenaude, Zorica Miric and her husband, Jennifer Blacquiere and finally to meet Linda Welch in person.

This year was another interesting year for me especially because I realized that I am starting to recognize some of the artist’s work and their styles. I frequently drop by Nancy Newman’s website just to admire her floral paintings, and the more I stare at them – the harder it is to leave the site.

Red Wall, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

There is something about those floral paintings – not just the detail, or the flower’s architecture, but that fine line between the reality and painted world. If there were real flowers and you look behind them you find whatever there is, but in her paintings behind those flowers there is mystery and suspense, and our imagination filled with more flowers.

Linda Welch & Shawna Patenaude, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

Then there is Shawna Patenaude. She made a life time impression on us (especially Matthew) with her paintings of apples that were showcased at the Skylight Gallery at the Town Hall Aurora. This is when we met Shawna for the first time. She continues to paint these beautiful red and delicious apples and they were on the spotlight this year on the red wall at the Aurora Cultural Centre. I think we need Shawna’s reflection in one of those water drops.

More of Shawna’s work is exhibited at the Aurora Public Library until mid March, and there is more, not just apples – Capture the Light, Explorations in Oil by Shawna Patenaude.

Zorica Miric, Her Abstract Painting, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

And what can I say about Zorica Miric. We share same background – yes we are both engineers, and we share appreciation for art. The only difference is that she paints and I do not. However, we both do enjoy abstract art as well. Last year Zorica’s abstract painting was one of the first sold. This year she exhibited similar one, and when I arrived I recognized her work immediately.

Oh and there is more about us, if I am not mistaken, we are both married to engineers, but there is small difference, her husband paints and my husband does not.

So me and Zorica had abstract conversation, but that somehow changed and next we were standing in front of framed photos, category – nudity. When comes to this type of art, this is where my cheeks get painted red, naturally, no brush required.

Blue Wall, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

I continued to be impressed with Jennifer Blacquiere’s art. It is so realistic that sometimes I must admit I have doubts or I am not convinced that the painting is actually a painting, but on the end I do believe her. I frequently visit Jennifer’s website gallery and if you were standing close by my side, you be hearing many wow’s. Yes her paintings come with a ‘wow‘ factor.

Jennifer Blacquiere’s Art, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

Interesting enough when you meet an artist most of the time you don’t talk about their art, just life in general. So I met Linda Welch and I didn’t even ask if she paints. All I know that she does excellent organizing work for SOYRA. I corresponded with Linda occasionally via this blog, and it was finally nice to meet her in person.

Daisies by Hans Martin, SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

I almost forgot I had a nice chat with Hans Martin whom I met just before I left for home. We talked about art galleries and photographing art, and then we span off to talk about Ukrainians, fields, borders, the war, etc. See how easy it is to start talking about something else – very easy.

I must admit that last Saturday I had enjoyable, educational and social outing and I hope to see you all again next year.

SOYRA Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre, A Teaser

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:08:50 +0000

After being grounded for a month I arranged with my family to disappear for couple of hours to see the SOYRA Showcase on January 21st, 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre. I never been a very big fan of galleries, but I changed. I actually enjoy being there, but with my Canon camera friend on my side.

Yes, this is a teaser post, because there is lot more I have to show. Plus it will be in color. I always try, but the harder I try I am having technical difficulties ‘squeezing’ all the images into one post. I like to group them by theme or mood. So today my first theme is black and white and people photography.