JASON SETNYK
The Focus Art Association’s annual spring exhibition brought colour and creativity to Cornwall Square over two weekends in March, drawing steady crowds and highlighting the work of local artists.
The show featured more than 30 artists and close to 100 works, including painting, photography, and mixed media. A vernissage provided an opportunity for visitors to meet artists and discuss their work in an informal setting.
Focus Art Association President Bob Lockhart said the exhibition reflected both the depth of talent in the region and the group’s ongoing efforts to make art accessible.
“We have about 55 members, and we have about 105 pictures in the show,” said Lockhart. “There’s some photography and different media — acrylic, oil, soft chalk pastel, oil pastel.”
Lockhart noted that hosting the exhibition in a public space helped attract a broader audience. “We’ve had people since Thursday. It’s a good turnout so far,” he said. “It’s just getting all the artists to get their work out so people can see it.”
Among the exhibitors was John Lester, who recently expanded from photography into painting after decades behind the camera.
“I’ve been painting for only four years, photography for 60 years,” Lester said. “Painting gives you more chance to make it your own. A photograph is fixed, but with painting you can alter it and create something more personal.”
His piece, inspired by Chaffey’s Lock in the Rideau system, blends photography and digital manipulation with painting techniques. “There was a lot of fiddling and altering to make it more pleasing to the eye,” he said.
Lester said he was surprised by the response to his work, particularly when one of his paintings sold early in the exhibition. “I’m really surprised. It’s kind of neat,” he said. “What’s even better is it was bought by another artist. That’s kind of a badge of honour.”
Watercolour artist Glenda Gibson also displayed work rooted in personal experience. She has been painting since 2011 and continues to draw inspiration from relationships and shared memories.
“I call it ‘Friends of the Summer Solstice,'” Gibson said of one piece. “It’s a group of young women who are friends. They might not look alike, but their values and likes are the same.”
Gibson added the painting was inspired by her own experiences. “It’s just a gang of girls that we go off together and party together and grow older together,” she said.
With free admission and a central location, the exhibition offered an accessible entry point for residents who may not typically visit galleries. Artists were present throughout the event, creating opportunities for conversation and deeper engagement with the work.
The Focus Art Association supports local artists through exhibitions, workshops, and community programming, with plans to host a juried show later this year.
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