June 12, 2013

Okay I have been a bit remiss in writing my blog. I would like to say that it is because the gallery was so incredibly busy but the truth is that many things got in the way. Suffice to say that I am glad that 2012 is well behind me.

This year has been interesting. You may have noticed that we now have a new website http://www.jonathons.ca/ and I love it. It is not only user friendly from the viewers point of view but we are able to easily upload and change images ourselves. My publisher said it was time to have an update and he generously offered to revamp the site for us. My heartfelt thanks to Brendan Frye of Ronald P Frye Publishing for heping Brian arrive at a new look that I love!

Actually my publisher Ron has been after me to update my blog. It is always good to have someone prodding and he does it with great aplomb. As many of you know last year the book on Walter Dexter RCA of Victoria, BC came out. It has been well received and now I am working on a series. Essentially the series will consist of a short monograph on an artist followed by a lavishly illustrated selection of a specific body of work the chosen artist has created. The first in the series is on the late Joanne Copp of British Columbia. It is  almost ready to go to press. Next on the list is Vera Vicente http://www.jonathons.ca/artists/66-vera-vicente.html The book on Vera is written and the photography will be done shortly and then it too will be ready to go. Other artists in the works are George Shadford http://www.jonathons.ca/artists/17-george-shadford.html Mary Fox, Ann Mortimer and Kirsten Abrahamson. If you are curious about their work just go to the main page and check out artists.

There has been a major communication shift in the gallery. We have suspended snail mail invitations and are now sending out evites. The response to the past two evites has been remarkable. The advantage is you now get both an evite about two weeks before the event as well as a reminder a couple of days before the opening. The evite enables us to give you more information about the show as well more information on the artist and the work. If you are interested in receiving our evites and ceramic newsletter just shoot me an email jonathon@jonathons.ca and I will add you.

Recently we added Doug Magrath http://www.jonathons.ca/artists/54-doug-magrath-wood.html to the gallery roster. I know what you're thinking 'but he's not a ceramic artist'. That's true but he is a Londoner and certainly London's premier wood-turner. It is the same reason that we showcase Nancy Latchford http://www.jonathons.ca/artists/23-nancy-latchford.html an incredible London fibre artist. Actually Doug just had his first exhibition in the gallery and it was a huge success and he shared the stage with Peter Thomas of New Brunswick http://www.jonathons.ca/artists/53-peter-thomas.html who arrived with his wife Karen and an incredible selection of new work.

Last week we had an opening with Zsuzsa Monostory of Toronto, Audrey Killoran of Montreal and Laurie Rolland of Sechelt. The exhibition "Material Differences" was great and opening night was a blast. Fans of Audrey's flew in from Orlando for the opportunity to meet Audrey. They had been collecting her work for years so they were thrilled to actually have a chance to meet her. Laurie had just given a workshop in Toronto at the Fusion conference while Zsuzsa gave a workshop at the London Potters' Guild that was well received as well.

Brian is busy gearing up for our August exhibition "Canadian Imports" that will showcase the artists we represent who were born outside of Canada and now make Canada their home. It promises to be a great exhibition with representation from New Zealand, Japan, Korea, France, Namiba, South Africa, Iran, England, USA, Brazil, China among others. So often there is a tendency to forget the incredible influences the immigrant has in helping make our art scene so vital. This exhibition will place the work of the immigrant artists front and center. I can't wait for the show!

Some of you may remember the "Fired Up!" 25th anniversary exhibition in 2009 when we also brought Miss Conception, Toronto's premier female impersonator, to London. She performed at Scot's Corner our favourite watering hole a few doors from the gallery. Well we are bringing her back! She will be performing at Scot's on Thursday August 8th. The opening for "Canadian Imports" will be Wednesday August 7th. The Delta Armouries hotel is providing a special rate for our out of town guests.

Speaking of "Fired Up!" I would like to announce that the August 2014 show will be "Fired Up" - Celebrating 30 Years! You heard it here first! More details to follow in the months ahead.

I think I will blog off by saying that I will try not to be so long in writing my next blog entry! Keep in touch and Keep smiling!