By Selena Forsyth
When Merike Lugus lost her mother eight years ago she stopped painting, a talent that was recognized as huge. Instead she turned to sculpture and, more recently, writing - she has just finished a novel - and had no intention of returning to painting.
|
Patsy Beeson, here with artist Merike Lugus, is retiring after four years as the co-ordinator of the exhibitions at the Upstairs Gallery |
Four years ago Patsy joined the board of the Art Gallery of Northumberland and was asked to take over the job of organizing the shows at the satellite gallery in Port Hope: the Upstairs Gallery. In those four years Patsy, who has a strong background in art and its appreciation, has co-ordinated some wonderful shows at the Upstairs. (She seems to have an amazing knack for finding talents that are hiding under bushels.) She was very familiar with Merike's sculpture and paintings and contacted her to see if she would be interested in a show at the gallery. Not only did Merike say yes but the invitation re-ignited her desire to paint. The results are remarkable.
Last Saturday was the opening reception for the new show: Definitely not Black and White. Merike's canvases -- all except one, which is not for sale -- are new, are great big, thought-provoking works that are often breathtaking, literally.
| Merike Lugus (right) with her friend Alexandra Placek, the subject of her painting ("Shaboom") |  |
Merike, who was born in Estonia and came to Canada as a child, has a remarkable ability to portray her sense of outrage at the abuse of the helpless and innocent, a theme that she often expresses in her work. Merike explains: "As William Blake would have it, every one of us is poised between heaven and hell, joy and despair, higher aspirations and bodily needs. In my art I explore the discomforts and absurdities as well as the sublime beauty and fragility in this, our human condition. At the moment I am focusing more on our dreams of flying and our desire to transcend."
If you are a regular at the Upstairs you will know that each show portrays the work of several artists as well as the featured artist and that there is a Photography Room, co-ordinated by Mary Talbot, for the work of local photographers. Photographers portrayed in this show are Catherine Carey, Terry Challenger, Daphne Svenningson and Kathie Lloyd, a new photographer and also a glassmaker who has a piece of her glass on display. In the Group Show with Merike are Anne Cortesis, Wanda Hicks, Esperanca Melo, Helen Parkes, Rod Straker, Lorraine Staples and Bill Slavin.
The works are all wonderful and the show is the perfect finale to Patsy's tenure as co-ordinator of the Upstairs Gallery. She has decided to retire from that role and the gallery is searching for her replacement. Dorette Carter, the director/curator of the Art Gallery of Northumberland, will take over the role until the right person, someone with an interest in art, artists and galleries, is found. That person will have an exciting time planning shows, seeking out artists and working with them to make the shows the great success they always are. If you are interested you should be, or will become, a member of the AGN and you should call the gallery at 905-885-2115.
Meanwhile, don't miss this new show, it is wonderful. The Upstairs Gallery at 38 Walton St. is open Thursday to Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Thank you Patsy; you have introduced us to artists we never would have had the pleasure of enjoying and your style, flair and wonderful sense of fun will be missed.
Presented on this website with the publisher's and author's permissions.