Playing Chicken: The line between beauty and tension in Andrew Moncrief’s “Unseen”

 Moncrief stands in front of paintings featured in this month's exhibit. All photos by Kerri Fukui. Andrew Moncrief is a 28-year-old artist who’s talented enough to create beautiful, classically styled figures, and brave enough to smear paint over their faces. His latest exhibition, a collection of portraits called “Unseen,” is

Don’t Miss Craig Cardiff this Summer

 Craig Cardiff is coming back to Ottawa this summer! The Canadian, Juno nominated, singer-songwriter from Arnprior, Ont., known for his steady and smooth folk rhythms, is hitting the Ottawa festival circuit with performances on June 13 at Westfest and June 28 at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. Don’t

A Delicious Weekend in Barbados

 The sky is clear and the sun is shining. Is there a better way to start off the weekend in beautiful Barbados? The answer is yes—and it happens when I am handed a rum punch upon entering the Radisson Aquatica Beach Resort. Get ready to unwind by lounging poolside or

Poetry in the Capital

 Poetry has a long history, and while it’s unclear when it started exactly, the oldest surviving poem was said to have been written in 2500 B.C.E. To this day, in every country and at every age, poetry continues to be written, read and listened to for the purpose of sharing

Eryn O’Neill Explores Ottawa’s Urban Side

 Above: “Infrastructure” Oil on Canvas by Eryn O'Neill, 30x48, 2015. If someone asked you to describe Ottawa, what would you say? The first images that come to mind might be the canal, Parliament Hill or one of the many museums in this historic city. But Eryn O’Neill had a different idea. O’Neill,

Ottawa Art Gallery Launches ArtWise

 Bridging the gap between older adults and younger generations is exactly what the Ottawa Art Gallery hopes to do with ArtWise, its new volunteer programming council. Collaborating with gallery staff, local artists and invited guests, the OAG ArtWise council will aim to provide opportunities for a broad range of ages

Let Propeller Take You to New Heights

 Above: (left to right) Liz Winkelaar, Rob Chartier, Moni Hoffman, Julia Gutsik, Jessie Huggett Photo by Erica Ferrarin. While the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) on Wellington Street offers up phenomenal, eclectic theatre productions every year, it also opens its doors to other types of artistic talent. For this year and

Hair Republic Salon Celebrates Art

 Owners John and Michelle Nguyen (Hair Republic Salon), Laura Herrera (I.A.M.) and Ottawa artist Patti Kelly. On Saturday, May 2, Hair Republic Salon (HR) in Old Ottawa South hosted its spring vernissage featuring the work of up-and-coming local artist, Patti Kelly. Kelly’s debut was a real success. Her black and

Eat, Drink, pARTy

 Artist: David Kaarsemaker Looking for new artwork to freshen up your home? The Ottawa Art Gallery’s leading fundraising event Le pARTy Art Auction will lead you to the perfect piece! On Thursday, May 21, prepare to be whisked away in a cultural fantasy land surrounded by Ottawa’s best food, drinks and

M.C. Escher: The Mathemagician Draws an Audience

 A first-hand experience of the M.C. Escher exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada An abrupt transition occurs when entering the bustling M.C. Escher exhibit from the quiet surroundings of gallery halls. Almost every work has multiple people transfixed in front of it. The exhibition’s popularity is not surprising given

Native Man Celebrates Sobriety with Art

 Donnell Taylor of the Constance Lake First Nation paints to seek wisdom of his ancestors to deal with his addiction. On April 1, 2014, Donnell Taylor set his foot on Ottawa soil. A native man from the Constance Lake First Nation was continuing his "good journey," which started back in

A Walk Through Wales

 Above: Brecon Brecons National Park - photolibrary.com The combination of rich history, ruggedly beautiful coastlines and rich landscapes dotted with sheep combine to make Wales an unforgettable escape. The Welsh are at the top of their game when it comes to hosting tourists and travellers alike. They are proud of their heritage

Experiencing Wonderkind

 Learn what it means to feel “wonderkind” with the cross-Canada tour of Language Arts this spring. Toronto’s unique alternative jazz-pop band has been together for ten years, although it has been a rotating door in terms of members. Currently the band consists of classically trained Kristen Cudmore, drummer Neil MacIntosh, keyboardist Joel

The Natural Way: Native Artist Peter Bighetty

 For native artist Peter Bighetty, art begins with a memory. Hailing from Nelson House, Manitoba, Bighetty’s family is originally from Pukatawagan Cree Nation. “Growing up, I was always fishing, trapping, and hunting, out and about in the wilderness. That’s where I get the ideas for most of my paintings,” Bighetty

Artfull Embassies

 Knock on the door of U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife Vicki's Lornado residence in Rockcliffe, and you are greeted by the beautiful work of American artist Eric Fishel. Take a few more steps inside and seven other major pieces of art will catch your eye. The Art in

Celebrating the Cultural Fusion of the Métis

 Featured Image: Internationally-acclaimed troupe, the Asham Stompers promote the richness of Métis culture through dance. Métis arts, language and symbols are expressions of a unique cultural fusion. The people of the Métis Nation are distinct from other Aboriginal peoples. Their culture and traditions come from the combination of Aboriginal peoples and Europeans

Beauty Beneath

 To the average person, Tornillo, Sapelle, Marupa and Ipe might seem like the names European soccer players. However, they are actually the names of art materials to Frank Diaz, owner of Buena Vista Flooring. “When you’re working with wood, stain, colours and custom designs, you can do anything. When the

Nepean Fine Arts League Spring Show and Sale: Buying Local Art

 By Melody Duncan Forty years ago, I bought my first painting at a local art show. It was the first of many. Today, I am one of the 124 area artists who belong to that same association. The Nepean Fine Arts League is now 51 years old, still going strong

Upcoming Festival Launch for Westfest

 Ottawa’s favourite free arts festival is coming back to town! Westfest will be launching the line-up and programming for their 2015 event on Thursday, March 12, at 10 a.m. sharp. The public announcement will be made at Clocktower Brew Pub on Richmond Road. Each year more than 100,000 people attend

Jeremy Harder: The Art of Dynamic Doodling

 Photo courtesy of Jeremy Harder For as long as he can remember, Jeremy Harder loved to draw. By the age of five, he was already receiving praise from family and friends for his talent. By the time he reached high school, Harder was constantly filling notebooks with doodles and designs.

Canada on canvas: the art of Julia Veenstra

 ABOVE: Ontario artist Julia Veenstra in her Hamilton studio. Since childhood, Julia Veenstra has been an artist to watch. Her mother would often be told about her daughter’s artistic talent. Veenstra took her calling and attended Sheridan College in Oakville where she studied illustration. She found her niche as a painter through

The Ardennes in Belgium

 Featured Image: Wikipedia The interest in the exploits and sacrifices of Canadian soldiers and other allied veterans on the battlegrounds of Europe is increasing as the veterans of WW2 continue to shrink with each passing year. We wanted to take a trip allowing us to spend a week leisurely travelling

Ottawa Antique Market: For Serious Antique-Lovers

 The Ottawa Antique Market is one of the city’s retail gems. Located on Bank St. in Ottawa South and tucked in the side of the building, stepping through its doors transports you to the best flea market you’ve ever laid eyes on. You can shop all the usual suspects commonly

Orange Art Gallery: Pushing boundaries in the capital community

 Following a trip to NYC with husband and co-owner Matthew Jeffrey four years ago, Ingrid Hollander felt that Ottawa needed a contemporary gallery willing to take big risks. “We found that galleries here had a much more retail-oriented, commercial focus. We wanted to provide a cool space that could showcase

Holiday Giveaway

 Sparkle this holiday season with OLM and Originals by Andrea! Share with us your favourite holiday tradition for a chance to win this stunning, one-of-a-kind necklace from Ottawa’s own Originals by Andrea. To enter, head over to our Facebook page and leave a comment on this post telling us about your favourite