This painting, titled Foilscape with Peaches by London artist Aganetha Sawatsky, is among more than 500 works of art at the 42nd annual Brush and Palette Club three-day art show and sale on at St. Paul’s Cathedral Thursday through Saturday.
By Paul Everest/London Community News/Twitter: @PaulEverest1
The local Brush and Palette club has grown so large it now needs a cathedral to serve as an exhibition site for its artwork.
Up until this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of the club coming together, the group held its annual art show and sale in a Byron library.
But over the past few years, the club’s ranks have swelled to 110 members from London and beyond— with 70 more on a waiting list to get in— and so the 2012 show was moved to London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral on Richmond Street.
Most of the club’s members submitted up to four paintings to the show, which ran from Thursday (March 29) to Saturday, and roughly 520 pieces were on display.
Part of the anniversary celebration included handing out awards for the best framed paintings before the show opened and Stefan Andrejicka of Museum London had the task of selecting 10 works to be honoured.
Award ribbons were handed out to Catherine Goodmurphy, Sharon Veldstra, Gail Jongkind, Gay Chambers, Aganetha Sawatzky, Len Hughes, Ida Regio, Wendy Cakarnis, Beverley Main and Helen Bruzas.
Amelia Husnik, the club’s convener for the show, said the group’s origins can be traced back to painting classes held by a London woman in the early 1970s.
By 1972, enough people had taken interest in the classes that it was decided that a club should be formed.
Husnik said she joined the group in 1999.
Today, members range in age from the early 30s to the 90s.
The club meets once a month and often holds painting workshops.
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Brush and Palette celebrates 40th, highlights long-time member
By Chris Montanini
The Londoner, March 15, 2012
Wyn Slemon, the oldest active member and one of the founders of the Brush and Palette Club, works on a piece March 1, 2012 . The club is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a show at St. PaulÕs Cathedral March 29-31. CHRIS MONTANINI\LONDONER\QMI AGENCY
You could say the club has dipped its brush in many colours.
With monthly meetings featuring demonstrations and speakers, occasional guest artists and workshops, not to mention more than a couple community-minded initiatives and a membership of over 100, the Brush and Palette Club has changed a lot since Wyn Slemon helped get it off the ground 40 years ago.
“It’s big,” said Slemon, the last active member able to recall the club’s early meetings. Back in 1972, she used to meet with a local artist named Dorothy Heaven, who now lives in
“She started it all and I told her she created a monster,” Slemon jokes.
“When we started all of us were beginners,” she continued. “Now we get people joining who are artists. It’s quite different.”
But for all the changes, there are still many similarities. That includes the club’s annual Spring Show, a yearly exhibition at the London Public Library branch in Byron, although this year’s show is going to be extra special.
Slemon and the rest of the club will be featuring their work at
“It’ll be good,” Slemon said. “I think it should draw a different group of people, some new people that appreciate art as well as bringing the ones that have been faithful in coming (to our meetings.)”
It’ll also be an opportunity for the club to highlight Slemon herself.
“I call her a mentor,” said Alice Martin, a 14-year member and the club’s historian.
“I think she makes a difference to this club, certainly to the people coming here.”
Slemon was a nurse in
“I had done some really gorgeous drawings in my nursing student days of the respiratory system and the circulatory system,” she said with a laugh. “So I thought … maybe I’d like to do some artwork.”
She met Heaven in
Over the years the Brush and Palette Club expanded its programs to include public sessions at the library in Byron to go along with their workshops and exhibitions. But there’s one initiative Slemon is particularly proud of.
“Even though we only had $50 to give, we gave a small amount of cash to a promising student at Oakridge (secondary school),” she said. That scholarship, started in 1977, is now worth $500 and is still awarded to the highest standing student pursuing art in post-secondary studies.
For more info about the club and the 40th Anniversary Art Show and
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