National Capital Network of Sculptors

“There is nothing so beautiful as the free forest. To catch a fish when you are hungry,cut the boughs of a tree, make a fire to roast it, and eat it in the open air, is the greatest of all luxuries. I would not stay a week pent up in cities, if it were not for my passion for art,” Edmonia Lewis, February 27, 1864.

Mary Edmonia Lewis was born around July 1844, in New York, her father was of African Haitian origin and her mother of African American and Native American descent.

At the age of 15, Lewis enrolled at Oberlin College, a private liberal arts school in the US state of Ohio. The year was 1859, and Oberlin was one of the very few institutions to admit women and people of colour at a time when slavery was still legal.

Shortly after, she left Ohio and headed east, arriving in Boston in 1864 to pursue a career as a sculptor. Working in a field that was at the time dominated by white men, she was repeatedly rejected by instructors, until she met Edward A Brackett, a sculptor whose clients included some well-known advocates for the abolition of slavery.

Lewis earned her name in Boston with her many works paying homage to abolitionists and heroes of the Civil War.

Her local success and popularity in Boston made possible her decision to move to Rome, and it was in the Italian capital that she became a highly respected artist. There, she focused on naturalism and themes relating to African American and Native American issues, achieving both financial and critical acclaim.

But it was her Cleopatra sculpture for which she became most well-known. It was featured at the 1876 Centennial Expo in the US city of Philadelphia and is now part of the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

       This was a first experience of having  my artwork stolen.  I had  poured my heart into its creation.
       I have experienced breakage (more than once) and that hurts, but I got over the disappointment and took measures to avoid, if not eliminate this occurrence.

Missing

Now this is different, and one wonders what happened to my Reader sculpture! This is the reason for  the “Missing” poster.
      I made a police report and send them a picture of the work. I can’t help thinking  someone in the neighbourhood took it, someone familiar with the gallery . But I also know there is little hope of seeing my Reader again. Little hope as well of payment slipped under the door as someone suggested.

… Heartbroken Artist

1. Invest in Your Community

Buying art locally contributes to the creative fabric of your community. It builds character and creates an atmosphere that makes people want to stay and put down roots.

2. Create Jobs & Support the Economy

By purchasing art locally you not only are supporting the character of your community, but the job market and economy as well. Artists are small businesses and by purchasing locally, you support those businesses and their employees, assistants, printers, and framers to name a few. Also, by purchasing work from local artists the money stays in the community, growing the local economy.

3. It’s Original

Each piece you purchase from a local artist has a handmade, unique feel to it. You can take pride in a piece of art that is one-of-a-kind and join in that feeling of exclusivity that you can’t purchase at a retail store.

4. Meet the Artist

Buying local gives you an opportunity to meet the artist who created the piece you love. This unique experience gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the artist’s creative process and allows for you to build relationships. This leads to better service and maybe even the chance to commission a custom piece specifically for you!

5. It’s Affordable

Buying pieces from local artists is an investment. The original pieces you purchase from artists in your community will only grow in value over time, plus since you will know your artist, negotiating prices becomes a lot easier! Local artists want to promote their work and gain visibility so prices are affordable.

6. Curate & Collect

Curating your own collection of affordable, original art is one of the greatest ways to express yourself! Each piece reflects your individuality and identity, and gives you a sense of pride in your décor. Collecting pieces by your favorite local artists means continued support for the arts community.

7. Improve Quality of Life

Purchasing beautiful things enhances the atmosphere in all living spaces, whether it’s in your home, your office, or some other place you frequent. Art brings warmth, humanity, character, and inspiration into spaces, which improves overall quality of life.

8. Communication

Original pieces of art serve as great conversation starters! Art can spark a discussion about inspiration, expression, experiences, trips you’ve been on, and more importantly, art can communicate when words fail.

9. Enhance Your Well-Being

Not only can purchasing local art enhance your overall quality of life, but it can also enhance your well-being. Being surrounded by things you love gives you a sense of comfort, pleasure, and overall enjoyment. Artists can create a mood or feeling with every piece of art, promoting positive mental health.

10. Shopping Locally is Fun!

Some of the greatest purchases are found when you least expect them! There is always something new and unexpected around the corner! The National Capital Network of Sculptors is preparing for their 18th Annual Sculpture Exhibit, DIMENSIONS. This will be the biggest exhibit of sculpture – ever in one place – here in Ottawa!  Over 120 sculptures in every imaginable medium will be presented, and the styles and messages will range from traditional to off the wall contemporary! In addition to the main exhibit area, DIMENSIONS will also have a gift shop area where you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping. Part of the proceeds go to support the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. Visit DIMENSIONS, at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park from Thursday, October 20th to Sunday, October 23rd. 

You are invited to meet the artists at our opening reception on Thursday, October 20th from 6 to 9pm.

Excerpts taken from http://mosaicartsinc.org/blog/10-reasons-to-buy-local-art-2/

Sculptures are one of the best type of art to purchase in order to add a neat design element to your home. They are three-dimensional and therefore difficult to ignore. However, their size can sometimes make it difficult for people to know exactly where to place them so that they are on display in the home without taking over the space.

One really terrific way to showcase sculptures without worrying that they’re taking up too much room in your home is to set them inside niches in the wall. You can even add lighting within the niche to truly show off the piece that you’ve placed there.

There are some great videos available on how to do this project and we will be showing some of these “Do It Yourself” projects at DIMENSIONS 2016 – our 18th Annual Sculpture Exhibit. Visit us on Saturday, October 22nd in the Horticulture Bldg. at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa – over 120 sculptures will be part of the exhibit. Presentations and demonstrations will be going on throughout the afternoon. FREE ADMISSION 

Excerpts from Houzz “Where to Put a Sculpture in Your Home” 2009

There are many forms of ephemeral art, from sculpture to performance, but the term is usually used to describe a work of art that only occurs once, like a happening, and cannot be embodied in any lasting object to be shown in a museum or gallery. The definition: lasting a very short time, short-lived, transitory. A number of art forms can be considered ephemeral because of their temporary nature. Early land art and all sand sculptures, ice sculptures and chalk drawings on footpaths are examples of ephemeral art.

One of the newest members of the National Capital Network of Sculptors (NCNS) is an ephemeral sculptor. James W Cook is an award winning snow sculptor and pumpkin carver. We are excited to announce that James will be demonstrating his pumpkin carving techniques at DIMENSIONS 2016. The pumpkins will be sold with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. James will be carving throughout the exhibit which runs from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23 at Lansdowne Park in the Horticulture Bldg.

In addition to the incredible pumpkins, you will be able walk through the largest exhibit of sculptural works in one location. Over 120 sculptures will be available in a variety of mediums from stone and bronze to glass and wood and everything in-between. That’s not all, a separate gift shop area is being introduced this year with a collection of original sculptures by member artists that range in price from $20 to $100.

Admission is free and the Horticulture Bldg. is wheelchair accessible. Hope to see you there!

We’ve all walked into an office and seen some beautiful artwork on the walls or sculptures in the lobby. Did you know that if you operate a business in Canada, buying original artwork qualifies as a tax deduction provided that certain criteria are met. Primarily, the artwork must have been created by a Canadian artist, it must cost over $200 and it must be displayed where it will be seen by clients.

Hanging a Sculpture on Your Wall? Of Course You Can                                                                      by Line Labrecque

If you ever shied away from sculptures for your home because you think they are just for window sills and tabletops, think again. There is a wide variety of hanging wall sculptures made from a range of materials and mediums. A wall sculpture can add dimensions and texture that 2 dimensional paintings cannot.

When choosing your piece, you need to consider its weight and size and the wall you have planned for it. Is the wall plaster, drywall or wood? Is it cement or metal? Is your piece made of lightweight materials? Depending on the medium of the sculpture, you will it need to be supported for its inherent weight? With a little research you can easily hang a lightweight or heavy sculpture on your wall. The right sculpture can transform a room. Whether you are looking for something that will relax or invigorate your living space, wall sculpture are a wonderful choice.

When looking for something to decorate your home, think of a wall sculpture as a painting that delivers just that much more.

DIMENSIONS 2016 will be the largest collection of sculptures in a single exhibit in the Ottawa area. The 18th Annual Exhibit is taking place October 20-23 at Lansdowne Park in the Horticulture Building. Check out over 110 sculptures in a variety of mediums including live ephemeral sculpture, presentations and demonstrations by renowned artists.  Don’t forget to drop into our exclusive sculptural gift shop where part of the proceeds go to support the Boys and Girls Club.

Above left, Wood Sculpture by Jim Lawrence                                                              Above right, Lean on Me by Hengameh Kamal-Rad                                               Bottom right, Into Nature 2 by Edna Lemyre

The trick to choosing the right place for your sculpture is to think about the function of the space before the design. A sculpture could look great in the center of a room but if it’s a room that people are always walking through then it may not be efficient to have the sculpture blocking the way. When you choose the right space, you’ll be able to make the other design elements like colour and lighting work around it.

A window sill is a terrific place to display an entire collection of small sculptures. This one is ideal because it is a large window with a narrow window sill that isn’t functional for much beyond just showcasing your stuff. The light coming through the window highlights the different pieces and creates a great gallery area for your display.

Around the fireplace is a terrific place to add sculptures since this is a place that we typically use to show off our beloved objects. Most people will put their sculptures on the mantle but an option is a bench or low table in front of the fire. It gives more depth to the entire space. Make sure that your sculptures aren’t made of a material that will be harmed by the heat. Another idea is to display sculptures around the mantle. In this case, the sculptures are set off to the side of the fireplace on the floor. You can use pedestals or tables on either side of the fireplace as well. This is great in rooms where you want to make sculptures visible but keep them out of the way of foot traffic.

Another great example of how to keep sculptures out of the way but still on display, use your corners. Corners are a splendid place to display tall sculptures that can be set on the floor.

If you are interested in adding sculpture to your art collection, don’t forget to mark your calendar for our 18^th annual sculpture exhibit – DIMENSIONS 2016. October 20-23, in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park.

Excerpts from Houzz.com 2009