Contemplative, Expressive & Imaginative

Canadian Mezzo-soprano Katarzyna (Kasia) Sadej was born in Wroclaw, Poland. She has sung internationally in concert,chamber music, oratorio, opera and recital, and has performed numerous world premieres. She is a featured solo performer on the Metier Records 2013 CD release of Rising at Dawn: Chamber Music with Brass by Carson Cooman. Katarzyna’s singing calendar has most recently found her making solo international debuts at the 2012 London Olympics, the Ojai International Music Festival (performing alongside Dawn Upshaw), the Montenegrin National Theater, the Lviv (Ukraine) and Banatul (Romania) Philharmonics, as well as in Bogota and Cartagena, Colombia, for the Cartagena International Music Festival.  In 2011, she was honored to sing the world premiere of Pulizter-prize winning composer John Harbison’s new song cycle “The Right to Pleasure” at Harvard University. She performed Harbison’s premiere alongside pianist Mark McNeill, with whom she collaborates regularly in the United States. Visit http://katarzynasadej.com

Adam Thomlison (a'dum tom'lissun) - definition: A man who devotes his life to the study of things not really worth studying (French action cinema; the musical, cinematic and literary works of Sting; detective fiction of the '40s and '50s), Adam Thomlison's natural habitat is the urban centre (his nearest animal-kingdom relative is the domestic pigeon) among outdated technology and excessive collections of all forms of media. When not studying those media he makes his own contributions using the aforementioned technology, despite knowing first-hand the world already has so very much of it - a life pursuit akin in its futility to that of the dung beetle. Visit http://40wattspotlight.com

Mandy DeGeit is a horror author in Ottawa, Canada. Her website is http://mandydegeit.com

Caroline Fréchette is originally from Montreal, but has been living in the Ottawa/Gatineau region for the past 9 years. She is a sequential artist and author. She has published several short stories, both sequential and traditional, as well as two graphic novels, all on the French Canadian and European markets. She was the editor and director for the French Canadian literary magazine Histoires à boire debout, and works at the Ottawa Public Library. She has been teaching creative writing since 2005, and manages the popular writing page and blog Ice Cream for Zombies. Follow Caroline on Twitter and Facebook. Visit her website at http://carolinefrechette.com.

Bozica Radjenovic is a sculptress and artist in Ottawa. Her website is http://bozicaradjenovic.com

Please, note that Cathie's interview is posted at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/multiple-arts/2013/03/30/cathie-jamieson--aboriginal-artist Cathie Jamieson is an Aboriginal artist in Hagersville. Ontario. Her website is http://cathiejamieson.com

Sylvia Klein  is an Ottawa artist featured in solo exhibitions in New York, Europe and Canada.  Her media choices include acrylic paint, sculpture, large format & illuminated ciba-chromes and photography, with a focus on digital photo manipulation. Her passion for all things artistic led to 30+ years of experience teaching visual arts, an ongoing occupation she continues to enjoy. More info at http://sylviaklein.ca Email: onlineklein@sympatico.ca

Charmaine Lurch is an artist based in Toronto. Please, note that due to a phone difficulty, the interview recording is now available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/multiple-arts/2013/03/25/charmaine-lurch--artist-educator-illustrator Charmaine’s work investigates, through a melding of sculptural and pictorial elements, themes of family, culture and the figure. An integration of mixed media and recycled objects, such as a window frame and an old iron chair, maximizes on the potential of metal wiring as a powerful means of expression. The line, whether represented by wire or paint, is a strong element in Charmaine’s work. It is the medium, embodying seduction and strength. Charmaine holds a degree from Sheridan College and also studied at The Ontario College of Art & Design, and School of Visual Arts, in New York City. Her travels to Africa, Europe and Asia have greatly influenced her work, and her paintings have been exhibited and collected by private collectors around the world. Charmaine has a passion for children’s literature and a talent for bringing it to life on paper. She has illustrated and designed many children's books including textbooks and early readers. Her projects are inclusive of diverse populations and serve as enrichment and support for teachers. Her website is http://charmainelurch.ca

Jen "Lightwolf" Jones is an artist in Ottawa. Artist Statement The paintings, themselves, have led me to investigate their meanings by learning and researching about colour, vibrational healing, symbology and quantum theory. The best way I can teach ‘spiritpainting’ is to say to ‘let go’ of control. It is like meditating - if you try too hard nothing happens. It is by ‘letting go’ that allows the magic to happen. It allows the images to come through the portals from the unseen higher dimensions. I have developed a technique that inherently allows the Spiritual element to come through these portals in the form of symbolism; the language that unifies the ‘right brain’ with the 'left brain'. My many years of experience as an Addiction/Trauma Counsellor has taught me that when we access both sides of the brain in a therapeutic activity, then healing is faster and more powerful. So anytime one explores through any form of Creative Expressionism, the opportunity for integrated healing is greater. The idea to use this method as an art form and as a form of Creative Expression came to me in 1997. Since then I have begun to understand the Universal truth of how we manifest our thoughts, consiously or unconsiously.  Each creation is individual and each spiritpainting is unique, mysterious and, interestingly and it is impossible to forge a copy. Each and every time I unfold the paper, a Mystery unfolds when I create a Spiritpainting™. Visit http://spiritpainting.com

Thoma Ewen is a tapestry artist in Outaouais, Quebec, Canada. She runs the Moon Rain Centre for Textile Arts in the Outaouais. She has exhibited her visually radiant tapestries nationally and internationally for more than 35 years, and her works appear in corporate, provate and public collections. Inspired by the natural environment of the Gatineau Hills that surround the Centre, and by the ancient Amerindian weaving wisdom that recognizes weaving to be a sacred path, Thoma's workshops teach how weaving transmits the energy of peace. Thoma was recently wawared Le Grand Prix d'Excellence IVem Jeux de la Francophonie for her contributions to the cultureal community. Her website is http://moonrain.ca and http://moonraincentre.blogspot.ca

Claudia Salguero is an award-winning photo-fine-artist who blends photography, digital and traditional art creating a surreal mix of energies. Born in Colombia and a graduate of Arts from the University of Bogota, Claudia came to Canada in 2001. After years working as visual artist and professional photographer, Claudia became fascinated by the boundless possibilities of digital art and in 2006 she decided to complement her natural palette with the digital brushes of Corel’s Painter Digital Art Studio. Later in that year she would win 1st Place Fine Arts Category in the internationally recognized Black and White Spider Awards, the leading international award honoring black and white photography, in London, England. Her mastery in Painter earned her a place in Corel’s elite group of 35 Painter Masters from around the world. She is one of only three Painter Masters in Canada the sole member from Latin America. She has been featured in publications in Canada, Spain, England and Colombia as well as in Ottawa-based television shows like Regional Contact and Ottawa Living. Claudia teaches digital art workshops in her studio and regularly makes presentations about her art at professional conferences and artist associations in Canada and Latin America. A multi-talented artist, backed by her own band Claudia is also a Latin Jazz singer. Footage of her shows can be found in YouTube under ‘Claudia Salguero’. Visit http://claudiasalguero.com Claudia Salguero is represented by Michael Gennis Galery in Ottawa, Ambiance Gallery in Montreal and Broadway Gallery in NYC.

Shirley Mpagi is an artist in Toronto. “…divinely designed by the Artist Extraordinaire//attempts to do the same//create works that just don’t compare…” …print-maker, photographer, semi-painter. *Constantly Creating* … humbled by every opportunity I get to share my work, while trying to learn the ropes, so I can be successful in the Art World. Feel free to email me at s.marksthespot@yahoo.ca || Instagram @urgirlShirls || Twitter at @urgirlShirls!! Also, visit http://smarksthespot.wordpress.com/

Komi  Olaf is a Nigerian artist currently living in Toronto and has been showing his work at Fall down Gallery in Ottawa over the last year. His work has been featured in shows at Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa . EDUCATION Carleton University School of Architecture Master of Architecture EXHIBITIONS The New Art Festival ( Juried Group exhibition) The Glebe – Ottawa, ON June  2012 Ottawart (Group exhibition) Falldown Gallery – Ottawa, ON April 2012 From the Soul (Group exhibition) Scotia Bank Caribana Art Exhibit, Royal Ontario Museum – Toronto, ON August 2010 Angels of Music (Solo exhibition) National Arts Centre – Ottawa, ON December  2009 Here(Group exhibition) Carleton University Art Gallery – Ottawa, ON November  2008 Fire Dance (Solo exhibition) Gallery 101 – Ottawa, ON October 2008 Visit http://komiolaf.com

Mahshid Farhoudi is a figurative painter who explores issues of identity, displacement and belonging through her work. "My art practice draws from Iranian and occidental sources. Both figurative and architectural elements are central to my painting. Although aware of new trends in figuration, I have been appropriating symbols, icons and imagery from my culture and from my Canadian context to affirm my position to issues that I consider important. The relationship between my painted figures and their architectural contexts creates a dialogue within the work. It is this textural element that is of great interest to me. There is a direct relationship between the subject of my paintings and the techniques I employ." Visit http://mahshidfarhoudi.com

Joejene Santos is a Canadian artist in Ottawa. Joejene’s works have evolved from realism to non-figurative form or abstract. He sees this shift as a creative challenge in the discovery of one’s creative expression or, as he calls it, his “Creative Identity”. He studied and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at the Philippine Women’s University. As a student, he was actively involved in different visual arts groups and participated in various art exhibitions, which further honed his talent and passion for the arts. Professionally, he has held different artist roles including freelance artist, art instructor, children’s art workshop facilitator, advertising graphic artist, book illustrator and theme park designer. These jobs brought him to different places in the Philippines and the Middle East before he immigrated to Canada in 2006. Since then he has worked his way back to painting while holding a full time job as a newcomer to a foreign country. Artist’s Statement “Discovering one’s own sense of inner peace and being reunited with it has always been an ultimate joy of life.  This is what I experience when I paint… a feeling of life reborn, telling me that ‘this is my place, this is what I am.’  Realizing this self-discovery liberates me. It gives me the trust to let go of myself and express freely my inner feelings and my inner thoughts in an intuitive process to convey my inner peace into visual language.” Visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joejene-Santos/125157940923045

Michel Luc Bellemare(PhD) is an artist in Ottawa, Canada. Artistic Style: My artistic statement via my art is nothing less than to revolutionize the way people see and think about art and what an artist consists of. It is for this reason that I have not limited my self to simply painting but as well to writing. As art these days requires that the artist is able to conceptualize his or her place in art history both in practice and in thinking, hence, why I paint and I write books. My latest book: Color-Realism: (The Essence of Color and Reality) is located in the National Gallery of Canada’s library as a testament to my philosophy of color and my art. My artistic style is that of glittering abstract paintings in the format of a new painting technique called Color-Realism, which brings to the forefront the analysis of color and its effects. Color-Realism is based on the notion that color is the basic language of human emotions and ideational concepts that construct our mind. The style is a supra-impasto technique in the form of thickly applied paint with a layer of glitter, which makes the painting radiate, and gives the painting movement in the sense that as the viewer walks around the painting the image actually changes, change the lighting and so does the image, which may be the first time in the history of painting that such an effect is possible as with colorrealism paintings the image is now dynamic and multi-dimensional, rather than static as previous art has been. This is a first for modern art. Visit: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/michel-luc-bellemare.html Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NfBr-XzKQ

Pamela Cockcroft-Lasserre is an artist and art teacher in Ottawa, Canada. ARTIST’S STATEMENT Familiarity of the human figure is superseded by its potential to be contextualized and made relevant. Whether sublime or ridiculous or the vast spectrum of possibilities in between, its timeless, universal appeal is undeniable. The main body of my work - oil paintings and drawings - seeks to explore that potential and to celebrate its enduring aesthetic and psychological attraction. When traveling abroad, water colour is the preferred medium for satisfying a relentless need to paint places that stir, captivate and compel. As observer and tongue-in-cheek commentator on canvas and paper, I juggle people, place, edifice and narrative, hoping that their trajectory will find an engaging pace and rhythm. ABBREVIATED BIOGRAPHY Early years in South Africa and Namibia, studied to be a teacher (Graaff-Reinet and Cape Town), then Fine Art at the Byam Shaw School (St Martin’s Central, University of the Arts, London) graduating with Merit Distinction. Returned to Cape Town as an Assistant Gallery Custodian (S.A. Association of the Arts), Lecturer in European Art History (Ruth Prowse), Art Critic for the Cape Times, painting and exhibiting in group shows. Widely traveled in Southern Africa and Europe, now settled in the Gatineau Hills, Quebec, creating predominantly figure paintings and drawings, teaching at the Ottawa School of Art and exhibiting regularly. Work found in private collections in South Africa, France, U.S.A. and Canada. Visit http://pamelacockcroft-lasserre.com

Elisabeth Arbuckle is an artist and teacher currently residing in the Ottawa region. Born in Wales, she attended art schools in both Wales and England gaining a B.A in Graphic Arts, Keele University and an Art Teachers Diploma, Sussex University, England. Elisabeth taught art in both England and The Bahamas before coming to Canada. She also worked extensively with theatrical productions, creating set and poster designs for The Birmingham Youth Theatre productions in England and for The Dundas Theatre Group in Nassau Bahamas. As of 1995, Elisabeth has been working as the Head of Junior School Art at Ashbury College in Ottawa. Elisabeth has participated in many art showings in England, The Bahamas and Canada and in 2006; she joined the Stafford Studios Art Group in Nepean. Elisabeth is married with two children and continues to feel privileged to be able to indulge her passion for painting, whilst enjoying the combination of family life, a busy teaching career and her love of travel. Elisabeth has art works in collections in the U.K., America, The Bahamas and Canada. Visit http://elisabetharbuckle.com

Lynne Bedbrook is an artist in Ottawa, Canada. Lynne has trained and taught for over 20 years. She intersperses movement in her art, and art into her movement classes. She has trained in Feldenkrais® (4 year training) Yanumoja Yoga (1 year training). Trained also in Qabala (Western Mysteries) and as a Buddhist Tantra practitioner. (20 years) She has worked as a painter in oils since the early 80‘s, with many solo and group shows. Living and working on her farm in Wakefield, Quebec  with many animals, she gives classes from home as well as in other venues. Her website is http://lynnebedbrook.com

Jo-Ann Zorzi is a silk fiber artist in Ottawa. Artist Statement My art is greatly influenced by my curious nature and my vivid imagination. I always want to find a universe within a particle and the unseen details that lie beneath the surface. I am fascinated by the unknown and unexplored. The tactile and textural nature of silk has drawn me to this medium. My completed art - IT IS WHAT IT IS – open to interpretation by the viewer and I expect somewhat different from my own viewpoint. Visit http://joannzorzi.com