Courtney Downman is a glass artist operating out of the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Her work will be showcased at The Cotton Factory as part of the upcoming Work In Progress art exhibit. The exhibit will feature unfinished pieces from 13 artists. Downman says that much of her inspiration comes from the process of creation, which works well for an exhibit of partially finished work.
“A lot of the time I’m inspired through the actual making process, which gives me new ideas as I’m creating,” said Downman.
Downman’s work predominantly focuses on glass that has been carved down with a saw, meaning that the beginning of the piece looks drastically different from the end result.
“My first thought was to bring a piece that’s 60 per cent finished, because they look so different from when it starts as a complete bubble to where I cut it open and it becomes very jagged and you see the white from the saw lines, and then as I finish the last step it brings it all together. So, I was thinking of putting a piece out that’s just about halfway there to show the start to finish,” said Downman.
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Glass art is experiencing a rise in popularity at the moment. This is in part thanks to the hit Netflix competition show Blown Away, where glass artists compete to create pieces that match a given theme in a short period of time. Due to the difficulty of working with glass quickly, each competitor was assigned assistants from Sheridan College. Downman was one of the assistants, and she says she’s noticed a positive impact from the show.
“I think overall the community was really happy with the way that it brought exposure; [for] a lot of local studios the show has generated searches for handmade glass. People have been reaching out in local ways, which is kind of neat,” said Downman. “It was really neat as well to work behind the scenes without actually having to compete in the contest.” While glass art has always been popular, having a Netflix show has given it a wider platform than ever before.
The Work In Progress exhibit is being held at The Cotton Factory, a place dedicated to creating a sense of community amongst artists. Downman says that this community is why participating in art exhibits is one of her favourite parts of being an artist.
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“We spend so long working quietly, usually alone in our own studio, so it’s rare that we get a chance to show what we do in a way where we also get to socialize with other people that are like-minded. I love meeting the other artists at the shows because I find there’s always common ground to start with. I’ve had a lot of really cool friendships blossom out of doing different shows,” said Downman.
With 13 artists who are all specialized in different art mediums, there is sure to be something that interests you, whether that be glass, leather, paint or something else entirely. Artists will be standing by their work, so if you have any questions about their process, you can ask them right on the spot. If you find art that you love, they will also have completed works available for sale that you can take home with you.
Work In Progress will take place on Sunday Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Cotton Factory (270 Sherman Ave. N.). Admission is free.
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By: Andrew Mrozowski
For many artists, creating their work is a very emotional experience, forcing them to go through various stages. At one point they could feel wonderful and happy before immediately turning to disappointment. This creates a fragile state for artists and makes them feel vulnerable with their unfinished piece.
On Nov. 30, 13 various artists from Mississauga to Niagara Falls will come together to share pieces that they are working on, amongst other pieces they have done in the past. As they get ready to showcase what they have in store for viewers, three sisters meticulously plan out the second annual Work In Progress art exhibit, taking place in Hamilton’s industrial district.
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Michelle Teitsma, lead artist and curator, came up with the idea after she considered the financial investment that is typically required to participate in other shows, costing artists upwards of a few hundred dollars to display their work. To make ends meet, they need to be confident that the work will sell.
“When you go to a show, you want to see real artists. People who have spent years working on their craft. You also want diversity. Not everybody is into the same type of art, but you still want a nice taste of everything. So, when I put it out to the art world about doing [Work In Progress], my sisters wanted to help out with it,” explained Teitsma.
With the event being sponsored by Marie Phillips and planned by Helen Campbell, the trio of sisters are only charging artists a small fee with all profits from the event going back into the artists’ pockets.
“It’s our hope that the artists leave with more than they put down to be a part of this,” said Teitsma.
For Teitsma, this is the culmination of almost 30 years worth of work in the art world. Graduating from Sheridan College for traditional-style animation in 1983, Teitsma was fascinated with learning different mediums before eventually settling on oils as her medium of choice.
Setting up shop in Dundas, Teitsma has found herself captivated by the world around her. Just stepping outside of her door and experiencing the community of Dundas has its own particular vibe that inspires her.
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“I’ve been doing a lot of street scenes from Dundas. Although, I’m very taken by the feel of Hamilton... Hamilton has a lot to offer with its history, the people, it’s a very working, hands on, soul to the earth mentality, and I think that is really expressed in the paintings,” explained Teitsma.
Teitsma is just one of the thirteen artists who will have their work displayed at the art exhibit. Various artists across many disciplines working with paint, ink, photography and materials including leather, pottery and real flowers will showcase their work. Not one artist is the same as the other and all the works will be in progress.
“With artists showing their fragile side, it opens up conversation between them and the viewer with the hopes of getting them to understand what the artist is trying to do... I want them to leave with their minds opened a little more than they arrived. To see things that they might not have expected to see," explained Teitsma.
Work In Progress will take place on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Cotton Factory on Sherman Avenue North.
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