IRIS McDERMOTT, Ceramic plate.

BARBARA SACKS, Raku clay,

Barbara Sachs is a ceramic artist who has been living and working in Dundas for over a decade. She attended L’Ecole des Beaux Arts and Champlain College in Montreal and went on to receive an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. After rediscovering clay and the Raku process Barb has been exhibiting her work across Ontario and in 1998 the Ontario Government chose one of Barbara’s polar bears to present to Nelson Mandela.

   Inspired by nature Barb transforms clay into whimsical creatures that are full of life. Using hand building techniques, Barb begins each creature from a flat sheet of clay and carefully builds and transforms it into a hollow, three dimensional form. The clay is then fired using the ancient Japanese firing technique 'raku'.
   Artist’s Statement:
“With nature as my inspiration I strive to create lively and imaginative sculptural raku animals. Using hand building techniques and clay, I bring all creatures, great and small, to life.”

TREVOR HODGSON, "Provence Remembered", oil, # 3

Born in Yorkshire, England, and studied at Lancaster College of Art & University of London. He taught at the Blackpool College of Art, England, Bellarmine College, USA, and Queen's University, Canada, prior to being Director of DVSA for 22 years.

   Trevor's work is in many public & private collections including York University, UK; Berea College, JB Speed Art Museum and State of Kentucky collection, USA; National Gallery of Canada(still photo.section), Province of Ontario collection and Queen's University, Canada.
   Trevor is referred to in a number of books including "Who's Who in American Art", "British Self Portraits of the 20th Cent.", "Canadian Artists in Exhibition" and many magazines.
   Trevor exhibits frequently at the Gallery on the Bay, Hamilton.

E. ROBERT ROSS, "Webster's Falls" acrylic, # 51

E. Robert Ross is a full time artist living in Hamilton with his wife and two children. He has had a long time love for nature. As a canoeist and mountain climber, Ross appreciates the power of nature to rejuvenate the spirit and soothe the senses. As an artist, he strives to impart this same meditative quality in his paintings.

   Ross's landscapes are panoramic. He beckons to our personal imaginings by placing us in a particular spot, at a specific time. Deliberate in his compositions, his paintings draw the eye into the centre of the piece, welcoming the viewer to enter the landscape.
   His representation of the equilibrium within nature's elements is also intentional. Sky, earth and water strike a balance, a harmonious partnership in Ross's landscapes. He uses the elements of nature as symbols to parallel the human struggle for balance of physical, intellectual and spiritual well being.
   In Ross's paintings as in life, the elements work together in an undisturbed grandeur. These elements are sometimes tranquil, sometimes turbulent, but always powerful forces in nature. Its magnificence leaves man feeling insignificant in her presence.
   As an environmentalist, Ross considers himself a generalist. As an artist, he is specific in his intent, to capture nature at it’s' best, to create vistas that give us the desire to protect the environment.
   Ross is represented in Hamilton by the McNaught Gallery. His paintings are collected both nationally and internationally and can be found in many corporate and private collections. Ross sits on the Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Hamilton and is past president of the Carnegie Gallery.
   An avid outdoorsman, Ross’s paintings reflect his genuine love of nature with an intriguing style that is both reflective and bold.

THIS IS OUR 2010 LIVE AUCTION BLOG

This is our new blog site. We are posting pictures here of the live auction to be held at the Dundas Valley School of Art, 21 Ogilvie St., Dundas, Ontario, Canada. L9H 2S1. phone # 905-628-6357.

The auction, which includes over 1200 items, most of which are sold by silent auction, will take place Saturday, April 10th beginning at 7pm.

Attributed to the late William McElcheran.

In the mid-1950's, the sculptor William McElcheran joined a Toronto Architectural firm as a Liturgical Designer. As an artist of remarkable inventiveness, his influence bears heavily on the work of this period in both the building and furniture design. McElcheran's influence continued into the early sixties when he left the firm to devote himself full-time to sculpture.

In addition to the many churches, McElcheran's influence was quite evident in the McMaster Divinity College and Chapel (1958). His work there is generally highly regarded and may have been instrumental in bringing the firm work at Mount Allison University in the sixties.

This piece, believed to be "St. Francis of Assisi and Other Saints" was brought into a Hamilton repair shop in the late 80’s in need of a new head for the Saint.
The head was not completed until 2009 and the piece was never called for by the original customer.
It was said at the time it was left for repair, to be church work done by McElcheran. The artist’s name and the title were written on the back of the piece at that time by the repair shop.
It has been sitting in storage since the late 1980’s.

It is the mystery sculpture.

Arthur Greenblatt, Dundas Valley School of Art

AMADO PENA, ""Los Patrones", mixed media, # 38

Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr. was born in Laredo, Texas in 1943. He studied art and education at Texas A & I (now Texas A & M Kingsville), where he received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees.


He was a teacher in his hometown of Laredo as well as in Crystal City and Austin, Texas. He continues to teach as part of the Studio Art League program at Alexander High School in Laredo and is also an adjunct professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas. He has been a presenter at many national education conferences.

Amado's first love is art, and he has been a successful professional artist for more than 30 years and for decades he has been considered one of the biggest names in the field of Southwest art. He is a recipient of numerous Native American Artist of the year awards. He has been featured as the Grand Marshall at various fiesta parades, handed the keys to different Texas cities, served as the national spokesman for the March of Dimes, and presented with the 50th Star on the Texas Walk of Stars.

Amado is a Mestizo of Mexican and Yaqui ancestry. His art celebrates the strength of a people who meet the harsh realities of life in an uncompromising land, and his work is a tribute to the Native Americans who survive by living in harmony with an adversarial, untamed environment.

His artwork is inspired by places such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites are part of an enduring landscape that speaks of the ancient heritage of a region that is now known as Arizona and New Mexico.

Amado's artwork is defined by its bold color and form and dynamic composition. Through his art, he communicates his vision of a land, its people and their art.

Amado Peña is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This is a particularly high honor and one that he cherishes. He is dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge and interest in the Tribe, its art, its history, and its culture.

JANET PARKER, "Overlooking Exmoor Devon" pastel #21

Janet Parker was born and educated in England. For as long as she can remember, she has always been interested in all forms of art and at the age of ten, Janet entered her first show.

In 1969, Janet immigrated to Canada and she took up a full-time career in banking and this left little time for her artwork, but when the family moved to Dundas, her interest in painting was reborn. Now retired, Janet is a full time artist and spends time traveling and painting around the World.

“Overlooking Exmoor” was painted on a recent trip back to Janet’s childhood home.

Artist’s Statement:

“For me, it is a magical experience when shape, colour and light work together to produce a successful painting. I strive to communicate to the viewer the excitement I feel when painting the piece. It is my intention to entice the viewer into the painting and to become involved with the subject matter.”

JONATHAN BALL, "Untitled", acrylic, #32

Johnathan Ball was born in 1983, in Toronto, Canada. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in 2006. Living and working in Toronto, Johnathan has received acclaim for his illustrations, graffiti and paintings. He works primarily in oil, but also uses mixed media, aerosol, and airbrush. His artwork reflects his unique mixed heritage, as well as, his love for graffiti, pop culture and occult themes. Due to his often controversial content, some of his pieces have been banned from display.
Johnathan was born with a diverse background which enriches his work. His mother was born in Kalkuta, India and was the daughter of a wealthy Anglican print factory owner and an Iraqi Jew. His father was born in Newfoundland to Protestant parents. As a child he was introverted and found fitting in to be very difficult.

He developed a passion for visual arts at a young age. Since his youth, he has consistently painted as well as taught illustration and fine art. Johnathan drew inspiration from his rich heritage: a heritage that had contributed great influence.