PASSION 5

Susan Seitz
Wendy Bachiu
Janet Henry
Cathy Byberg
Laurie Cochrane

January 2014

Five artists from Grey-Bruce have come together to create an art exhibition that explores expressions of passion through the power of collaboration. Wendy Bachiu, Cathy Byberg, Laurie Cochrane, Janet Henry and Susan Seitz challenged each other to initiate paintings in their own style and then include some aspect of collaboration with one or more of the other artists.

Concentrating on design, organic textures and the interplay of colours, Wendy Bachiu’s cold wax and oil paintings have an almost topographical quality, a shrouded terrain that invites closer inspection. Although abstract, recognizable objects often appear in the richly textured surface.

Bold colours in dramatic sweeps of value define the majority of Cathy Byberg’s paintings and installations. With a restless mind, she enjoys challenging conventional techniques by indulging in the science of mixed media projects, pushing the limits of her chosen materials.

Laurie Cochrane’s acrylic paintings show a clear understanding of composition, unity and balance. Her landscape and still life paintings illustrate how she simplifies shapes and spaces to capture the essence of their beauty, all presented with a calm, harmonizing mood and palette.

When unusual lighting or an interesting view catches the eye of Janet Henry, she immediately captures the image for reference in a future painting. Working in acrylic, she executes her paintings in a precise and detailed manner. Her love for nature and for people is readily apparent in her artwork.

With a style that straddles the abstract and representational worlds of art, award-winning artist Susan Seitz shares her love for painting on canvas. Visually rich in texture and colour, her paintings reflect her deep connection to the earth.

By allowing room for the ideas of others and by weaving one artist’s passion with another, growth was inevitable. The process was experimental. The artists had no idea where it would take them, but were committed and open to all possibilities and how this could change and create new paths for them. With each artwork, the artists have documented and presented their encounters, growth and reflections, as this process has undoubtedly created many meaningful stories viewers can take pleasure in.