Posts

Artsy Mondays: Art and Autism Essay by Melissa Hartley + Metis Artist Heather Shillinglaw

Artsy Mondays: Interview with Artist-Photographer Christina Leslie & a lesson on Perseverance

Film Fridays: Filmmaker Interview with Jordan Bouma, Jumanji Recap, & Calls for Films & Video Art

InFocus Photo Exhibit Opening Reception this Thursday

It was an exciting weekend! Not only did we hang the InFocus Photo Exhibit at dc3 Art Projects, but our InFocus People’s Choice Award voting came to a close. The voting was a close race all month. In the end, there were over 2,000 votes cast online. I am so excited to announce the winner. That will take place during my Curator Talk at the opening reception.

InFocus Photo Exhibit 2016 Alexis Marie Chute Curator 01

 

Alexis Marie & Aaron Chute, the core InFocus Team.

Alexis Marie & Aaron Chute, the core InFocus Team.

InFocus Photo Exhibit 2016 Alexis Marie Chute Curator 02

A big thank-you to Vistek, our InFocus People’s Choice Award sponsor.

Vistek_ InFocus Photo Exhibit Peoples Choice Award


InFocus Photo opening reception:

Thursday, February 4, 6-9PM
Curator Talk 7PM
dc3 Art Projects
10567 – 111 Street
Edmonton, AB

2016-INVITE-back-012 done 150dpi dc3


 

Last week I spoke about InFocus on Global morning news. Here is the interview.

I hope to see you Thursday night!

InFocus Photo Exhibit 2016 Alexis Marie Chute Invite

Submit Now! The InFocus Photography Exhibit Call for Submissions Opens Today!

Prepare your image files and plan your framing. Which photos best reflect your style? Today is the day! The InFocus Photography Exhibition officially launches its call for submissions on August 1, 2015.

Here is some information about InFocus:

WHAT: A group exhibition featuring of the best contemporary photography by Albertan photographers. Curated by Alexis Marie Chute.

MISSION: To promote and exhibit innovative, thoughtful and provocative photography created by Alberta’s contemporary image-makers.

WHEN: February 1 – 29, 2016, taking place during Exposure Photography Festival

WHERE: DC3 Art Projects, commercial art gallery in Edmonton, Alberta. 10567-111 Street.

WHY SUBMIT: InFocus is a great opportunity for photographers from Alberta to be featured in a noteworthy exhibition during a major photographic festival. Photographers and their work will be celebrated in a beautiful commercial gallery, receive tremendous exposure across Canada, and become one of the distinguished InFocus Alumni.

Please click here to submit your photography to be considered for the 2016 InFocus exhibition.

Follow InFocus Photo Exhibit on Twitter.

Like InFocus Photo on Facebook.

www.InFocusPhoto.ca

Exposure Photography Festival broadens its scope to include all of Alberta

PRESS RELEASE

Exposure, a festival that celebrates the art of photography, is taking a bold new direction today by expanding its reach embracing an even wider geographical area and, more importantly, providing greater opportunities for photographers and lovers of photography across Alberta to become involved in a visual arts festival of the highest calibre.

“As the Chair of the Festival I am pleased to announce that Exposure 2015 will be a province-wide photography festival,” said Peter Duthie.  “Now galleries and independent photographers from across Alberta will be able to participate in a month-long  photography Festival this February.

Adding, “During the previous decade Exposure has proven itself to be one of the premiere visual arts events in Canada by attracting diverse photographic expression from Alberta and other parts of Canada and the world and showcasing it through collaborative exhibitions and special events.”

In Its first 10 years, Exposure programming was focused on the communities of Calgary, Banff and Canmore.

Exposure will continue to operate throughout the month of February with submissions now being sought from Alberta-based artists and gallerists. Exhibitions and events will be featured in a professionally published guide and on the festival’s website.  Exposure also hosts photography related presentations and workshops during the month of February.

Internationally recognized photographer Larry Louie is an example of an artist who now has the opportunity to participate in Exposure. Based in Edmonton, Louie will present an exhibition of his sumptuous black & white works capturing the daily life and struggles of people in the developing world. Another Edmonton venue already booked for Exposure 2015 is Harcourt House featuring the photographic works of award-winning artist Alexis Marie Chute.

Exposure is truly a celebration of photography in all its forms,” said Duthie. “Tens of thousands of people each February have participated in Exposure and now all four million Albertans are invited.”

For more information go to expsourephotofestival.com, or contact Festival manager Wes Lafortune at T. 403-919-2502 or email at: exposurefotofest@gmail.com.

www.ExposurePhotoFestival.com

What you see is not always what you get at the Art Institute Chicago

I recently visited Chicago to speak at a conference about the healing properties of visual art. Of course spending hours in the renowned Art Institute of Chicago was top on my list once the conference was over. I will write more about my visit to the Art Institute in next week’s post, but for now I want to share a fun moment I had while perusing the different galleries within the museum.

This one particular artwork caught my eye. It was brightly coloured and stood out because of its texture. It looked like used chewing gum stuck together on a surface and the overall effect had a pixilated appearance. My first reaction was to walk up to it so my nose was a foot away and inspect.

“What is that? I don’t think its gum but what… Hmm…” I said to my husband.

I took a step back. And another step. Then my eyes grew wide.

Alexis Marie Chute Art Institute Chicago 02 Art Blog

“There’s a face in there!” I said loudly in the joy of discovery. Some other art patrons leaned back as well and then nodded.

It turns out the artwork is called, “Woman with Halo and Sceptre,” (1972) and the strange textural effect is created through acrylic, cotton and Rhoplex on canvas. Rhoplex is an acrylic emulsion for sealing the work.

What I find so interesting with this piece is that the material choice beckoned me closer and closer, to become intimate with the shapes and textures. At the same time, while standing so close the image of the woman was impossible to decipher, thus allowing for the aha moment later on.

I love aha moments.

Surprises are good in art; they keep the viewer from getting lazy, maintain a visual dialogue and stimulate creative logic.

What you see is not always what you get – sometimes it’s more.

Alexis Marie Chute Art Institute Chicago 01 Art Blog

Once I stepped back from the artwork and saw the woman, I could no longer approach the piece without seeing her. My mind had assimilated the colorful acrylic cotton balls and made sense of it. Still, I loved the early observations where my eyes searched for meaning. And it was wildly satisfying when I found it.

Alexis Marie Chute Art Institute Chicago 03 Art Blog

 

Find out more about this artwork by Joe Zucker.

 

 

Unfulfilled Precognition Exhibition in Calgary

Last night was the opening reception of my exhibition called Unfulfilled Precognition at the EPCOR CENTRE of the Performing Arts in Calgary. My fine art photographs are hung in a window gallery alongside two other artists; Tia Halliday and Natalie McDonald.

Unfulfilled Precognition copyright Alexis Marie Chute 002

Unfulfilled Precognition is a series of photographs I took around the birth and death of my second child. The images were created with the Holga camera and expired film, two deliberately selected tools to convey the helplessness and wonderment of that time. I’ve titled this work Unfulfilled Precognition because, as a mother, from the second I discovered I was pregnant I had visions of the life of my child; I imagined what he would look like and saw him growing up, playing and going to school. When that future became permanently out of reach, those visions were somehow suspended in my mind like memories. I had believed in that future so wholeheartedly. Thus, the photographs reflect this vacant and ghostly yet sensitive psychology.

Unfulfilled Precognition copyright Alexis Marie Chute 003

To view Unfulfilled Precognition, click here.

Unfulfilled Precognition will be exhibited at the EPCOR CENTRE in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from July 11 to September 28, 2014. The opening reception takes place Thursday, July 17, 2014.

EPCOR CENTRE

205 8th Avenue S.E.
Calgary Alberta, T2G 0K9
Phone: 403.294.7455
Fax: 403.294.7457
info@epcorcentre.org

Walk-up Hours 
Monday – Saturday:  10am – 6pm
Sunday and Holidays: Closed

Click here to see the visual arts page of the EPCOR Centre.

Unfulfilled Precognition copyright Alexis Marie Chute 005

If you visit the show, please drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Also, if you are going to miss this showing of Unfulfilled Precognition, it will be exhibited next at the Kiwanis Gallery in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada from October 21 – November 23, 2014. Click here to see all 2014 exhibition dates.  

 

Method Art Gallery representing Alexis Marie in Scottsdale, AZ

My latest three photographs represented by Method Art now grace the walls of their gallery. Have you ever been to Method Art? The gallery is in the heart of Old Scottsdale, Arizona on the ‘Gallery Walk’ district. The area buzzes with activity, gallery shows, tasty restaurants and boutiques. The staff at Method Art blow me away with their friendliness – they are not the snooty, off-putting types. If you are in the area, they are absolutely worth a visit.

My relationship with Method Art began when I won first prize in their “The Ultimate Composition” photography competition and, shall I say, the rest is history.

Method Art Gallery Scottsdale Arizona photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Group Exhibition at Method Art Gallery in Arizona

 

I’m proud to announce that I received a confirmation this morning that I will be a part of a group exhibition called “The Ultimate Composition” which opens December 3, 2013 in Scottsdale Arizona.

Check out the photographs in the show. I have one piece in the show and a second with honorable mention.

Visit Exhibitions to see all upcoming showings of my work.