Michael ManChoi Chow, Photographer news and updates
Promise of Renewal
Hellebore, one of my favourite perennials (pity not native to SW Ontario) that are plentiful at Edenwilde, our home and gardens in Heritage District of Kitchener, is not only exotically exquisite in appearance, it is one of the first to bloom as soon as the snow disappears, with its semi-evergreen leathery leaves. It symbolizes for me nature’s resilience and its promise of rejuvenation and new life, year after year!
‘Renewal of Promise’
Part of the exhibition “Nature” currently showing at Uptown Gallery Waterloo, Mar 22 to May 14, 2022
'Day is Done'...all is well
The music of Peter, Paul and Mary (folk group from the last century) stirred something in me in my teens. One of their songs have stayed with me, and when I was thinking of a title for this piece, ‘Day is Done’ just popped into my head. This piece taken at sunset driving home on a late winter’s evening between Paris and Ayr, ON caught my eye and I took the picture out the window of the car while stopping on the shoulder. The soft fading light created a haunting stark silhouette that somehow also felt soothing and warm. The power lines in the mid ground echoed the lines of snow in the foreground framing the line of naked trees in the background. The barren frozen ground was beginning to thaw and the promise of regeneration and hope of new life has sprung!
“Tell me why you’re crying…I know you’re frightened like everyone…
And if you take my hand, all will be well when the day is done.”
Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)
'Nature' (Uptown Gallery Waterloo) - Part 2
Here are other pieces available at Uptown Gallery Waterloo in our new show ‘Nature’, on now till May 15
‘Day is Done’, Limited edition of 5, 17”x25” framed
Waterloo county landscape while the land is slumbering, awaiting reawakening
‘Into the Woods’, Limited edition of 5, 12”x27”
Late winter sunset outside Ayr, Ontario, near Kitchener
'Nature' at Uptown Gallery Waterloo
Welcoming Spring with a beautiful new exhibition at Uptown Gallery Waterloo featuring 5 artists:
Assem Hamdi (colour pencils), Adrienne Zoe (photography), Teresa Walker (photography), Laurier Spieker (glass), Eekta Trienekens (pottery)
Spring is one of my favourites times of the year, watching the renewal of the natural world, and awakening new life in me. I love to capture some of the subtle and phenomenal signs of Spring. For example, the intricate blooms of hellebore in our garden, popping up as soon as the snow disappears, with its semi-evergreen leathery leaves, a bit tattered at first but within weeks replaced by fresh growth. Available now as part of ‘Nature’ at Uptown Gallery Waterloo.
‘Renewal of Promise’
Artist Statement for Unmasking, Breathing, Moving Forward
ART ON THE WALL
Martin Luther
University College Located at the corner of Bricker Ave. and Albert St.
Waterloo, Ontario
T 519.884.0710 x3241
luther.wlu.ca
Exploring spirituality and justice through visual art
fibre art • painting • photography mixed-media • poetry
Hours: weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and some weekday evenings, excluding statutory holidays.
I find inspiration in the natural world, especially our gardens at home, Edenwilde, in historic Olde Berlin Town, Kitchener, ON. In the past 2 years when there’s been so much uncertainty, fear and anxiety, loss and change, in our world and my world, I found solace in being “grounded”; literally, connected to the earth, getting dirty, becoming one… Whenever I could, I played in dirt, till the very last day before the snow covered us.
The 2 pieces I have created for this exhibition (so thoughtfully and well chosen) speak of my faith in nature’s resilience, ability to adapt and persist, to unmask, to breathe, to move forward; that is, all of nature, humans included.
Metaphorical; art; real life!
Change is difficult but possible with clarity and resolve. In Chinese folklore and art as early as the 6th century of the Common Era, the peony is symbol of the transforming power of love, courage and kindness.
Peony bursting open and proclaiming: “All is possible with love, courage and kindness!”
The erythronium is a native ephemeral that appears for a brief time in spring, so often ignored or unnoticed and under-appreciated. Moving forward, as we emerge from the pandemic, I hope to become even more appreciative of the impermanence, fragility and preciousness of life.
Erythronium looking at its shadow saying: “We are better together!”
Unmasking, Breathing, Moving Forward
I am one of 21 artists participating in an innovative and inspirational exhibition at Martin Luther University College, titled “Unmasking, Breathing, Moving Forward”. The invitation to the artists, and all of us, is '“to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer insight into a way forward that is attentive to marginalized voices”. This is a challenging project and I look forward to see the breadth of art from local artists. Join us at an online Opening Celebration on Sunday, Feb 13, at 7 pm. by registering at bit.ly/artandvespers2022 .
ART ON THE WALL
Martin Luther University College Located at the corner of Bricker Ave. and Albert St. Waterloo, Ontario T 519.884.0710 x3241 E dkrugerallen@luther.wlu.ca
UNMASKING, BREATHING, MOVING FORWARD
FEBRUARY 1 – APRIL 22, 2022
Featuring 21 artists, racialized or Indigenous, who respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer insight into a way forward that is attentive to marginalized voices
Digital exhibit | bit.ly/artonthewall2022
Artists: Omran Adushe, ‘Sendegehyat’ Thomas Anderson, C. Elizabeth Best, Ashley Cattryse, Diana Chen, Michael ManChoi Chow, Ken Daley, D. Ahsén:nase Douglas, Behnaz Fatemi, Emmanuel George, Sara General, Melika Hashemi, Aala Ibrahim, Steve Johnson, Keitha Keeshig-Tobias, Jason Panda, Selda Sezen, August Swinson, Quentin VerCetty, Ann Viggers, Seemab Zahara
Art and Vespers | Opening celebration on Zoom February 13, 7 p.m. | bit.ly/artandvespers2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Dorinda Kruger Allen at 519.884.0710 x3241 or dkrugerallen@luther.wlu.ca
Minimalism
I’ve always been drawn to the power of minimalism in art and I am devoting more energy and practice to this approach. In December, I entered an international photographic contest from The Motif Collective with that theme and today received notice of the winners. Alas, while feeling bolstered to be shortlisted—twice, I am resolved to refine and master my craft with greater conviction. There is so much fabulous work exhibited on their website and you can see them all here. My entries are near the end of those shortlisted: “All In” and “Oak Merge”.
‘All In’ garnered a great deal of interest at a recent local art exhibition (ArtsPay Annual, Kitchener, ON) hearing from many visitors fascinating memories and stories the piece engendered. It was also included in the Homer Watson exhibition, ‘Liminal’.
‘Oak Merge’ is a composite rendered as a negative that highlights the fragile, fading beauty of nature, so commonplace it is often taken for granted.
‘All In’ shortlisted by The Motif Collective international contest Minimalism, Dec 2021
‘Oak merge’ shortlisted in Minimlism international contest by The Motif Collective, Dec 2021
Winter Solstice reflection
Light and darkness; hope and despair; sadness and joy; anticipation and disappointment; it feels like we are caught on an emotional roller coaster these days. Not easy to find balance and remain optimistic, and I say to myself: “And this too shall pass!”, as I remind myself the days will be getting longer, and life does go on, even when I’m not sure what that may mean, on this day of winter solstice.
“Liminal" will be available at Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener, until January 9, 2022, that includes the following pieces, “And this too shall pass” and “Between and Betwixt”.
‘And this too shall pass’, part of exhibition “Liminal” at Homer Watson House & Gallery, Kitchener, ON Canada
‘Between & Betwixt’, part of exhibition “Liminal” now showing at Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener
Homer Watson House & Gallery - Instructors Exhibition ‘Nocturne’
‘Liminal’ can be viewed now to January 9, 2022 at Homer Watson House & Gallery
Virtual show available here
Homer Watson House & Gallery - Instructors Exhibition 2021