Natural Beauty of Autumn

‘Liminal’ - Chiba (Japanese maple) harbinger of winter in our front garden, Kitchener, ON Canada

Autumn or Fall conjures up for me mixed feelings. Fall is a happy time for me celebrating thanksgiving; many, many birthdays in our extended family; gorgeous beauty in nature; time to put the garden to sleep… I even tolerate Halloween! However, I also feel the loss of the warmth of summer, almost always wondering if I made the most of the short season; coming to terms that I am one year older, and still getting used to the idea of being an “elder”; preparing myself for hibernation till next spring… From the perspective of an art photographer, the season is full of promise, capturing that ‘perfect’ fall scene, discovering the hidden late blooming gems of the garden like tricyrtis, fall crocuses, catkins on the locust and red berries on the aronias, and being blown away by the brilliant burgundy, burnt orange and popping golds of the native shrubs and trees that surround our home. A few personal and family happenings sidetracked me this fall, however I am grateful for life and all the parts of creation that sustain our lives, especially the nurture and love of family. This autumn I have had a much more profound experience of liminality than I can remember, amplifying the realization of transitions and being neither here nor there, in between summer/winter, young/old, wellness/sickness, even life/death. I have renewed my appreciation for who we are and what we have, here and now.

Pioneer Tower, Doon village, Kitchener, ON Canada

‘Golden Sunset’ near Paris ON Canada (available at Uptown Gallery Waterloo until January 2023)

‘Harvest Traditions’, Mennonite families harveting stooks Hawkesville ON Canada

Overlooking Hidden Valley, home to endangered species and precious wet lands and woods, Kitchener ON Canada (available now until Jan 2023)

ManChoi Chow 8/3/22 ManChoi Chow 8/3/22

'Melancholy' (part of Relationship & Emotion show at Uptown Gallery Waterloo)

"Gray overcast sky with a glimmer of light backlit this rural scene in late winter along a back road in Waterloo County (southern Ontario). The brightly coloured orange snow fence broke the sombreness"

Title: Melancholy

Medium: Photography on canvas, edition of 5, Dimension: 16"x 32"

Price: 575.00

Trusting my instincts is not always easy and I’ve discovered that if I can pay attention to my gut more often, it really pays off. The creative process is such a mystery, part intuition, part science, part technique and part luck! In this exhibition ‘Relationship & Emotion’ I really want to explore the relationship between the artist and the subject of the art, the viewer and the art, and the relationship between the viewer and the artist. I find it fascinating to pay attention to those who view my art and observe their reactions. At the exhibitions I have participated in over the past few years, as well as interacting with visitors during the weekly sessions at Uptown Gallery Waterloo where I am a member, I observe the emotional reaction to the art of the cooperative artists exhibited. As a featured artist, we get the opportunity to shine a brighter spot light on our art. I am amazed at the various and diverse reactions and interactions with my art—surprise, admiration, thoughtful reflection. In this show, I intentionally created pieces that evoked deep emotions that I felt as I was driving through the countryside last winter/early spring. “Melancholy” is a typical farm scene around Waterloo County, yet this scene got me to stop driving to turn back and look again. It took me some time afterwards to think about what it was that grabbed me, but trusting my instincts I framed the photo without being too analytical, and in processing it, I tried to remember and stay true to the feeling I had when I was in the scene, in the moment, and let the work emerge: melancholy! I would love to hear what you see and how you feel as you interact with my art.

@manchoichow facebook.com/manchoichow

ManChoi Chow 5/1/22 ManChoi Chow 5/1/22

Solo Exhibition at FAC Kitchener

I am deeply indebted to Kris and Annemarie from Framing & Art Centre, Kitchener, for hosting an(other) exhibition of my art, on now till the end of May. Framing & Art Centre Kitchener is in the heart of Belmont Village.

All art displayed is printed with archival materials and in limited editions. Custom print sizes are available. Hope you can come down soon!

ManChoi Chow 12/21/21 ManChoi Chow 12/21/21

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

ManChoi Chow 11/30/21 ManChoi Chow 11/30/21

'Liminal' at Homer Watson House & Gallery opens Dec 4

Being in the liminal space between familiar and uncharted territory can provoke fear of the unknown. Or it may lead to new possibilities otherwise overlooked. Two years of uncertainty, chaos, and the stress of reorienting, coping with a pandemic have brought this home. Being face to face with our inner fears about who we are, our strengths and vulnerabilities, even survival, can cause us to question the core of our identities, and doubt life’s meaning and purpose. Having time to be retrospective about my art from the past few years, liminality emerges as a unifying theme, congruent with my personal conviction to cross thresholds that lead to life beyond what is familiar.

'Acceptance', 10.5x34.5, $395 — ‘Acceptance’, 10.5x34.5 framed (on canvas), $395

'The Other Side', 20x25 framed, $550 — ‘The Other Side’, 20x25 framed, $550

ManChoi Chow 11/29/21 ManChoi Chow 11/29/21

Homer Watson House & Gallery Exhibition: Liminal

Just brought all my art to Homer Watson Gallery to be exhibited in the upcoming special year end show. ‘Liminal’ is my solo exhibition, and I am honoured to be a guest artist among the talented instructors at Homer Watson. Exhibition opens Saturday, Dec 4 and will continue until Jan 9, 2022. Will post more as the show is ready for visitors. Appreciation to Tabatha Watson, Director & Curator, and Ralf Wall, artist and staff, for their support to make this exhibition possible.

'Rooted', 18x23, $475 — ‘Rooted’, 18x23 framed, $475

ManChoi Chow 1/15/21 ManChoi Chow 1/15/21

Liminal

“What is that, ‘liminal’?”, Bonnie asked.

Well, it’s a good word to describe where we are at in this fight for survival against Covid 19. Feeling uncertain, even panicky, yearning safety, pulling back, feeling trapped, out of control, powerless, reaching for something to hold on to. That’s liminal!

ManChoi Chow 3/19/20 ManChoi Chow 3/19/20

Rustic old barn in Waterloo County, Canada

Driving in the rural areas of Waterloo County in southern Ontario, Canada, soaking in the sunshine and fresh air, lifts my spirits every time and reminds me that spring can’t come soon enough!

Old barn, one of many, in Waterloo County

ManChoi Chow 11/4/19 ManChoi Chow 11/4/19

Art$Pay Annual Show 2019 - Nov 8, 9

I am among 40+ local artists participating!

Opening Reception tickets still available for Fri, Nov 8, 6pm

Music, art, food, entertainment

St. Andrews by the Sea, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

ManChoi Chow 6/24/18 ManChoi Chow 6/24/18

First rose of summer

The first bloom is always the sweetest. Can't beat the rugged rugosa rose, bred for all climate zones in Canada, showing off its beauty and subtle musky fragrance.