Opening reception:
Friday, October 6 | 7:30 pm
Be sure to visit the Art Gallery of Bancroft to meet some of the most unusual “Humans” that you are likely to encounter. These magical and mystical personae have been created in the inimitable style of Diane Woodward.
Diane Woodward’s work is always about making paintings: colour, illusion, pattern, humour and shape inside insane frames; in her new show, HUMANS, the paintings stare back. Some of them laugh. Like photographs of dreams, the people are unambiguously mysterious. Not composed so much as built into Diane’s painted world; in boxes, doorways, bubbles and alternative planes are exuberant children: joyful, curious, cunning, selfish, malicious, brave & full of screamy excitement.
The adults in this exhibition are a different story, they spent a life time becoming what they are, Iris Apfel, Justin Trudeau, Santa Marandaji {yes, an Indian combination of Santa Claus & Carmen Maranda}, Zeb, the Funniest Man on Earth, the smoothest of the cool The Scare Crow Man & A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Lady (with Shingles), standing on her head. It’s a lot of trouble to be eccentric. We see that in this exciting HUMAN show.
Diane Woodward has been painting for over 40 years. She has had more than 40 solo exhibitions, including 2 huge shows at the Canadian Museum of Nature. She ran Gallery 101 then Gallerie Intersection in Ottawa and ART BELOW in Madoc.
As UMA the Painter, Woodward painted Hindu Temples in India, The Bahamas and Northern Quebec. She painted the exterior of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s widow’s house on Isla Mujeres in Mexico. It’s known as the Crayola House.
Diane & the home she has lived in, in Madoc for 18 years, have been featured on many TV shows, including Steven & Chris, Cottage Cheese and Weird Homes. Ottawa Interiors Magazine has featured her home twice.
At the moment she’s working hard to learn glass blowing. Bespoke framing is an integral part of these paintings.