Artist Bio: Denise Redmond

Denise Redmond is a weaver who makes some fantastic fabric and fibre art.

Playing with fibre since the age of nine, Denise has had an ongoing love affair with clothing art. While working as a commercial visual artist, she found the third dimension more engaging than 2D media. Since discovering weaving and spinning several years ago, Denise has continued to explore the functional, visual and tactile possibilities of fibre.

Denise_Redmond_cotton_chenille_handtowels_web.jpg

“Expressing creativity in textiles allows me to marry colour, texture and function. My pieces are meant to be worn or used in everyday life, whether as shawls, scarves, bookmarks, bags or simple table ornaments.

Denise_Redmond_Mohair_scarves_web.jpg

“I prefer to work with natural fibres such as cotton, linen, wools and recycled fibres. Because I think weaving should be dynamic, I rarely repeat designs. Most of my inspiration for weaving comes from the interplay of colour I see in nature or accidentally, in combinations of manmade objects.

Denise_Redmond_Shadow_play_web.jpg

“My weaving is always evolving. Pieces are unique, tactile and imperfect. They remind me of a time when functional cloths were made in the home and lasted generations. Using modern threads and colours of our time, I hope to share my creations with other fans of textile.”

Denise_Redmond_Tencel_Bookmark_web.jpg
You can contact Denise at:
denredmond@gmail.com

Artist Bio: Frank Parpacen

2011 Central Art Walk welcomes the work of glass artist Frank Parpacen.
Frank_Parpacen_Sin_titulo-11_web.jpg
Frank_Parpacen_Sin_titulo-16_web.jpg

I never imagined that a hobby could become a life style. I was transformed by art from an Operation Manager in a nationwide press and magazine distribution company into an artist.
I am a Glass Artist open to different media with a strong accent in modern/contemporary designs. Color plays a cheerful role in my work.
I have worked with stained glass windows, 2 and 3 dimensional mosaics, tiffany and prairie lamps, glass boxes, vases and fusing. I am experienced in restorations, repairs and maintenance of old stained glass windows, especially in churches.
I have a strong background in art history and theory as well as teaching experience.
I obtained an International Business degree and worked for 13 years in that area. I then obtained a degree in Visual Arts from Cristobal Rojas, the most prestigious art school in Venezuela. My specialization was in “Fire Arts” which included ceramic, jewelry and stained glass. I interned in the biggest glass art company in town more than 10 years ago.
I opened my own studio after two years working in Toronto in Artistic Glass, one of the biggest companies there.
I accept commissions and am proud to deliver on time.

Frank_Parpacen_Sin_titulo-18_web.jpg
Frank_Parpacen_Sin_titulo-39_web.jpg

Artist Bio: Karin Kliewer and Greg Roberts (Little City Farm)

Little City Farm is a unique urban homestead and eco bed & breakfast, established in 2007 by Greg Roberts and Karin Kliewer, right in the heart of the Breithaupt-Mount Hope neighbourhood. During the Central Art Walk & Studio Tour stop by to see their homestead! Enjoy a cup of freshly brewed herbal tea from the garden, purchase wood-fired baked treats from their outdoor cob oven (organic breads and vegan treats), and learn more about the ongoing workshops they offer related to sustainable city living.
karin_kliewer_6073.jpg
Karin, master herbalist and artisan soap maker, will be offering her handmade natural soaps, herbal teas and balms. These products are made using locally sourced organic ingredients wherever possible, and incorporate flowers and herbs grown at Little City Farm. The soaps are made in the traditional cold process method, using organic herbs and pure essential oils. Simple, beautiful, handmade, healthful — you won’t be disappointed! Read more about Little City Farm at: http://www.littlecityfarm.ca/

Artist Bio: Jakki Annerino

This is an updated bio for Jakki Annerino.
jakki_annerino_bio_pic.jpg
Jakki Annerino is a mixed-media artist and singer/songwriter living in Kitchener, ON. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and Phoenix, Arizona.
jakki_annerino_Black_Walnut_encaustic_018.jpg
Making art has been a lifelong passion for Jakki. She creates encaustic (wax) collage, glass collage pendants, altered books, greeting cards and recently started making hammered copper jewelry. She incorporates various remnants and relics, both natural and vintage in her work.
jakki_annerino_Circular_Rhythms.jpg
She finds encaustic (beeswax and damar resin mixed with oil paint) an intriguing medium as it allows for layering, creating textures and using beautiful colours. When painting with encaustic she works intuitively starting with a single element such as a vintage photo.
jakki_annerino_Reluctance.jpg
She likes to convey a sense of whimsy in many of her pieces. And as a songwriter, she likes to bring a narrative quality to her work.
jakki_annerino_2010_003.jpg
She is inspired by nature, literature, music and personal relationships. She hopes that her art brings joy, beauty and meaning to the lives of those who view it.

Artist Bio: Rob Soosaar

As an artist, I am still in the infant stages of trying to understand and interpret the world around me. I have had a long time interest in photography, spending countless hours working in black and white 35 mm, both behind the camera and in the darkroom. At that time I recognized that my interest was driven by trying to understand what was behind the objects I was portraying – exploring texture, mood or emotion. While still actively engaged in photography, I have moved into the realm of painting as a medium to continue the deeper exploration of those themes that I found so engaging in me earlier years. Much of my painting takes form through multi-media abstracts. My inspiration is often driven by natural elements of rock, stone and wood like the rugged landscapes of the Canadian Shield. What brings energy to me from those landscapes is the connection between living spirit of the present with elements that are thousands or millions of years old. This same connection between layers of evolution of human spirit, stone, earth and water was a powerful inspiration that was absorbed through travels to ancient villages in the South of France.

Rob_Soosaar_Part_1.jpg

In order to present my paradigm of ever evolving spirit, emotion and the physical world I developed a technique that allows the paintings to have both a physical as well as visual element. The base is either plywood or Masonite, prepared to allow for the adhesion of a layer of concrete/mortar. Development of the mortar layer allows for a variety of textures and fluidity to emerge that would not be possible with other dimensional substrates. The shape and flow are very much inspired by the emotional vision for the finished piece. Gesso, tinted with a base colour, is painted over the cured concrete as a base on which acrylic paint is applied. Colours are primarily motivated by the spirit element of the work, developed in harmony with the emotional aspects. A range of tools are used for working with the concrete and paint – brushes, palette knives, hands, sponges – whatever is necessary to achieve the desired effect. Music is an important energizer when developing these works as it has the ability to transport me from my current space and time and take me to new worlds where I fell as though I am participating in the painting rather than working on the painting. Inspiration comes from an eclectic mix of Tom Waits, Muddy Waters, Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Harry Manx and a range of Native folk artists.

Rob_Soosaar_Profile.jpg

I have been a resident of Waterloo for over 20 years with 19 of them in the city core. I’m married with 3 teenage children and work in the local technology sector.