Artists attending JNAAG May 5

Montreal artist and member of Aamijwaang First Nation Nico Williams will be making an appearance at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery on Friday.

“We’re really lucky to have him here because he’s had a lot of fortune to be exhibiting in New York and Paris and a lot of other places,” said gallery curator Sonya Blazek

“We’re really excited. We’ve been working on this show for almost three years to bring his work here.”

That show, Biskaabiiyang | Returning to Ourselves, includes everyday objects such as a dish cloth and lawn chairs, mostly or entirely made from beads.

A nine-metre-long exhibition piece called Danger Tape is made of glass beads that reflect light in the exhibition space near intricately beaded bingo tickets and cereal boxes.

“There’s a lot of layered meaning in Nico’s work, so he’s very intentional with what kind of beads he uses,” Blazek said, noting people who’ve visited since the exhibition opened April 14 have been in awe.

“We’re doing our best in photos to capture this,” she said about the Danger Tape piece. “But you will never get an idea of ​​just how reflective and stunning it is without seeing it in person.”

Also attending the gallery Friday for the official opening of his concurrent exhibition, Many Lives Mark This Place, is John Hartman, Blazek said.

The traveling exhibition that originated in Woodstock features portraits of more than 30 Canadian authors in places that inspire them.

Hartman “actually started to approach the authors of the books he felt inspired by and asked if he could paint them,” Blazek said.

The exhibition features oil paintings as well as a number of the artist’s sketches, and a short film discussing the project, she said.

“So, the visitor kind of gets a moment to experience what it’s like to see his process, or what it’s like to be in the art studio with the artist,” she said.

Two of the books also are being featured in an Arts and Books Club the gallery and Sarnia Library have been holding for the past few years, she said.

Participants read books that relate to art work at the gallery, discuss the books and tour the exhibitions, she said.

“We’ve had growing attendance, which really excites us,” she said. “And then this exhibition nestles perfectly into Arts and Books.”

Both artists are expected to be at the gallery 7 pm to 9 pm May 5 for First Friday.

“And we’ll have live music, and food and drinks,” Blazek said.

The exhibitions continue until Sept. 9.

More details are available at jnaag.ca.

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