Jennifer Trefiak
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 Behind The Easel

AGN Spotlight Series 3 is here

10/21/2021

2 Comments

 
Hello Friends,

I'm so excited to share the AGN Spotlight Series 3 with you. I encourage you to view them all but if you're short on time my mini doc begins at time mark 15:56.

Please let me know if you enjoyed it! If you have any questions drop them in the comments or send via email and I'll put together a Q&A (anonymously) in my next blog post. 

Thank-you for sharing in my excitement, my process, and my art work.

In Gratitude,
Jennifer

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2 Comments

Please Be My Guest!

8/19/2021

4 Comments

 
The AGN Spotlight Series 3 full version premiere will be held on August 27, 2021 at 7pm at the Port Event Space in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.
The musicians will each perform and the visual artists will have their art on display. It's the arts event of the year and I'm so excited to chat with everyone, I'll see you there!

​

Take care,
Jennifer

4 Comments

Interview With David Newland

7/14/2021

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Hello dear Collectors!

I recently did a radio interview on Northumberland 89.7 with David Newland where we discuss the AGN Spotlight Series 3, my Alderville First Nations heritage, the Canadian "Residential School" discoveries and awareness, and how art can influence and impact society. 

This conversation was spontaneous, unscripted and unedited. David's questions were sensitive and thought-provoking and I'm grateful for his skill in being able to bring out the best in me and allowing me to share what I am all about. 

I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think in the comments!


Take care,
Jennifer

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AGN Spotlight Series 3

7/14/2021

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If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself. Also, you will have betrayed your community in failing to make your contribution.

— Rollo May (The Courage to Create)

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I need to start this post with a huge chi-miigwetch to my community for supporting my artistic career. In some ways it is easy to be an artist - be yourself, make things, repeat. In other ways it can be a real struggle - the admin work, financially supporting your art making, pandemic lockdowns....

I am filled with gratitude for having been approached by The Art Gallery Of Northumberland to be a part of their Spotlight Series 3 - an annual arts education fundraiser known for shining the spotlight on artists from across Northumberland County. This opportunity came to me when I was at a low point spiritually. I was missing my friends and family, all cultural events were on hold, my studio and gallery had to be closed to visitors, and I was beginning to wonder whether my art made a difference to anyone other than me. But, I had begun my new series on community and was excited with how the concept was developing. Interestingly enough, it was at this point that the AGN approached me with their community project. Funny how synchronicity  works.

Since that time I have filmed my mini-doc, given radio interviews and news interviews. If you know me, you'll know that I prefer to listen rather than speak. This experience has been WAY outside my comfort zone. But, I also know that if you don't do things that scare you then you are not growing as a person.

The AGN Spotlight Series 3 has given me the opportunity to tell my community about myself and my heritage, how my landscape art speaks to topics and issues I care about, and I've come to learn that it also means something to all of you. That is why I do what I do and am who I am.

A friend of mine, who recently passed away, David Tanner, once told me that to have a talent or a gift and to choose not to share that with the world was to fail both yourself and your community.  I feel my included quote above explains what he said to me perfectly. 

And so, I make art and share it. Whether it's good or bad (I never profit from anything I'm not happy with). Whether it's in progress or completed. Whether for sale or not. That is my small contribution to my community. And my community decided to recognize my work and share it to a broader audience. I am humbled and honoured to have been chosen, along with five other outstanding artists 
Kate Boothman, Cale Crowe, Oli Goldsmith, Kate Hessin, and Ian Jack.

I  do hope you will come together with me as my community to view these mini-docs. The Northumberland County artistic community has shared so much over the course of the pandemic and has also taken a huge hit. Your love of the arts makes our tiny piece of Turtle Island a vibrant, caring, thriving, compassionate place that I'm proud to call home.
​


Take care,
Jennifer

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More Than A Landscape

3/24/2021

2 Comments

 

'Water is living and water is life' - Anishinabek wisdom


​I've been painting landscapes ever since I began painting. Sometimes they have been abstract, sometimes not. Some have figures but most do not. If there is a figure it is represented by nature or animal but I rarely paint a human figure. I will expand more on that in another post. 

I don't just paint landscapes though. Each of these landscapes has an underlying theme or message that I send into that painting. These themes are central to each new series that I create. I've always told stories in my art work and it used to frustrate me as a child when people (teachers) wouldn't understand my symbolism and story telling.

Almost all of my paintings have water in them. Not all, but most.

​In Anishinabek culture, water is sacred and women are the caretakers of the water.
​In my last series, Hiraeth, you will see in each piece that I have painted GutchiGumi (Lake Superior) which translates to Great Water or Great Lake. I have tried to show you the spirit of the land of my ancestors. I have also woven themes such as climate change, conservation, feminine uprising and power, spirituality, and human connectedness to Mother Earth into these paintings. When in doubt, the titles usually offer a clue. Most of my titles are snippets taken from song lyrics, story or poetry. 
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Me tenting it at Pukaskwa National Park
I suppose I should write a separate blog post for each painting in the series to give you a little insight as to where it's located and what I was trying to say. It's a fine line with art. In one way I think art should speak for itself and you as a viewer should interpret it as you wish. On the other hand, maybe some of you would like to know more about the my underlying themes and what I was thinking about when I made my paintings.
Let me know! Mystery or Story?

I've also had some Collectors inquire about my Indigenous heritage and that is another blog post that I am planning in depth (so many blogs so little time!). For now, just know that I am from Alderville First Nation in Ontario and have an interesting and artistic family history which I am looking forward to sharing with you soon.


​Take Care,
Jennifer

2 Comments

Pandemic Planning Is An Oxymoron

1/15/2021

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 “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.” 
​
Donovan Leitch

I realize that song is meant to be more existential but I feel like it applies and I can't stop singing it in my mind with the following:

First there is an art show, then there is no art show, then there is (fingers crossed).

Yep, that's the way she be, as my kiddo likes to say. So what the heck is going on?

Well, in 2020 a local gallery booked me for a group art show that was set to open right about now. Then, our government put us on a lockdown for the holiday season so the opening was bumped to accommodate the Provincial order. But THEN a stay at home order was issued which is to last until mid-February so I felt for sure the show would be cancelled.

Guess what? I received an email today that the gallery is still working to make this happen but later in February when the stay at home order is lifted (please please pretty please). 

I will give you dates as soon as I'm able but for now at least, just know that this is still going ahead and with any luck you'll be able to see my art in person, hopefully.

​#Gratitude
​

Stay Safe,
Jennifer


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January Ups and Downs

1/24/2018

2 Comments

 
Ahhhh the new year. It always starts off so fresh, new and exciting. So many lists! So many goals! I was really kicking it at the beginning of the month. I'd booked my standing art shows and included a new spring one. I figured out my theme for my July show and took lots of photos to support the mood I wanted to paint. My original little inks got an extension to sell at Polish House & Home in Colborne, Ontario.
And then.....


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Spotlight On: Gold Paper (for Miss Manners)

12/17/2013

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I am running low on art supplies and won't receive my shipment until Friday, so today I've decided to tell you a little about one of my paintings.

Gold Paper (for Miss Manners) was inspired by my grade three teacher, Karen Manners. She was a young teacher and very enthusiastic and creative. She set up an art station in the corner of the classroom and brought in all kinds of supplies. If you behaved then you were rewarded with some free time at the craft table. I remember that she brought in this really shiny silver and gold paper. It was thick like cardboard but so shiny you could see your reflection in it. This doesn't seem so special nowadays but back then it was the most beautiful paper I had ever seen. All of the girls loved the paper and we made sure not to waste any of it. That was the only year that Miss Manners taught me because the next year she got married and moved away. I have no idea where she went after teaching in Cobourg, Ontario, but I hope that she brought her gold paper to her other students and that they enjoyed it was much as I did. Wherever you are, Miss Manners, thank-you.
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Thank-You

12/11/2013

0 Comments

 
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Phew! The group art show 'Seasons Past' is now over. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun with many friends (new and old) stopping by over the course of the day. I wanted to thank-you all for your support, advice, comments, and purchases. I hope you enjoy your new pieces of art as much as I enjoyed creating them. I have updated the Gallery page for you with the new work and pricing. It's not too late to purchase for Christmas, if you live in my area you can pick up from me or I can deliver to you. It is however too late for me to ship. Once again, thank-you.

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The countdown has begun

12/3/2013

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The art show is this week! The art show is this week! Can you feel the excitement? I know the rest of the ladies in the Untitled art group are busy putting the last minute touches on their work and organizing their move in. As for myself, I finished a large painting last week (there is a story behind that one) and I have one (well, maybe two more) small ones to complete before my varnish deadline of Thursday. All of my paintings will have finished sides, UV top coat, and wires so that they are ready to be hung in their new homes immediately. You may wonder why Thursday is my varnish deadline. It takes three days to cure the varnish so anything that doesn't get coated that day will have to wait for another show.  I've included a picture of my art 'studio' to give you a peek inside where I create each day.
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I'm running out of room, can't wait to show you my art.
Playlist for today is:
Acoustic Guitar Christmas on Songza

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    Jennifer Trefiak

    I will keep you updated on my latest work and perhaps some insight into my creative process.

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  • Home
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    • Soul Shine 2021/2022
    • Oil Sketches
    • Hiraeth
    • Home Series
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