Pumphouse classes appeal to various artistic interests

The current exhibit in the Walker Room Gallery at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre features the Instructors Group Show, presenting work from the art centre’s instructors. This collection showcases the artistic styles and mediums of the centre’s program offerings.

If you are interested in working with a kiln, included in this exhibit are two ceramic works by Rob Dorante. Stoneware Fancy Bowl and Round Tile are pieces by Debbie Whitehouse.

Mixed media art refers to working with more than one medium or material. This can be seen in the artistic piece Gilded Feather by Valerie Martin and the technique found in Suzuki by George Doros.

Win Henstock’s Here Comes the Sun and Sunlit Creek, as well as Paul Eppler’s Into the Woods #1, use acrylic paints in their pieces.

Anne Reimer’s work in oils includes Morningstar Mill and Winter Stream.

Different techniques are used in the two pieces by Aidan Frenette. Polaroid emulsion modifies integral film pictures while they are developing in her Stasis 3, while she uses graphite/pen in Study 1.

Julia Kane has mastered the art of fused glass in her two pieces, HOPE IN MY VIEW and THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

Embroidery craftsmanship has been taken to a whole new level in Isolation Portrait 1 by Dayna Riemland.

Study for a Passion Flower is a watercolour piece by Julie Donec. Her second piece, Katrina, uses egg tempera, mixing egg yolk with powdered pigments and a little water.

Helen McCusker’s artistic skill lies in digital collage. This is piecing and layering together a variety of virtual images and textures from different sources to create a whole new work of art. Her works are entitled Upward Mobility and New World on the Horizon.

Sandra Nass Misiak uses prismacolour (pencil sets) in her creation Northern Flicker.

All these artists are active instructors at the Pumphouse. Programs are offered regularly, some are weekly classes, others are workshops. Class size varies depending on the medium — pottery classes are smaller while painting classes are larger. Most are classes paid by the students, while some are supported by grants and sponsorships and are free.

Instruction for various artistic interests have been offered since the Pumphouse was founded in 1994.

Private art workshops can also be made available for interested groups.

The current exhibit runs until March 24. Admission to the art gallery is free. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come in to see the talent in the community, and find where your interest might lie.