For the people
Proletariart 2018 showcases art from all ages and skill levels
There may be a 90-year age difference but Audrey MacDonald and Ayla MacLeod, both of Marion Bridge, share something in common.
Both share a passion for art and have work exhibited in this year’s Proletariart 2018 exhibition at Cape Breton University. MacDonald will be 98 in March and just resumed her artistic work last fall. Her entry in Proletariart is one of an eagle done in acrylic, “Majestic Sentry.” MacDonald had painted for about 10 years but stopped for about 20 before picking up the brushes again. Now she paints as much as she can.
“I spend a small amount of time on it every day — about two or three hours, maybe,” she says. “After I have my breakfast I go right in and I paint until noon and then I take the afternoon off.”
At age seven, Ayla MacLeod has no doubt been inspired by the work of her mother, Angela MacLeod, who does mosaics.
“My mom showed me a picture and I said I wanted to do it,” said MacLeod about her entry, “Sparkled Glitters,” a mosaic using toys which hangs next to her mother’s piece, “Gossip Ladies.”
“And then I found a lot of toys that I don’t use and then in my mom’s studio I found a lot of jewelry that I put on it.”
David P. Stephens has been working as a professional artist since 1983 and he uses the exhibition as a way to show a piece of his most recent work, a sinister looking helmet that is festooned with everything from pennies to a microphone.
“This is called ‘God of My Addictions’ and it’s after a song that a friend of mine wrote by the same title and it’s about his addictions, explains Stephens. “It’s also tied into some of my kind of addictions and interests and it’s based upon a part of a project, a larger project, that I am working upon called Karmageddon — the death of the automobile series.”
Stephens says it’s interesting to get feedback on his work.
“It’s interesting for people to look at it and see what they
interpret.” According to gallery curator
Greg Davies, 86 people have work entered in this year’s exhibition, from those starting out to seasoned professionals like Stephens.
“It covers a broad range of skills,” said Davies at the Friday night opening of the exhibit which will be open until April 20.”
“Anybody can enter. It’s the people’s exhibition so it’s open to the commun- ity and its unjuried which is kind of nice. It means you can showcase your work no matter what level you’re at.”
“It’s interesting for people to look at it and see what they interpret.”
David P. Stephens