Making fine art more approachable

Ana Júlia Galvan

This past November, Sandy Hill neighbours were welcomed to an inspiring initiative: the painter Denise Pelletier had a two-day exhibit of her most recent works in a private home. Landscapes/Paysages was hosted by friends of the artist who live on Osgoode, Evelyn Baraké and Boro Omar.

Born in the region of Lower St-Lawrence in Québec, Pelletier was an art teacher at Collège catholique Franco-Ouest in Ottawa and started her career as a painter more than 20 years ago. Among her influences are the French painters Cézanne and Manet, and the Ontarian Tom Thomson. You can really see the shades of their work in her paintings. Pelletier’s works are marked by a bold use of vibrant colours and broad, firm strokes to the canvas, which creates an impressionistic feel to her subjects. Her keen observation of light goes hand in hand with the search for beauty in the ordinary. Whether portraying immense landscapes or small, passing moments of everyday life, her paintings exude an inspiring love for life.

Baraké explained how they came up with the idea for an exhibit in their home.

“I like the idea of making the experience of buying art a bit less intimidating. In an art gallery, it can be hard to picture what a piece would look like inside a home, alongside furniture, books and appliances,” she said. “Exhibiting Denise’s art in a home setting makes it more approachable. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to meet new people without even having to leave the house!” This is the second year that Baraké and and Omar have hosted an exhibit of Denise’s art; this year they counted at least 120 visitors over two days. They are pleased to say that through the exhibit, they raised $1,500 for the Sameer Project, a mutual aid initiative providing essentials like food and shelter to families in Gaza.

Baraké also had a small secondary exhibit of her grandmother Isabelle Baraké’s art. The elder Baraké started painting at the tender age of 87 and is now turning 95! “She sold her very first paintings that weekend!” said the artist’s proud granddaughter.

To know more about Pelletier’s work and see pieces available for purchase, visit her website: www.dpelletier.cawww.dpelletier.ca. And if you feel inspired, the artist also offers a five-day painting workshop in Baie-St-Paul, Québec.

To receive an invitation to next year’s exhibit in Sandy Hill, email maisonosgoode@gmail.com.