The 2014 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Pictures

April 29, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Update, Awards, Photography Update /by Alexis Marie Chute

It was an honor to be shortlisted for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist. The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Edmonton was great celebration of our city’s creativity. As always, it was nice to bump into other artsy folks and enjoy each other’s work. Here are some photos from the night:

The shortlisted artists for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist: Jason Blower, Nuela Charles, Alexis Marie Chute, Ainsley Hillyard, Doug Organ, and Elizabeth Withey

Alexis Marie & Aaron Chute

Alexis Marie Chute and Derek Brooks, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre’s Executive Director

Alexis Marie Chute and Writers Guild of Alberta Executive Director Carol Holmes

The powerful words of Poet Laureate, Mary Pinkoski, made me shiver.

Musical performance by Jeff Stuart and the Hearts with Shannon Johnson

Cheryl Slater-Roberts, Alexis Marie Chute, Charlotte Robb, and Sherwood Park Mayor Roxanne Carr

Doug Robb and Alexis Marie Chute

Musician Ariane Mahryke Lemire and Alexis Marie Chute

Mayor Don Iveson

Mayor Iveson taking a selfie on stage.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and Alexis Marie Chute

Edmund Haakonson, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre president of the board and Alexis Marie Chute

Sherwood Park Mayor Roxanne Carr, Alexis Marie Chute, Cheryl Slater-Roberts and Bill Roberts

Cheryl Slater-Roberts and Alexis Marie Chute

International Call for volunteers for The Quiet Rebuild Portraits

April 24, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Inspirations, Art Update, Call for Submissions, Volunteer for The Quiet Rebuild /by Alexis Marie Chute

Have you experienced tragedy, hardship, struggle? Are you rebuilding your life after this event?

The Quiet Rebuild Portraits feature individuals, couples, families and support groups that have been through many types of life challenges but continue to pressing on. I find these people wildly inspiring. I wish to give them a voice and put a face to the often unspoken sorrow and resiliency of the human experience.

Please get in touch if you would like to participate. Being photographed for The Quiet Rebuild can be a healing step in itself and many of the models have told me it was a milestone and moment of pride for them along a challenging road.

The photographs in this body of work are already being exhibited internationally and will, in the not too distant future, be made into a book. This is a great opportunity to be a part of something truly profound.

In 2014 I will be traveling to the following locations and am looking for volunteers in these cities. (If you are from elsewhere, anywhere in the world, please still contact me – I’d love to photograph you. I will soon be booking other locations, specifically based on interest.)

CANADA

Toronto, Ontario

Edmonton, Alberta

Calgary, Alberta

USA

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Chicago, Illinois

San Antonio, Texas

Phoenix, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona

European locations TBD

Please contact me by email (info@alexismariechute.com) for more information.

Three Minus One Anthology

April 23, 2014/0 Comments/in Books, Creative Writing Update, The Writing Life /by Alexis Marie Chute

When the package arrived with the Three Minus One book inside, I almost jumped to the roof. It is such an honor to be published in an anthology about child loss… which sounds kind of strange. Truly, I believe my writing about loss is one of the greatest gifts my late son Zachary could have given me. I miss him daily but the fact that I can use my experience to encourage others and expose the struggles of bereaved parents is the true honor.

The book was officially released on April 19, 2014. You can read more about it on my Books – Publication page. It is available for sale on Amazon. It is a beautiful book; one that is great to keep for yourself or give as a gift to someone you know who may need it.

Sobey Art Award 2014 Longlist

April 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Update, Awards, The Life of an Artist /by Alexis Marie Chute

The Sobey Art Award, one of the most prestigious competitions in Canada, just announced its longlist. Across five regions of Canada, twenty five artists have been selected. With award monies mounting to a staggering $100,000 ($50,000 to the winner alone), it would seem that this is ‘the’ dream for the hard working artist.

If you won the $50,000, what would you do with the money?

Here are some of my ideas:

Buy supplies… unique wood for my sculptures, paint, a large scale photo printer, materials so I can do my own framing…
Go big… I would print and frame my photographs much larger than I do currently, build bigger sculptures, paint canvases twice my height…
Rent a warehouse… I’d love to work in a giant, musky old space where I can spread out and up…
Take a trip to a far off land to be inspired… maybe Thialand or India or Turkey

Winning the Sobey Art Award is a dream of mine – and one day when I do, I’ll come back to this list for ideas. Who knows, by then I may have a whole new list.

Until then, I would like to congratulate the longlist artists:

West Coast/Yukon
Allison Hrabluik
Farheen HaQ
Peter Morin
Dan Starling
Evan Lee

Prairies and the North
Michael Dumontier & Neil Farber
Cedric Bomford
Divya Mehra
Zin Taylor
Michael Dudeck

Ontario
Kelly Jazvac
Reena Katz
Balint Zsako
Chris Curreri
Jean-Paul Kelly

Québec
Olivia Boudreau
Diane Morin
Nadia Myre
Dominique Pétrin
Jon Rafman

Atlantic
Tamara Henderson
Ursula Johnson
Eleanor King
Graeme Patterson
Becka Viau

My top picks in each category:

West Coast and Yukon: Allison Hrabluik and Evan Lee

Prairies and The North: Michael Dudeck

Ontario: Balint Zsako

Québec: Olivia Boudreau

These picks are obviously based on personal preference. The winner will remain a mystery for now, only time will tell.

What do you think of the work of the longlisted artists?

Do you think their work is a good representation of Canada?

Are you feeling inspired?

Another item in the “Art Award Update” – In less than one week the winners will be announced in the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I’m so proud to be nominated, and shortlisted, for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist. Fingers crossed.

Mayor’s Art Awards Trailer:

Shortlisted for Northlands Award for Emerging Artist

April 15, 2014/1 Comment/in Art Update, Awards /by Alexis Marie Chute

To be shortlisted for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist is extra special this year as I feel so passionate and connected to my work, and tremendously thankful to see how it is touching people and making a difference. The Quiet Rebuild is an ongoing labor of love.

The above picture is from the press conference at City Hall downtown Edmonton announcing the shortlisted artists and organizations in all award categories.

The complete shortlist for the 2014 Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist:

Jason Blower

Neula Charles

Alexis Marie Chute

Ainsley Hillyard

Doug Organ

Elizabeth Withy

The winner will be announced at the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts on April 28, 2014.

Welcome to the new AMC Art Portfolio site & Blog

April 9, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Inspirations, Art Resources, Art Update, Blogging /by Alexis Marie Chute

With so many great things happening with my artwork and in my life as an artist I knew it was time for my art portfolio to receive a needed makeover. Welcome to my new site and blog! The look is a little different, mod with oodles of delicious white space. It feels like a breath of fresh air. I am so excited to share with you all my latest work as it unfolds, my artsy fartsy inspirations, exhibitions, happenings; the works!

Please subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the ‘subscribe’ box on the right. I will be posting once a week and my subscribers will receive these post in a handy email. Also, please like my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. There are lots of ways to connect!

Thank you to all my readers and I look forward to meeting you here.

Shortlisted for a Yeggie!

March 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Awards, Blogging /by Alexis Marie Chute

Is being nominated for a Yeggie like an Oscar or Grammy nomination? Well in the case of Edmonton new media – a Yeggie’s where it’s at.

I want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who nominated my blog writing for a Yeggie. My blog, Wanted, Chosen, Planned – Life after the Loss of a Child, made the shortlist for the category Best in Family & Parenting.

First of all I want to say that writing about my late son Zachary and our family’s journey after his death is more than an honor. Wanted, Chosen, Planned is dedicated to Zachary and I am so thankful that the legacy of his short life is that I may encourage and support others who have also lost a child. It is truly the greatest gift Zachary could have ever given me – apart from his life. I miss him daily but am glad to be making a difference. That part makes me smile.

The category description: The Best in Family or Parenting award is given to those who share insights into their own families or family in general online. They may call themselves Mommy Bloggers or Daddy Bloggers (though of course these categories are medium agnostic). Regardless of self-applied labels, they let us into their homes, and allow us to get to know their families — and perhaps even our own — through storytelling.

No word yet on the date of the awards night, but I’m sure it will be quite a party.

Art & Photography Updates

February 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Update, Artist Talks, Awards, Exhibitions, Photography Update /by Alexis Marie Chute

February has been a busy month! Here are some exciting new updates:

Art

My artwork, specifically my paintings, were included in an article on SheKnows in their Home & Garden section. The article, “Unbelievable Artwork for Every Room in your House,” featured eleven up-and-coming artists.

Photography

As the month wraps up so too does my exhibition of “The Quiet Rebuild” portraits at Art Central in Calgary as a part of Exposure Photography Festival. I gave two artist talks, “The Stories Behind the Portraits” and “Healing Through Creative Arts.” I was also featured on CBC radio in Calgary two weekends in a row talking about my work and a week ago I photographed ten new volunteer models for the project. (If you are interested in participating, please email me info@alexismariechute.com)

Photo by Chris Tait

I am a finalist in the VISTEK Emerging Photographer Showcase. There are two days left for the online voting so if you like my work please lend me your support before February 27^th at midnight! Click here to vote.

Writing Update

February 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Awards, Creative Writing Update /by Alexis Marie Chute

One of my poems, “Five Fold Strength,” was a finalist in The Malahat Review’s Open Season Awards.

I will be writing a monthly column for Flurt Magazine. Here is my latest article, published Tuesday, February 25, 2014, “Returning to the Classroom: Lessons from a Past Graduate.” You can also read my first article for Flurt, “How I Battled the Bully Within.”

Upcoming Events: Stories behind the Portraits on Feb 15, then Music and Art on Feb 21

February 13, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Update, Artist Talks, Exhibitions, Gallery Openings, Photography Update, The Life of an Artist /by Alexis Marie Chute

This month is a busy one for me, commuting back and forth between Edmonton and Calgary every weekend – but boy am I having a blast! Last weekend was the opening reception of “The Quiet Rebuild” and I loved meeting so many new people and talking about my work.

THIS WEEKEND

The Stories behind the Portraits of The Quiet Rebuild

Art Central, 100 – 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Saturday, February 15, 2014, 11 a.m.

Join Alexis Marie Chute as she shares the harrowing yet inspiring stories of her volunteer models. From infidelity, heart attack and loss, her portraits tell tales of resiliency to overcome any obstacle. Alexis Marie will also reveal her own experience which was the impetus behind it all.

NEXT WEEKEND

A Night of Art and Music with Alexis Marie and Drowning Ophelia

Friday, February 21, 2014

Doors open at 7:00 pm, music at 7:30 pm

By donation, RSVP on Facebook

Art Central, 100 – 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Local up-and-coming Canadian band, Drowning Ophelia, will be bringing their Alternative-Blues-Pop sound to Exposure Photography Festival to compliment Alexis Marie Chute’s art exhibition, “The Quiet Rebuild”. Come for a night of wine, snacks and the inspiring fusion of art and music!

This is an 18+ event, sorry no minors.

Drowning Ophelia Bio

You could possibly label Drowning Ophelia as “alternative pop;” however, their music combines influences from classic rock to Latin sounds, and have been described as “Santana meets No Doubt meets The Barenaked Ladies”. Currently they are working on their second album, to be released late 2014.

“Watch for them, and you might be saying ‘I saw them long before they were so famous.'”(Tracy Kolenchuck, Edmonton Arts Photographer)

Check out Drowning Ophelia online.

Healing through Creative Arts

Art Central, 100 – 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Saturday, February 22, 2014, 11 a.m.

After the death of her son, Alexis Marie Chute realized that photography, art and writing were powerful tools to express grief. Join Alexis Marie as she discusses creative personal expression and ways that photography can be used to find healing and self-fulfillment. Examples of photographic image making will be presented.