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Fabulous Media Coverage for The Quiet Rebuild

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The opening of The Quiet Rebuild at Harcourt House gallery was a huge success. As I began my artist talk I looked at the large crowd that gathered, over 75 people, and was overcome with emotion. It will always be a very special moment for me.

One of the strengths of my artwork is that it not only has meaning but that meaning says something that matters. My work communicates with viewers that no matter what life may bring their way they will survive and thrive. It’s a message of hope.

I am very thankful to all the staff at Harcourt House, to my family (specifically my husband Aaron and our awesome kids), to my friends, art supporters… The list goes on and on. It is so humbling to hear from individuals that have a strong connection to my work. It means the world to me.

I am also very thankful for all the awesome media coverage I’ve received.

Here are some articles about The Quiet Rebuild:

“Local artist Alexis Marie Chute in her own words: 20 questions” Edmonton Examiner

“Edmonton artist Alexis Marie Chute’s latest exhibit was an act of recovery after a very formative year” Edmonton Examiner

“The Quiet Rebuild looks at human resilience in healing after tragedy” The Gateway

“Prevue: The Quiet Rebuild” Vue Weekly

“The Quiet Rebuild” PhotoLife Magazine

“11th Annual Artist in Residence Exhibition, Opening Reception: Alexis Marie Chute” Galleries West

Video Links:

“The Quiet Rebuild” Alberta Primetime Teaser

Fall Harcourt House Artist in Residence Update

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The Quiet Rebuild

“The Quiet Rebuild” – my art show at the culmination of my year as Artist in Residence at Harcourt House Gallery and Artist Run Centre – officially opens in exactly one week! I can hardly believe it! The year has gone by so quickly and I have cherished every precious moment of it.

 

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

My studio has undergone massive transformations as well. I started my residency with two loveseats and now there are none as I needed every square foot. If you come and visit my studio you’ll have to sit on a painting chair… but still come! When my residency began the walls were bare yet now it seems like every inch of space has been transformed. In November 2012 I set out with delicate, two foot tall wood sculptures and now have large, nearly 5 foot high, sculptures that weigh a ton. During the year I have also painted and worked with wood burning.

 

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

So what exactly is “The Quiet Rebuild” all about, you ask?

After my son died I discovered that art was a helpful tool to work through my grief and find healing. I also learned that people struggle in similar ways after all kinds of hardships and that one of the best traits of humanity is resiliency. My artwork in “The Quiet Rebuild” is an abstracted picture of my grief and journey to find healing. I also found inspiration in others who shared their stories with me from all kinds of struggle; these brave individuals have given me permission to share their stories with my viewers. The rebuilding process is quiet, unglamorous, but needed and soulful. I hope my work in “The Quiet Rebuild” will be a visual enjoyment and encouragement to many people.

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

When/Where/Why/How/Who

First of all, everyone is welcome!

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 24, 2013

7:30pm –  I will be giving an artist talk about my work

8:00-10:00pm – Reception, snacks and mingling

Harcourt House Gallery: 3rd floor, 10215-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta

http://harcourthouse.ab.ca/

WHY: Because “The Quiet Rebuild” is quirky and beautiful; the artwork playful while deeply moving and thought-provoking.

Want an Invite to The Quiet Rebuild?

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Do you want a personal invite to my solo exhibition entitled The Quiet Rebuild at Harcourt House Gallery and Artist Run Centre? I’d love to have you there! Please email me your address and wait by the mailbox! The countdown is on. Only two months till The Quiet Rebuild opens.

Art lovers, mark your calendars. Opening reception: October 24th. The exhibition runs until November 24, 2013.

Artist in Residence Meet and Greet Today

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After you enjoy Harcourt House’s members exhibition, Kinetic, and gobble up a delicious burger on the lawn in front of the gallery, come find me in the Annex building for the Artist in Residence meet and greet. I will be giving a poetry reading and doing a woodworking demo.

One of my wood sculptures that incorporates Jenga and pieces of wood I cut into a whimsical structure.

One of my wood sculptures that incorporates Jenga and pieces of wood I cut into a whimsical structure.

See you tonight!

Click here for the address and more details.

Here are some of my Artist in Residence updates:

December 2012 Update

New Work, Residency and the Groove

March in the Studio, AIR Update

Artist in Residence interview on Shaw TV

 

Open Art Studio, Open Heart

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It’s time for the Artist in Residence meet and greet at Harcourt House!

This Thursday night I will be opening my art studio in the Harcourt Annex for visitors. I will also be giving a poetry reading and doing a demo of my woodworking techniques. This coincides with Harcourt’s annual member’s exhibition; this year the theme is Kinetic. It’s going to be a great night! Also in store: a complementary BBQ on the grass in front of the gallery (YUM!) and a free life drawing workshop.

I truly love what I am working on in my studio at Harcourt House. My art is full of color and shape. Come Thursday, June 20th and see for yourself.

I truly love what I am working on in my studio at Harcourt House. My art is full of color and shape. Come Thursday, June 20th and see for yourself.

The body of art I am creating during my residency is called “The Quiet Rebuild” and is a visual picture of healing and rebuilding one’s life after hardship.

For me, the hardship was losing my second child to a cardiac tumor in 2010. Since then I have been slowly (sometimes extremely slowly) and quietly rebuilding my life. I have found that art became and remains an important tool and expression of my grief and search for hope. Everyone will find meaning in this artwork.

I am working with a lot of wood, both natural and manufactured in “The Quiet Rebuild.” Other materials I am using include yarn, Jenga blocks, paper, and acrylic paint. Oh and photography as well. I feel such an amazing connection with my art and am looking forward to sharing it with our local community within my studio, where all the magic happens!

The poem I will be reading speaks to the time I lost my son, whom we named Zachary. I am currently working on branding (burning) the poem onto wood panels. I will share more about the meaning of the poem and my wood burning technique at the demo.

Click here for specific  info about the Kinetic exhibition and Artist in Residence meet and greet. Hope to see you there!!

This is a fish-eye photo of my poem I am branding onto wood panels. Come to the Artist in Residence meet and greet to hear a reading of the poem and see my wood burning techniques first hand.

This is a fish-eye photo of my poem I am branding onto wood panels. Come to the Artist in Residence meet and greet to hear a reading of the poem and see my wood burning techniques first hand.

Art Adopted to a Happy Home

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The Harcourt House Art Market was a huge success! Plus, my wonderful assistant Kaila sold her first painting for me. I will miss “New Land 3” but it has found a good home with John & Anne. They emailed to tell me that they hung the painting on the west wall of their sitting/family room which opens to their kitchen so they are able to look at it and enjoy it often.

“New Land 3” comes from a series of three mixed media paintings which I created while living and working as a fashion and wedding photographer in New Zealand. The artwork contains acrylic paint, plastic, photographic imagery, sand and sea shells. The collection is vivid and bold.

John Elliot & Anne Macdonald, proud owners of "New Land 3" Artwork by Alexis Marie Chute

John Elliot & Anne Macdonald, proud owners of “New Land 3” Artwork by Alexis Marie Chute

If you are looking for art, “New Land 1” and “New Land 2” are still available. Contact me if you are interested. They too are looking for happy homes. (They work splendidly as a diptych…)

Art Market in ‘da House, Harcourt House

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I cannot tell you how much I love my wonderful art patrons. You buy my work, attend my openings and generally cheer me on. Thank you!

This Saturday I will be exhibiting some never before seen artwork I created while I lived in New Zealand. I’ve got paintings made with the very sand and sea shells of the Eastern Beach where my hubby and I took up residence for two years. The work is colorful, textural and ready to be adopted into good homes.

I’m also offering some newer works and even showing a sneak peak piece from my upcoming solo exhibition entitled “The Quiet Rebuild” which will adorn the main gallery of Harcourt in a solo exhibition in October of this year.

For some art is a hobby. As a professional artist, the boundary between hobby and work often overlap and blur. But that’s fine with me. One of my newest hobbies, candle making, will debut at the Harcourt Art Market and I’m thrilled. If you are looking for a handmade gift with a creative twist, these candles are for you! Vintage meets chic style – but that’s all I will say for now. Come and see for yourself.

Art Market

An art and design show and sale

Saturday, May 25th, 2013

1:00 – 7:00pm

Harcourt House Gallery

10215-112 Street

Entry by donation

March in the Studio, Artist in Residence Update

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Artwork and photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Artwork and photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Being the Artist in Residence at Harcourt House has allowed me to find my footing within my current body of art and take off running. The time and space they have provided me to develop my creative work is one of the greatest gifts an artist can receive. The people who work at Harcourt House are pretty amazing too!

Truly the time has flown by and with the close of March I tick off my fifth month at the gallery. Five months! On one hand I feel like, ‘Where has the time gone?’ but on the other I am amazed at the gift of time itself.

Art and photography copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Art and photography copyright Alexis Marie Chute

What exactly do I spend my time on you ask? Answer: lots of hard work and creative play.

I approach my artwork through experimentation with my chosen materials (wood, glue, yarn, acrylic paint…) while holding my concept loosely in my head (and my heart) to see where it all takes me.

For those of you new to my blog, the greater meaning behind my work is the idea of rebuilding ones life after hardship. My method is very akin to my materials and process themselves; I am experimenting using art to heal.

Art and photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Art and photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

The images in this post are some of my very recent work. I began using Jenga pieces in some of my compositions and found this consumerist approach a fun twist while drawing on the concept of the game itself; build as high as you can until your structure falls over. When it does, which is always the case, you laugh and build again learning from your mistakes and constructing your tower even higher the next time.

I love a comment from Brand on my last Harcourt House Residency update. He said my work reminded him of photographic pixels. That notion blows me a way – I LOVE IT! It totally jives with the photographer in me. I am percolating ideas of how to incorporate that concept into my work and am excited about it.

As always, I LOVE company at my studio so please come for a visit! I purposefully have lots of seating so come talk art, life or whatever is on your mind. Contact me to find a time that works.

New Work, Residency and the Groove

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As February stretches onwards, I marvel that I am over a quarter of the way into my residency at Harcourt House Gallery and Artist Run Centre. To say time flies is an understatement; time tornados by! Yet, I make sure to slow myself to appreciate every precious moment of it.

I wanted to share some of my new work that has been my labor of love since November 2012. Really, I have too much to share here and will soon create a new category on my website in the portfolio section. Stay tuned.

 

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

I have been working with wood, both sculpturally and on flat surfaces. Currently I am holding my breath waiting on a big order of cut wooden pieces to arrive – then I will be feverishly creating even more unique “city-like” designs (so I’ve been told they resemble by visitors to my studio). The long wait would be negated if anyone reading this is skilled with a _________ (insert word here that names a wood cutting tool with the precision to cut very small squares) – if you or someone you know is able to give me a hand, please get in touch!

 

At first I wasn’t quite sure how my paintings relate to my wood creations but when the Harcourt House Executive Director, Derek Brooks, popped in one day and explained to me the correlation – I finally got it. It’s true, apparently, that artists can be too close to their own work to notice connections sometimes.

 

Wood sculpture 01 art copyright Alexis Marie Chute

I am in the groove working in my studio. It’s a romance with my materials and I am constantly exploring new ways of creating with them – truly a fun time.

Harcourt House AIR Update

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My wood sculptures are growing in width and height – and even colour! I have finished a small but complex piece and am breezing along with another that will end up being as tall as I am!

This week I will be building large stretchers, about 6 x7 feet, and stretching them with unprimed canvas. With these I will be creating my ‘forest’ so to speak. Likely by the New Year the walls of my studio will be transformed with colour and paintings of the evolution of the natural life of a forest through growth, fire and regrowth.

Wood pieces sit drying after being glued. Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

I have met a few other artists in the Harcourt House Annex and have come to feel so at home in my studio already. I want each moment of my residency to stretch out as long as possible – it is a dream come true and I love every second!

Little glued pieces wait to be used in my sculptures. Photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute

(AIR = Artist in Residence)