London Free Press - Entertainment - Exhibition brings artists into the open
Exhibition brings artists into the open
Tue, February 5, 2008
The fruits of their after-work labour are on display.
By KATHY RUMLESKI, FREE PRESS REPORTER
They are marketing specialists, communicators and Web designers. However, they're also painters, photographers, sculptors and weavers.
A group of 11 closet artists will realize a dream tonight when they open their first exhibition at the Arts Project.
Dubbed the Five to Nine Group because they have day jobs and work on their art at night, the members have spent more than a year planning and organizing this show.
"It's always been a dream for all of us to do art and have it exhibited in a gallery," said Jim Gruber, 57, a Beal art graduate who picked up his brushes again about 10 years ago.
"Ultimately everyone hopes they'd be able to leave work and be a full-time painter."
Gruber is a landscape painter, whose work for this show is concentrated on the Ipperwash and Kettle Point areas along Lake Huron.
The Five to Nine Group decided to create new work for this exhibition. There are between 50 and 60 works, all created during the last year.
"Setting a deadline for yourself is a little different," Gruber said.
Gruber said as much as the artists love their pieces, they are hoping to sell them.
"That's part of the process."
Besides their love of art, Gruber said the other connection between the artists is that all 11 work or worked at MC Group, a local advertising agency.
Through water cooler conversations they learned about each other's art interests.
"We started getting together at lunchtime," and then they began planning the show, Gruber said.
"Last year we got serious and booked the space. Some of us took classes together."
The opening reception is tonight at 6 p.m. The show runs until Feb. 16 and Gruber hopes many people will come to check it out.
"It's pretty amazing to see all the talent."
IF YOU GO
What: Opening reception, Five to Nine Group exhibition.
When: Tonight, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: The Arts Project, 203 Dundas St.
Exhibition: Until Feb. 16
