A wonderful ‘pARTner-ship’

By pairing emerging artists with established artists, a unique exhibit has been created that will find a home in the Woodstock Art Gallery for the next eight weeks.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA), and to celebrate this monumental year, a partnership between the Woodstock gallery and the society emerged.

"Both have a mandate, the art gallery and the society, to try to encourage and assist new graduates," OSA member Cathy Groulx said. "We want to help so they don't have to float along and try to make their way in the world on their own."

Maria Ricker, curator of the gallery, approached OSA to see if a partnership could be developed several years ago.

And it finally has. In fact, the name of the show is pARTners.

Eleven established artists, like Groulx, who is an oil painter, were partnered with 11 recent art program graduates from across the province.

"We work with new art graduates to help mentor them and answer questions they might have and they show us new skills," Groulx said.

For about three months Groulx and her partner, Laura Bydlowska, a Woodstock native living in Toronto, worked together to develop their collaborative piece.

Each artist submits a piece of their own. For Groulx, it will be an oil painting, and for Bydlowska, she will submit a print she etched. Then the two artists work together to create something.

"Totally different way of working for me. It's exciting. The graduates come with such vibrancy and enthusiasm and we get to learn a new art form," she said.

A larger friendship has blossomed between Groulx and Bydlowska. Groulx helped the emerging artist get her first commercial show venue, which resulted in the sale of her work. Groulx also helped Byldowska find a spot in a show last spring in Ingersoll and the two have even talked about business cards.

"I had nothing – no help when I started. So it's totally different. I enjoy helping. It's tricky getting your foot in the door," she said.