I’m very excited to be 1/2 of a two-person show in Bear River at the new Sissiboo Coffee Bar and Gallery. The show opens this weekend on Sunday, May 22 at 2pm and displays until the end of June. My good friends Jon and Erin asked me if I would like to be the first artist to show in their beautiful space. I am touched to be asked and very happy to celebrate with them. I asked artist Wayne Boucher to join me and he agreed! His large paintings are gorgeous and luminous. I think our work will look great together. Yeah!

I’m very excited to be 1/2 of a two-person show in Bear River at the new Sissiboo Coffee Bar and Gallery. The show opens this weekend on Sunday, May 22 at 2pm and displays until the end of June. My good friends Jon and Erin asked me if I would like to be the first artist to show in their beautiful space. I am touched to be asked and very happy to celebrate with them. I asked artist Wayne Boucher to join me and he agreed! His large paintings are gorgeous and luminous. I think our work will look great together. Yeah!

https://youtu.be/T6BAzT6QjT4

The Idea

If you know my painting, you’ll know that I usually paint flowers. But for this venue, the site of past and future music shows, I wanted to create a body of work to acknowledge and celebrate those important events that Jon and Erin have brought to the village. I appreciate it so much when songwriters and performers share their vibe.  It inspires and uplifts me and I admire their courage to lay out their emotion in such a public way. And the fact that Jon and Erin have provided a venue for this for 7 years makes it all more fitting that the first art show in their new coffee space be about music.  I sifted through my years of Bear River music night photos and got to work.

From January until last night 😉 I worked on 8 portraits of specific musicians. (Plus one flower painting). For me, the work represents the dozens of musicians we’ve heard here in Bear River.

The Coincidence

I am a fan of the large abstract works of Wayne Boucher. I plucked up my courage and asked him to share the space with me. Amazingly, when I spoke to Wayne about the canvases I was developing,  he told me that he’s collaborated with 2 musicians this winter too! For people with smart phones it will be possible to view Wayne’s painting and to listen to the corresponding musical piece that was either inspired by his painting and/or that informed it.

My Personal List of 5 Firsts

Last night as I lay in bed not sleeping, trying to come up with painting titles, (still haven’t named everything) I thought about this show and all the ‘firsts’ for me, including:

• first acrylic series of musicians
• first paintings on walls at Sissiboo Coffee Bar and Gallery
• first show with the amazing Wayne Boucher
• first art series developed from photos (as opposed to from life)
• first show with only one flower painting

If you are in the area, please join Wayne and me on Sunday afternoon for coffee and a home-baked treat. The show is on until the end of June and the coffee is amazing!

Resonance : musician inspired paintings.
New work by Flora Doehler and Wayne Boucher, with collaborative musical works by Theodore West and Hilary de Vries.
Opening Sunday, May 22, 2 to 5pm
May 22 – June 30, 2016
@ the NEW Sissiboo Coffee Bar & Gallery, 1890 Clementsvale Road, Bear River, NS

for more info email: floradoehler@gmail.com

All are welcome. Please join us!  – Flora & Wayne

Next week I’ll reveal large versions of all the paintings.
In the meantime, here is a poll for you. I’d love your input about upcoming posts.

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