Inner Beauty: Exhibition Update & Photos

Michelle Casey, "Body Talk", Collage/Mixed Media, 8.5 x 6 inches, June 7, 2010 on display at the Heartwood Gallery's "Inner Beauty Show", February 2013

This February 2013, I was been pleased to have been part of Hopewell’s “Inner Beauty” exhibition.

When I created my piece “Body Talk” it was with the hope that it would one day be in a space where its theme would inspire others to reflect on the idea of developing a sense of beauty from within. So when Jenn Foote, visual artist and Assistant Coordinator of Hopewell institution, enquired if I wanted to be part of the show at the Heartwood Gallery, I gladly accepted.

Hopewell, along with the Heartwood Gallery, is located in a modest downtown community centre which services the Ottawa area. Hopewell counsels those dealing with eating disorders. I was surprised to learn from Program Coordinator Lindsey MacIsaac that it services both men and women. For a long time I’ve associated these disorders with women; it was a real eye-opener to discover men too grappled with these issues. Participants in the show ranged from professional artists to others interested in capturing the exhibition’s theme. The show featured an eclectic array of work which included: drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, fibre art and sculpture. A couple of my favourite pieces in the show were collaged-based ones made by Jenn Foote. Drawing on her personal experience with eating disorders, she covered various mannequins’ bodies with inspiring text and words which she created in cool software programs: Wordle and Tagxedo – if you like playing with text, you might want to look into them. A kindred spirit of my piece, Jenn’s pieces powerfully made the case for drawing one’s sense of inner beauty from internal positive reinforcement. It was so cool our works were placed side-by-side in the exhibition… they resonated so much with each other. Being a part of the show gave me the opportunity to meet other wonderful artists; I had great discussions with Cristian S. Aluas and Aimée Britten about their pieces and art careers.

As a bonus, local Ottawa interviewer Liana Voia was also there at the opening to videotape several artists discussing their works. Be sure to check out Contemplative, Expressive and Imaginative Arts for these brief interviews with myself, Jenn Foote, Cristian S. Aluas, Erin Carter and Kaelan Ryan. It was so generous of Liana to cover the show.

Thanks to all those who made it out to our chilly winter opening in -30 Celsius weather! Artists: Dulce Tapp, Sheree and Monica Bradford-Lea and Alex Johnston, it was so nice of you to come out and offer your support! Dulce, it was so nice meet you in person and hear about your own amazing work! Thanks to Hopewell Coordinators Lindsey MacIsaac and Jenn Foote for doing such a splendid job of organizing the exhibition and opening – it was a joy to work with such a professional team. Thanks also to my hubby Kevin Casey for hauling my work to and from the exhibition, his fine editing skills and role as my back-up opening photographer… and my new makeup artist Angie for making me look so presentable! Last but not least, I’m grateful to my photographer and friend Peter Farris-Manning for providing me with some wonderful photos of the event to share with you… here they are… enjoy!

Hopewell Program Coordinator Lindsey MacIsaac (left) & Michelle Casey (right), Heartwood Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013

Alex Johnston (left) & Michelle Casey (right), Heartwood Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013 (photo by Kevin Casey)

Michelle Casey, Monica & Sherri Bradford-Lea (left to right), Heartwood Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013 (Photo by Kevin Casey)

Cristian S. Aluas and his wonderful paintings, Heartwood Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013

Aimée Britten and her triptych, Heartwood Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013

Mixed Media artist Dulce Tapp (left) & Michelle Casey (right) discussing Dulce's upcoming summer exhibition at Orange Gallery, "Inner Beauty" Opening, February 2013