Propeller Presents Michelle Letarte/Dan Dodds - May 26 - June 6, 2010

Propeller Presents Two Concurrent Shows

May 26 - June 6, 2010Opening Reception: Thursday May 27, 7-10 PM

Main Gallery:  

“O Africa” is a series inspired from journeys to that incredible continent. The series was initiated during a workshop with artist Lila Lewis Irving in Mississauga, in June 2007.   Large shapes and strokes and a simplified palette of bright colors led to bold abstract statements. Most of the images came from the my imagination soon after a trip to Senegal, and were executed prior to meeting a true Animiste, the character depicted as “Animiste # 11”.  The Animists are Bushmen who live off nature, wear leather and ornaments such as crocodile teeth and monkey tails.  They are fabulous musicians and dancers and make all their costumes and instruments. The one depicted here is under a wire cage covered with grass and wears a mask. When he dances, the whole cage moves to the rhythm of the incredible music played by his Animist friends. The large cauldrons depicted in several paintings were also experienced after they were painted, while volunteering in Mali. They are used for boiling water and for cooking. In the pictures, I lit the fire directly into them.  It was an amazing feeling to actually discover these characters after having painted most of the images.  I have entitled the paintings “Animistes” in honor of these incredible people, still living their century-old traditions in our modern time. The medium is acrylic and the texture is pumice in the large paintings. In the smaller cave paintings, there is first encaustic, highlighted by the use of papyrus, brought back from Egypt and acrylic to amplify the colors and contrasts. In these paintings, wild and imaginative animals are emerging, which keep good company to the “Animistes”.

North Gallery: 

Out of Sight/Out of Mind Photo Work by Dan Dodds

Dan Dodds, a modern day Gideon (or latter day Gilligan) is engrossed with things ectopic (or off topic).OUT OF SIGHT/OUT OF MIND is a collage of swathes - swathes of the everyday, the unremarkable, the unnoticed. My task as a photo artist is to extract the magical from the mundane.

OUT OF SIGHT examines tableaux we filter out on a regular basis. OUT OF MIND raises some new perspectives and, ultimately, achieves subtlety through overstatement.In OUT OF SIGHT/OUT OF MIND, a K-Mart is elevated to the status of shrine; a random fat guy serves as high priest of the forgettable. A fire hydrant doubles as a totem pole, and a bottle of dish liquid becomes the Holy Grail. Suddenly, the stigmata is gone from the non sequitur.

*For the opening reception, kindly bring a non perishable item for the Food Bank*