September 2022 - Les 7 Doigts Art Exhibition

7 Doigts Art Exhibition

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of The 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main), an art event will be taking place this coming Thursday, September 22nd. Come view the unique artistic collaborations that recently took place between The 7 Fingers and The Soulfood.

6 Soulfood visual artists, inspired by the talented circus performers rehearsing and creating at The 7 Fingers Creative Center in Montreal, each created a large-scale painting. The residency at The 7 Fingers included: Kathleen Finlay, Sonia Haberstich, Onira Lussier, Holly MacKinnon , RGB Collective and myself, Verona Sorensen. Each artists received a canvas or panel and a dedicated workspace to develop their creation as well as have full access to the rehearsal and production spaces.

The results of these collaborative art residencies will be displayed to the public beginning Thursday, September 22nd, from 5-8pm, at the the 7 Fingers (2111 Blvd. St. Laurent) in the Quartier Des Spectacles. And the art show will run until October 21st, 2022, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

7 Doigts Art Residency

My artist residency at 7 Doigts, through the month of May and part of June, was a special and unique experience. Being surrounded, on a daily basis, by incredibly talented acrobats was a welcoming shift from the previous years of isolation through the pandemic. Not only was it exciting to have the company, but the stream of inspiration was endless.

Sketches and Collages

The 72” X 60” acrylic painting that I created, entitled Daydream Circus, is an amalgamation of sketches I had made of the 7 Doigts dancers, as they dynamically rehearsed alone and together, in the space.

Sketching the The 7 Doigt artists from the wings and later cutting and collaging those sketches.

Poster Walls and Billboards

The collage elements found in this painting are largely influenced by a colourful, urban street billboard that I happened across one day, with torn peeled posters and stickers, revealing layers of complimentary and contrasting imagery.

Poster walls and billboard surfaces influencing the creation of my 7 Doigts painting.

Matisse at the MOMA

As well, a visit to the Matisse art exhibition at the MOMA in New York City contributed to both the collage quality of the painting, as well as the shift in focus from my usual style of abstraction to the study of the figure. The painting, Daydream Circus, was in some ways my opportunity to pay homage to one of my favourite painters.

MOMA's Matisse show and its Influence on the painting, Daydream Circus

Together all these components add up to a painting that speaks of tenderness and compassion for each other, as we fall and fly through space….through a weightless dreamscape of wonder and hope.

Daydream Circus, 60" X 72", mixed media on canvas, 2022

Rendez-Vous

Hope to see some of you from Montreal this coming Thursday, September 22nd, from 5pm to 8pm at Les 7 Doigts, 2111 Blvd. St. Laurent, in Le Quartier Des Spectacles. Proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go towards supporting The 7 Fingers Foundation and encouraging the work of these Montreal Soulfood artists. Looking forward to seeing some of you there!

Les 7 Doigts is an artistic collective, that was created in 2002, with the idea of redefining contemporary circus from its essence and exploring the infinite possibilities offered by the mixture of artistic disciplines.

The Soulfood is an art consulting service assisting artists and collectors to connect with each other, as well as curates events in unusual spaces in different cities and is an online platform/website, featuring beautiful photo essays of artists at work.

Keep connected, creative and compassionate! And perhaps until next Thursday!

Verona xx