MARY-ELLEN THREADKELL - Artist Statement
Never bored, I continually find my connected presence and inspiration with what I see around me; the way the light hits a wall in my bedroom, reflections of inanimate objects on the table or thru sunrises, sunsets and how light and shadow plays on water and farm fields . My goal is trying to capture the intrinsic value experiences of those frozen moments by focusing on shadows, reflections and refractions. Sometimes the connection to what I see and feel is immediate and takes my breath away. I am sublimely present on those occasions. Other times the excitement comes when I find that ‘catch your breath’ moment upon viewing the many iPhone photos that I take. Being present is necessary for me to abstractly join the visual and emotive connective experience with the act of painting in oils. When I have thumb nailed my composition, the dance of laying, layering, removing and integrating the paint onto my chosen surface begins. The choreography changes with the various intrigues of colour, tone and hue as I travel the map of my connected journey in a piece.
Biography
Exhibiting artist Mary-ellen Threadkell lives in Sidney BC. Born in Montreal, Quebec she spent her growing years in Alberta where she was happiest at the family cabin at Gull Lake swimming, sailing, horseback riding and catching frogs. Mary-ellen’s enjoyment of nature has always played a major role in her art. As a water loving sailor here and abroad, her frozen memory moments also come from her travels when she stumbles across what makes her feel an integral part of what she sees. Mary-ellen also thrives in an environment helping to facilitate and grow other artists’ practises. Her career as a senior Arts Administrator includes: the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (Co-ordinator of the Art Gallery Paint-In for 15 years); Victoria College of Art (Registrar); Calgary Philharmonic (Assistant GM); and Welsh Arts Council (Assistant Director Drama & Dance). Formal Education includes: Victoria College of Art, University of Calgary Visual Arts, Banff School of Fine Arts, Cardiff Institute of Art and Design and Mount Royal University. She is a community volunteer: Founding board member of the Victoria Visual Arts Legacy Society, past board member of the Vancouver Island School of Art, a juror for Sculpture Splash, Esquimalt, and a volunteer with the Sooke and Sidney Fine Arts Shows. Mary-ellen has shown her work in BC & Alberta and her pieces are held in private collections in Canada, UK, France, Spain, US, Mexico & Japan.
ARTISTS' COLLABORATION:
Slaght and Threadkell’s close friendship has been enhanced by working collaboratively over many years and has strengthened their individual creative voices within their own practises. “Working together stimulates our creative processes while critically growing each collaborative piece – Ego is left at the door”.