October 16, 2002 – The Chronicle, Montreal’s West Island community newspaper

A chance to discover the artist behind the work

BY BARBARA LAVOIE

Chase Creations is rolling out the red carpet for West Island art lovers tomorrow and Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. for a special exhibition and sale of oil paintings in its Beaconsfield gallery.

Billed as a unique tow-evening event called, Meet The Artist, visitors can mingle with 10 of the gallery’s most popular artists who will be on hand to share their inspiration and passion for art and to personalize their paintings for potential buyers.

“So often people ask me about the artist. They want to go beyond the canvas to discover the stories and inspiration from the artists themselves,” said gallery owner, Michael Fitzgerald. “This is a first. I’ve organized many solo events, but never one with so many artists.”

Fitzgerald has been in the art business for more than 22 years. “Although I’m not an artist myself, it has been my life mission,” he said.

He started Chase Creations 12 years ago in Pointe Claire with a custom-framing operation then expanded the business to include an art gallery when he set up shop in Beaurepaire Village eight years ago.

Many of the artists in the exhibition and sale have worked with Fitzgerald for about 18 years. The show will feature only the art of the invited artists and will include at least 50 new pieces never shown before. All the artists will be present during both evenings.

Of special interest to art collectors is the chance to have the paintings they buy personalized by the artist. “The artist signs the back, notes the date and the buyer’s name. It adds to the value of the painting and provides a historical reference for the future,” Fitzgerald said.

The exhibit gathers together under one roof an eclectic mix of artistic style and subject matter. The paintings that vary in size from 5x7 to 30x40 are either in oil or oil and acrylic and range from detailed true-to-life landscapes and soft florals to brilliantly coloured provocative subjects and scenes.

Half of the artists are West Island residents – Craig Skinner, Kal Kalinowski, Bernard Marcy, Rudolfo Romagnino and Shapour Khanizadeh. Tony Harris, Martha Markowsky, Patrice Primiano, July Shapman and Yvon St-Aubin complete the group of 10.

A chance to meet the public seems to be just as important to the artist as the buyer. “I like meeting and talking to the people who buy my work. It’s the only way I get to find what they like and don’t like,” said Skinner, a lifelong Pointe Claire resident. “Meeting the artist brings life to the art,” he added.

Skinner, who captures the flora and fauna found in the Eastern Townships in his oil paintings, will be showing at least 10 of his most recent pieces. Chase Creations is located at 450 Beaconsfield Blvd. For more information, call the gallery at 426-3700 or 1-800-375-3705 or visit its web site at www.chaseart.ca.