Sometimes I Wish I Were A Fish, the upcoming show at The Art Exchange, features work by Candy McManiman and Annette Martin. The underlying belief of Candy's work is exemplified by a quote from Margaret Atwood,"...a world without birds, would mean eventually, a world without human beings as well."  For Annette the primary influence is her love of Native Canadian art.
 
Candy is a Signature Member of the Artists for Conservation, but she is not just an artist who paints wildlife.   Candy uses her interest in this area to develop a diverse perspective in her approach to art. Her works in the show  focus on paintings of birds and fish in sacred places,  reinforcing the impact we humans have on other living species.  Religious symbols are incorporated into the works and give them iconic stature.  The paintings are not of doom and gloom, however.  Instead they offer a tongue in cheek approach to her theme.
 
The subject matter of Annette Martin's work includes imaginary landscapes with stylized fish. Why fish?   " Fish are always trying to reach the surface, to break through, to go beyond the comfort and security of the calmness of the water."  Repetition of the fish symbol has become a recognizable element of her work.  Like the fish, Annette wants  to push  boundaries in art,  in particular the boundary of colour and the appropriateness of where it does and doesn't belong.  She wants colour to "overwhelm" the viewer.
 
Annette has always been passionate about creating art.  Her style is influenced by her love of Native Canadian Art, especially Norval Morrisseau and the Woodland School.  She combines the media of acrylics, ink and occasional collage elements.  Annette graduated from Fanshawe's Fine Art Program and  then earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Windsor.  Currently Annette is teaching at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer, the same school from where Candy  recently retired.
 
Candy, like many artists, always knew she wanted to be an artist but didn't know how to reach that end.  As a young student in Meaford she spent her time drawing, painting and inventing.  For job security she obtained her teaching certificate and then studied Design Arts in the Honours program at Georgian College.  After graduation she worked as an interior desinger in Toronto for nearly 4 years.  Ready for a change and a challenge she went to Moosonee (Moose Factory) where she taught for seven years.  While there she had time to focus on her art and complete her degree at Laurentian.
 
As a child she had no difficulty deciding what to draw, but as an adult choosing a subject was elusive.  In James Bay she found time to explore the natural world surrounding her and became enthralled with the birds that she observed.  Today Candy laughs at her first attempts to draw a Snow Goose.  She did not know a secondary feather from a primary one or that birds may have ten primary feathers rather than nine.  She embarked on a huge learning curve about birds and all their nuances.  This led to very detailed, realistic paintings of birds that she did in watercolour. 
 
Over the years she has used a variety of media for her work and now chooses the medium that best suits her current focus.  For her work she contstantly draws on her various abilities in photography, interior design and rendering skills and her various interests in birdwatching,  Native art, religions and women's studies. Continuing to learn and to incorporate her new knowledge in her work keeps her moving forward and her work fresh.  In her words,  "Growth is essential."
 
For additional information please contact Al Stewart, Proprietor of The Art Exchange by telephone (519) 434-0000, fax 434-8226, or e-mail theartexchange@rogers.com. Visit The Art Exchange on line at http://www.theartexchange.ca.