Responding to the Need for Exhibition Space

** AOE Arts Council offers a new gallery season of opportunities ** (Ottawa, Ontario) Ten local artists will share their work with the public as part of AOE Arts Council’s 2015-16 gallery season.  Since its arrival at the Shenkman Arts Centre in 2009, the Arts Council continues to offer its suite as a unique exhibiting space for artists. The new season of works demonstrate a range of art practice and mediums representative of AOE Arts Council’s visual arts membership.

Ever responsive to the needs of Ottawa artists, AOE Arts Council is constantly hearing that there are just not enough exhibiting spaces for artists.

“We heard this very clear once again in our recent survey and consultations with the arts community as part of AOE Arts Council’s strategic planning process,” says Victoria Steele, Executive Director of the Arts Council. “Established and emerging artists have to work hard at getting exhibition opportunities and that is why the AOE Gallery and our annual fall Selections exhibit in the Trinity Art Gallery are so crucial.”

The exhibits and afternoons to meet the artists are presented by longstanding community partner Caisse populaire Trillium Desjardins, who is a proud supporter of the arts in Ottawa.

“Arts and culture contribute to the emergence of new talent and stimulate creativity. We strongly believe that our implications in cultural events contribute to the vitality of our community,” says Lise Malette, Associative Affairs Agent, Caisse populaire Trillium Desjardins.

The AOE Gallery is recognized as one of the Shenkman Arts Centre seven exhibition spaces and is run like a professional gallery with a jury of professional artists and gallery curators to review and select the submissions. Works are arranged carefully with the show’s theme by a professional artist and promoted with high quality materials and online campaigns.

“We take great care to preserve the flow and visual storytelling within each show,” says AOE Arts Council’s Program Manager, Cassandra Olsthoorn. “We want visitors to experience the works as the artist has intended.”

Each exhibit features an opportunity to meet the artist(s) with a vernissage, held on select Sundays as part of the Shenkman Arts Centre’s visual arts showcase called the Beau’s Art series.

The AOE Gallery is a favourable venue for artists because it offers flexible space with plenty of natural light, good sight lines and hanging spaces that can accommodate 2-D and 3-D works of large to small scale. ** AOE Gallery for 2015-16 Season is presented by Desjardins ** See images of the show and interviews with the artist during the 2015-16 AOE Gallery season _ Mélanie Tessier, visual artist _ FeatHER March 19 - April 22, 2015, Meet the artist: Sunday, March 22, 1-3 pm _ Lois Siegel, photographer _ The Arts April 23 - May 25, 2015 Meet the artist: Sunday, May 24, 1-3 pm _ Ralph Nevins, photographer _ Urban Flow June 4 - July 14, 2015 Meet the artist: Sunday, June 28, 1-3 pm _ Maria Saracino, Sculptor _ Canadiana July 16 - August 17, 2015 Meet the artist: Sunday, July 26, 1-3 pm _ Joanne Dero & Rashmi Rekha _ August 20 - October 13. 2015 Meet the artists: Sunday, Aug 23 and Sept 29, 1-3 pm _ Barb Andersson, photographer _ Isolated Haunts _ _ _ Alisdair MacRae, visual artist _ El Sol October 22 - December 17, 2015 |

Meet the artists: Sunday,

Oct 25

and Nov 29

, 1-3 pm

_ 3 Blind Brats: visual artists _ _ Oren Frankl, Corinne Morgan, Jacquie Pinard _ Sound and Silence January 6 - February 9, 2016 Meet the artists: Sunday, Jan 10, 1-3 pm _ Heather Dubreuil, fiber artist _ Cityscapes: Collages in Cloth and Stitch February 11 - March 13, 2016 Meet the artist: Sunday, Feb 21, 1-3 pm ** About the AOE Gallery ** Maintained by AOE Arts Council, this unique exhibition space provides local artists with opportunities to share and sell their work. The AOE Gallery features a variety of visual art by individual and group members. Members of the public are invited to see a variety of visual art exhibits during the year, from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. on select Sundays to meet the artists. The gallery is located inside the Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd., where parking and admission are free. ** About AOE Arts Council ** AOE Arts Council has been serving the arts community since 1987. As a bilingual not-for-profit charitable organization, the Arts Council represents a membership of artists, arts organizations and supporters in all arts disciplines. The Arts Council creates opportunities for artists to share and sell their work, provides resources and services to its membership, organizes professional development activities and is a leader and arts collaborator on city-wide arts initiatives. ** About Beau’s Art ** Beau’s Art is an invitation to satisfy your curiosity and enjoy casual conversations with featured artists. This ongoing series takes place on select Sunday afternoons, when up to seven galleries simultaneously introduce new exhibits. In this informal setting you can relax, enjoy a sampling of Beau’s beer and find out what motivated the artist, how they created their work and discover their unique vision. Participating exhibition spaces may include: Ottawa School of Art Orléans Campus Gallery, AOE Gallery, Gloucester Pottery School – Dust Evans Gallery, LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space, ARTeast Promenade, and Trinity Art Gallery. Admission, light refreshments and parking are free. All ages welcome. ** For more information: ** _ Cassandra Olsthoorn, Program Manager _ AOE Arts Council 613.580.2767, cassandra@artsoe.ca ** For media inquiries: ** _ Cristiane Doherty, Director of Communications _ AOE Arts Council 613.580.2767, cristiane@artsoe.ca