October 6 - November 20, 2022

October 6 – November 20, 2022  |  Artist reception on Saturday October 15 from 1-4PM

“A Moment in Time” by emerging mixed media artist Maureen Ault captures the idea that all of us experience moments in our lives that leave lasting impressions upon us. Whether that be a particular location or experience in nature, we carry those memories within us because we relate to them and want to revisit them time and again. When Maureen began focusing on the subject matter to be included in this exhibit, she thought of those experiences and places people could relate to, but in the end, she realized that it was a personal journey to those places, experiences, and feelings that have touched her life.

Maureen Ault uses hundreds, and sometimes thousands of tiny pieces of leaves, petals and other materials to create one culminating image.  The Elora Centre for the Arts is thrilled to host her new exhibition, entitled ‘A Moment in Time’ which captures the experiences and moments in life that leave a lasting impression.  The artist focuses on personal experiences and places in nature that have touched her life.

Maureen’s own artistic journey was rekindled during the latter stages of her hospitalization following a motor vehicle accident in 2012 that resulted in an Acquired Brain Injury.  Working with traditional pressed flower art became a critical part of her rehabilitation and transformed her as an artist.

The works featured in the exhibition harken Maureen’s best memories from visiting some of Ontario’s most majestic places like hiking the quartzite mountains of Killarney, camping in the Bay of Fundy National Park, her first visit to the covered bridge in West Montrose, and lazy Sunday drives in rural Ontario.  “My hope is that you will not only enjoy the pieces in this exhibition but reflect on the moments in time that have touched your own lives as well” says the artist.

With so many tiny elements and pieces and intense focus required for this type of work, patience is essential.  “Many times, I have reminded myself to wait patiently to see where the layering of botanical material takes me” shares Ault.  “The challenge for me as an artist is how to create my vision for each piece using a limited palette that restricts the development of shadows and highlights” she says.  Maureen spends hours at florists, greenhouses, friends’ gardens and commercial flower pressing companies to source the best materials to work with for each piece.

The exhibition will run in the main gallery from October 6 – November 20^th.  Everyone is invited to attend an artist meet-and-greet on Saturday October 15 from 1-4PM.  Admission to the gallery is free, refreshments will be served.  The Brain Injury Association of KW is arranging transportation to and from the Opening Reception for its members, for details please visit http://www.biaww.org/a-moment-in-time.html

Maureen Ault lives and works in Guelph Ontario.  Her artwork is influenced by the folk art of Maud Lewis as well as the abstract and stylized form of the Group of Seven.  She has exhibited at various galleries in the past, however this exhibition celebrates a grant she received from the Ontario Arts Council, which enabled her to elevate her work to exhibit at this level.  The artist would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council: Deaf and Disability Arts Projects Production grant for making this journey in her artistic process possible.  

This exhibition has been curated by Annette Hansen, thanks to support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Community Building Fund.  This funding has been instrumental in supporting the Art Centre’s emergence from the pandemic, deepen the curation of exhibitions, and supporting virtual outreach programs for students with (dis)Abilities.

Artist Statement

My current body of work focuses on landscape and wildlife art. Each piece of botanical material (i.e., petals, leaves, grasses, ferns, bark) is layered onto archival paper using a tiny drop of glue. My finished pieces reflect themes of movement, detail, and texture created by layering hundreds and often thousands of petals, leaves, etc. The challenge for me as an artist is how to create my vision for each piece using a limited palette that restricts the development of shadows and highlights. The brilliance of nature may not be transferred to the final pressed petal or leaf, as colour changes and a reduction in the colour intensity occurs with pressing. For example, many of us have experienced the stunning beauty of fall colours and yet when pressed, the leaves often diminish in colour intensity. To recreate nature as we see it, I use a variety of pressed botanical materials in my artwork. I spend hours in florists, greenhouses, and my friends’ gardens looking for the right material for each piece, as well as working directly with two commercial pressed flower companies in Oregon. Everyone has become used to my lingering over plants, cut flowers, and trees in my selection of just the right material for each piece. When I begin working with the petals, leaves, ferns, grasses, and bark, I pay close attention to their properties, such as, veining, and colour, when applying them. Working with leaves, for example requires that I pay close attention to the veining and directionality of their veining.

When I began this artistic work, I was dedicated to using only natural pressed materials without colour enhancements or dyes. As my work progressed, I began using commercially enhanced or dyed petals, particularly when doing a sky or bodies of water. After much reflection and the need to have greater control over the colour itself, I began stem dying hydrangea petals for the sky and applying acrylic paint directly to petals or leaves when I was faced with no other alternatives. Descriptions for each piece include the materials used as well as, the presence of any colour enhancement. I may also use layers of archival paper under the pressed botanical materials to create dimension where appropriate. However, my focus remains on the natural material itself.

I believe its also important to comment on the use of pressed botanicals and this medium. Pressing is a natural preservative which is further enhanced by my use of archival papers and glues in addition to framing under museum quality glass. However, some botanical materials remain susceptible to UV despite these measures. I recommend that you hang your new artwork out of direct sunlight and away from moisture, chemicals, and sources of heat as you would with any piece of fine art.

About the Artist

Maureen Ault is a Guelph, Ontario based mixed-media artist. She was formally introduced to various art forms as a teenager and began working with sculptures, abstract design, architectural art forms and Mondrian style abstract art. Her passion for art was rekindled during the latter stages of her treatment and hospitalization following a motor vehicle accident in 2012 that resulted in an Acquired Brain Injury.  Working with traditional pressed flower art became a critical part of her occupational therapy. From this came an exploration of how to use pressed botanical materials to create works of art. This artwork became an important part of her ongoing rehabilitation and reconnected her to her passion for art as an artist.

She created her first collection in 2018, focusing on images of everyday life, ballet dancers, wildlife and dogs. Her artwork is influenced by the folk art of Maud Lewis as well as the abstract and stylized form of the Group of Seven. She has exhibited in the 10C Gallery in Guelph, Artisan Market with Headwaters Arts in Alton Mills, Dragonfly Arts on Broadway, Kloepfer Gallery, various online art exhibits in Toronto and Guelph, as well as the Artwalk in the Square 2020. Maureen also runs Pressed Flower Art Workshops for others living with Acquired Brain Injuries. In March 2020, she was awarded a grant from the Ontario Arts Council: Deaf and Disability Arts Projects-Production.

Find Maureen on Instagram or Facebook.