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Lainey Ponsford

Decomposition 1, 24 in x 24 inches

Lainey grew up on the edge of the Peak District in Britain. Surrounded by rolling hills and moors, she began at an early age to appreciate the connections between creativity, spirituality, and nature.

When she moved to Canada she continued to develop her creative abilities and graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BA in fine arts. During this time she received several awards for her artistic achievements. Her work has been exhibited in England, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Ottawa. She recently moved to Westboro, Ottawa where she works from a studio in her home.

Lainey draws upon her keen observations of the natural world to create her art. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast who hikes, canoes and skis often developing ideas for her paintings when she is immersed in nature. Her art is a visual representation of her thoughts and feelings about nature, spirituality and ecology.

Artist Statement

My work is based on my thoughts and observations about spirituality, the natural world and perceptions of reality. Colours, patterns, textures and abstract shapes within nature are a source of inspiration and become symbols for deeper spiritual expression. For example, I use water as a symbol for the flow of spiritual life. Leaves flowing with the water are a symbol for regeneration and renewal. My recent works, in oil on canvas, have focused on segments of the natural world where the interplay of light and shadow transform matter into abstraction. As light illuminates a rock face, the stone dissolves appearing permeable and fluid. Forms that seem solid and separate are all interconnected on a deeper level.

At the quantum level there is no solidity and the entire natural world is a vibrating field of energy in a state of perpetual flux. The natural world is in a constant state of becoming, transforming, disintegrating and being reborn. My art is an examination of the inner nature of things and an exploration of our perceptions of reality and truth. The images are a visual metaphor for my view of spirituality in which animate and inanimate matter are inseparably interwoven.

Dematerialization #3, 24 in x 24 inches

Education
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts- Studio Specialisation), University of Waterloo, Ontario.

Exhibitions

2008 January- ‘Here I Am’ Foyer Gallery group show-Ottawa

2007 December-‘The Christmas Show’, Artspace, First Unitarian, Ottawa

November- Ottawa Winter Art Sale, Nepean Sportplex

November/ December- ‘ Banking on Art,’ OWCU gallery, group show-Ottawa

November- ‘Beautiful Thing’ Foyer Gallery group show- Ottawa

October- Solo Show, Dovercourt Gallery - Ottawa

October- ‘Whodunnit’(included in Artbus Tour 2007) Foyer Gallery group show-Ottawa

September- ‘Art of Giving’ The Capital Home Show, Lansdowne Park- Ottawa

September- ‘Arts in Camera’- Festival X- Ottawa Photography Festival

July- ‘Dreamscape’ Foyer Gallery group show-Ottawa

July-September- The Summer Show, Artspace, First Unitarian, Ottawa

June- ‘Splash’ Foyer Gallery group show -Ottawa

April- ‘Art of Giving’ The Cottage Show, Lansdowne Park -Ottawa

March- ‘Wotizzit’ Foyer Gallery group show- Ottawa

February- Accepted by jury into the Foyer Gallery, Ottawa

February- Dovercourt Centre, solo show Ottawa

January- ‘Bread of Heaven,’ Westboro, Ottawa solo show

2005- ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ two person, juried, show at Temple Studios Gallery, Guelph.

2004/2005- A.S.A.P ‘Available Space’ Art Project Exhibit, juried, Kitchener.

2003- Works showing @ Eldon Gallery, Waterloo.

Private Commissions/ Exhibits in Studio at Globe Studios, Kitchener.

2002- Mixed Media Assemblage Exhibition, University of Waterloo Gallery.

‘Shadow Boxes’ Exhibition, University of Waterloo Gallery.

2001- Miniature Art Show, University of Waterloo Gallery.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ clay sculptures-
Group Exhibition at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo Ontario.

2000- Miniature Art Show, University of Waterloo Gallery.

1997- ‘Art at Marlowe’ Exhibit in Old Beechwood, Waterloo.

1995- ‘Women and Art’ Show, Gallery 127, juried, Kitchener.

1994- ‘Women and Art’ Show, Gallery 127, juried, Kitchener.

Awards

2002- University of Waterloo, Fine Arts Award for Excellence in Sculpture

2001- University of Waterloo, Fine Arts/ Lynn Holmes Memorial Award for artistic merit,
scholarship and leadership

2000- ‘Waterloo in Bloom’ Design Award

University of Waterloo, MacDonald’s Fine Arts Scholarship Award

1999-2002 Dean’s Honour List

Lainey Ponsford, 465, Golden Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 2E4
613-761-1927

e-mail: LaineyPonsford@yahoo.com