blizzmax art

Nicolai Sarafov- Sisyphos Prints

blizzmax — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:21:19 +0000

These FRAMED etching are available in Canada exclusively through BLIZZMAX Gallery

Prices range from $300 (small,one colour) $400 (large, one colour) $450 (large, coloured)

If you are interested, contact us for an appointment.
Click to view slideshow.

MORE PRINT FEVER – Carl Wiens and Friends

blizzmax — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:26:14 +0000

Opening Saturday September 10 @ 7pm

Sept.10 to Oct. 10, 2011

just what it sounds like – more prints !

works by Carl Wiens

and other local printers including Crissy Potras and Kyle Topping from Sparkbox Studio,

Niall Eccles, Buffy Carruthers and

mr. Blizzmax, Peter Mennacher

Join us to celebrate our final show of 2011 !

last weekend to see Nicolai Sarafovs’ Sisyphos prints

blizzmax — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:20:50 +0000

Niki has returned to Munich after 2 weeks of action here at the Blizzmax Gallery and Sparkbox Studio. The artists who attended the workshop came away inspired, and with tips and tricks to develope their work. Some will show work at the upcoming Blizzmax show – MORE PRINT FEVER (opening Sept.10 @ 7pm). Peter and I spent 4 days last week rejuvenating at a rustic camp on the Ottawa River and are now back at the Gallery. Nicolais’ work will be on display over the Labour day weekend and we invite you to visit. The works are reasonably priced at $300,400 and 450(coloured) – framed. We’ll be keeping the unsold pieces here for the rest of the year, so you can view them after the show closes by calling for an appointment.

Meanwhile we make preparations for our last show of the season, MORE PRINT FEVER – Carl Wiens and Friends. Those friends being fellow ‘print’ enthusiasts Crissy Poitras, Kyle Topping, Niall Eccles, Buffy Carruthers and Peter Mennacher. The show opens Saturday Sept.10 @ 7pm and will continue until Oct.10.

Opening – Nicolai Sarafov – Sat. August 13 @ 7pm

blizzmax — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:37:42 +0000

Blizzmax will be showing 20 prints from Nicolai Sarafov’s SISYPHOS series.

As he explained last Sunday, the Sisyphos series is about what Nicolai imagines Sisyphos thinks about as he descends the slope to retrieve his rock , which he must again push towards the summit.

The possibilities are endless ! Please joins us for the opening to celebrate this event. The show will continue to September 4th.

Professor PRINT ante portas – internationally acclaimed Print artist Nicolai Sarafov visits BLIZZMAX

blizzmax — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:09:27 +0000

Since the beginning of this year,Peter and Alice Mennacher, owners of BLIZZMAX gallery, have marked August 4th with a big red circle. On that day, Peter will be picking up his good friend, etching teacher and mentor, artist Nicolai Sarafov, arriving from Munich / Germany at Pearson airport. Nicolai was born in Sofia / Bulgaria in 1944, went to art school in Sofia for 5 years and after coming to Munich / Germany in 1970 he attended the Kunstakademie ( Art department of the Munich University ) from 1970 to 1976 where he got his diploma in 1976. In the following years he was freelancing, spending 1979 in the US. In 1981 he became Professor for drawing and illustration at the Fachhochschule in Wuerzburg Germany, where he taught for over 30 years.

It took many years to make this visit come true and was made possible this year as Nicolai retired from his teaching job in 2010. He will stay two weeks in the county. On AUGUST 7 @ 2pm, in collaboration with SPARKBOX Studio, he will give a talk about his work at BLIZZMAX Gallery in South Bay. He will also be giving an etching workshop at SPARKBOX during the week following. On AUGUST 13 @ 7 pm the opening of Professor PRINT, a solo show of Nicolai Sarafov takes place at BLIZZMAX Gallery. Nicolai will show about 20 of his magnificent etchings which he’s bringing with him from Germany.

Nicolai is an outstanding master of the most difficult printing technique – etching and aquatint. Etching and aquatint are intaglio techniques. A plate, usually of copper is used and the lines or areas that create the image are bitten into the plate with an etching needle and by acid. Once the plate has been fully prepared and inked, it is pulled through the press under great pressure , forcing dampened paper into the grooves to pick up the ink and thus the image. Nicolai is not only a master of the technique, he is also an astonishing virtuoso in drawing; if the lines flow too easily he just switches to his left hand. Nicolai’s creativity and phantasy are unlimited and his work contains a heavy dose of humor ( can be dark too )

Nicolai looks back at a long career with hundreds of shows in Europe and the US. He has published quite a few books, as well as the insider art magazine FRAGMENTE, in Munich / Germany.For more than 20 years Nicolai has created a calendar called “ Bilder zur Zeit “ ( images of the times ) and last but definitely not least, he is the creator of a philosophy sui generis called “ Bagonalism “. See: bago.net

Come and see for yourself. Attend the lecture at 2pm on August 7th,and do not miss the opportunity to see his unique work at BLIZZMAX on August 13. The show will run from August 13th to August 27th.

Nicolai Sarafov is indeed one of the finest etchers in the world.

BLIZZMAX Gallery is at 3071 County Rd. 13, in South Bay. For further info you call us at 613 476 7748 and look on our Blog – blizzmax.wordpress.com or on facebook

SPARKBOX Studio info can be found by calling 613 476 0337 or at sparkboxstudio.com or on facebook

Slideshow oaxacan woodcut prints

blizzmax — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:26:41 +0000

We’re closed July 14 through 17, July 18 back again on our regular schedule Thurs-Sun.10am-5pm OR by CHANCE or APPOINTMENT 613 476 7748

Come visit us to see this fabulous work from 3 different collective print studios in Oaxaca, Mexico !

Click to view slideshow.

Oaxacan wood cut prints

blizzmax — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:49:02 +0000

Our VIVA MEXICO show opens tomorrow night July 9 @7pm and will be up until and including the August long weekend. Here’s another preview of what you’re going to see.

Zapata

JULY 9 – Aug.4 VIVA MEXICO art from Oaxaca

blizzmax — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:40:00 +0000

Peter and I spent a month in Oaxaca city, Mexico, this winter and discovered a vibrant community of local ‘print’ artists. We visited a number of print studios and were excited by the power, creativity and talent of the artists we met. Besides stencil art, which can be seen all over the city, the most common print technique used is the wood cut, as a plywood panel is fairly cheap and accessible. The carving itself can be pretty tricky as the wood grain runs in other direction as you bite into a new level. Social issues are the main topic of these works, often reflecting a dark reality and frequently exploring the conflict between life and death, expressed in a beautifully ornate, baroque and expressive manner.

The prints we are presenting are from 3 different art collectives – ASARO (Asemblea de Artistas Revolucionarios de Oaxaca) , URTARTE (Union de Trabajadores del Arte) and Taller Rufino Tamayo TRT. The first two are artists collectives who often show at Espacio Zapata (a gallery, print workshop and small cafe – espaciozapata.blogspot.com). TRT is a teaching studio (art school),filling up every evening with students and displaying works by teachers and students in the central courtyard. Each print will be framed in Peters’ handcrafted frames.

The show opens July 9 @ 7pm, but the Gallery will be open on that Saturday afternoon as well, and on through to Aug.4 with the usual Gallery hours OR by chance OR by appointment.

peter mennacher @ 2011 Blizzmax Season Opener

blizzmax — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:33:33 +0000

Etchings and aquatint

Click to view slideshow.

2011 Summer EVENTS

blizzmax — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:49:14 +0000

MARK your CALeNDaR!!!!

June 11-July 3, SEASON OPENER with Buffy Carruthers, Mile’ Murtanovski and Peter Mennacher – on now, come by and have a look.

July 9-Aug.4, VIVA MEXICO – wood cut prints from 3 studios in Oaxaca – URARTE, ASARO and TRT – powerful, socially relevant and compelling works.

Aug.13-Sept.4, PROFESSOR PRINT – Nicolai Sarafov, internationally reknowned etching artist from Germany. Niki will also be giving a week long etching workshop at Spark Box Studio

Sept.10-Oct.10, MORE PRINT FEVER – new work by Carl Wiens will be featured , with backup from some local print artists like Peter Mennacher and other surprises.

All shows OPEN on the SATURDAY night @7pm

The Blizzmax Gallery is open Thursday thru Sunday 10am-5pm OR by chance or appointment- 613 476 7748- blizzmax@kos.net