Kujundzic brings freedom to art
From flying women to free-standing trees, Claire Kujundzic is very much about freedom of expression – or is it, expressing freedom in art?
The artist from Wells, B.C. will show her paintings in a new one-person exhibit at Groop Gallery which opens Friday. Called Free Standing, the exhibit’s on display during the month of November.
Kujundzic’s unique works include a selection of canvas trees and paintings from the artist’s recent forest-based series and other pieces done a few years ago.
“Trees will be a component in the show,” Kujundzic told the Free Press. “They are going to be free hung, tapestry-style, as opposed to being stretched on canvas so they are more free standing, like in nature. There is a natural feel about it.”
Kujundzic is particularly excited about seeing how her art work will look in the Groop Gallery space.
“Whenever I do an exhibition, I take the work with me, I look at the wall and then I decide what pieces to use. For this exhibit I will have six to eight trees in front and the same number of paintings, so it may be 15 pieces in total. “It is really interesting – and it gets more complicated with this installation, because the look of the exhibit changes with each gallery.”
Artist Melanie Desjardines, owner of Groop Gallery, is an ardent admirer of Kujundzic’s work.
“I’ve been following Claire’s work for a few years now and I really enjoy the organic nature of her current series. It’s wonderful to the opportunity to showcase her work in my gallery. She has a long and interesting history as an arts.”
From her home in Wells on Sunday, Kujundzic can see the snow falling on (not Cedars) but .... Pines. It is nature at its best, she says.
Why the interest in trees?
“To me it’s like looking at the resiliency and freedom of nature making its way into my art – I’m trying to make it come alive. That’s what’s happening now with the (beetle kill) Pine forests because now they are starting to regenerate and grow again – and that is freedom.”
The artist has just returned from Scotland and is looking forward to the upcoming exhibition. Her journey into the world of art began a few decades ago.
“I first started exhibiting in 1973 and I’ve been a full-time professional artist for over 30 years. My husband Bill is also an accomplished artist, he does (renowned outdoor photographer) Chris Harris’ book designs and he does his own work and commission work,” said Kujundzic. “Only about five per cent of artists in Canada have this as their full-time profession, so I guess that Bill and I are a bit of an anomoly in that respect.”
The couple has an art studio, Amazing Space, in Wells and both enjoy “talking shop” and sharing framing duties.
Opening night reception for Wells’ artist Claire Kujundzic’s exhibit Free Standing is on Friday, Nov. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Groop Gallery. Artist’s talk begins at 7:30 p.m. Groop Gallery is located at 1127 Third Ave. The show runs until Nov. 28.
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