Art
Sault Ste-Marie animator hopes to grow her new Sault-based art academy
An animator from Sault Ste-Marie, Ont., who worked on TV cartoon shows such as Ewoks, Care Bears and My Pet Monster, is now teaching her craft at her own art school
Maureen Shelleau opened Algoma Art Academy in September.
She hopes to expand the school to take in more students and offer mobile courses in remote communities, she said.
“I have experience in working with the First Nations communities,” Shelleau said.
“I’m First Nation. I can teach people in remote areas that don’t necessarily have access to, you know, a school or a facility or classes if I bring my school to them.”
Parents encouraged her passion
Shelleau spent her childhood drawing “anything and everything and everyone I could,” she said.
Her parents bought her art supplies to encourage her passion and insisted she go to art school after graduating from high school instead of pursuing her interest in veterinary medicine.
She studied visual arts at Sault College in the late 1970s and early 1980s and went on to study classical animation at Sheridan College in Toronto, she said.
While there, she began working for Nelvana, the Canadian animation giant now owned by Corus Entertainment.
Shelleau admits she was skeptical when the industry first started to shift to computer animation.
“I thought it was going to destroy 2D animation, and I wanted to … learn about the enemy,” she said.
“So I went to see Toy Story. I had to go back to see it again because I laughed so hard the first time that I couldn’t even watch… And when I went back and I studied it, I said, ‘I need to learn how to do that,’ so I went back to Sheridan.
Shelleau also began teaching animation in summer school at Sheridan.
She returned to Sault Ste-Marie in 2012 to care for her mother, leaving behind both the teaching job and her career at Nelvana.
Launching her own venture
Upon her return, Sault College hired her to teach animation, game art, 3D modelling, character design and concept painting.
But that program came to an end last year, leaving Shelleau jobless once again.
“And then I’m like, ‘Whoa! Now what?'” she said.
“I couldn’t find something similar in the area, and I had decided to stay in the north again. So I thought, ‘You know what? I know how to do this. I know art, I know animation, and I know teaching. I can do this.'”
Algoma Art Academy offers classes for both children and adults in painting, drawing, sketching and sculpture. It also offers animation workshops.
“The kids went crazy,” she said of the workshops.
“We were only doing basic animation techniques, but the kids came back to the next workshop because they loved it so much. And now the parents are saying, ‘Hey, you’re going to have another animation workshop this summer? And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah.'”
Asked if there is a future for human animators in the age of AI, Shelleau said she believes so.
“AI is a tool, just like tools advance for all kinds of art,” she said.
“You look at cinema. Like, colour photography didn’t take anything away from black and white, you know? … It is the animator, the storyteller, the artist who puts thoughts and feelings and emotion into the expressions of the character and engages with the audience. AI doesn’t have that capability at this.”
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
Statistics Canada reports wholesale sales higher in July
Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa sustains third concussion of his career after hitting head on turf
David Beckham among soccer dignitaries attending ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
-
News14 hours agoB.C. to scrap consumer carbon tax if federal government drops legal requirement: Eby
-
Sports15 hours ago
Lawyer says Chinese doping case handled ‘reasonably’ but calls WADA’s lack of action “curious”
-
News14 hours ago
A linebacker at West Virginia State is fatally shot on the eve of a game against his old school
-
Sports9 hours ago
Canada’s Marina Stakusic advances to quarterfinals at Guadalajara Open
-
News14 hours ago
Hall of Famer Joe Schmidt, who helped Detroit Lions win 2 NFL titles, dies at 92
-
News15 hours ago
RCMP say 3 dead, suspects at large in targeted attack at home in Lloydminster, Sask.
-
News15 hours ago
Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime lift Canada over Finland 3-0 in Davis Cup tie
-
News15 hours ago
Ottawa loses bid to quash Israel advocates’ lawsuit calling for halt to UNRWA funding
