Frances Patella
Born in Italy, I now live and work in Toronto. I studied at Western University with painter Paterson Ewen, in Florence, Italy though the University of Windsor, and received my BFA at York University, studying with painter Claude Breeze, photographer Jack Dale, and artist Vera Frenkel. I apprenticed with multimedia artists Noel Harding and Joyce Wieland. I received my B.ED at the University of Toronto, Ontario Studies In Education.My work has been shown extensively throughout southern Ontario. I am a board member of Propeller Gallery, former member of the board of TOAF. I have taught visual arts and photography through the TDSB, the OAC, Photo Educators Forum, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. I am very active in the Toronto arts scene where I have coordinated numerous exhibitions and events.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I have photographed the Oak Savannahs depicting one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems, transformed during prescribed burns. “It is the visual change in the state of things which will reveal their essential reality”. Taking artist / philosopher Roy Ascott’s quote as inspiration, I introduce a temporal aspect to the representation of the landscape. My work is made up of photographs taken at different intervals of time, from a second to a decade later. By photographing different points of view over a period of time, a more complete representation of a specific environment emerges. Smoke and destruction are a natural part of this environment. The images of burning forests remind us of the transitory condition of our natural world, where there is a fundamental need to destroy aspects of the present, in order to make room for renewed growth and rejuvenation. The fire electrifies the earth and air to produce smoldering and ephemeral images lasting a brief time before they dissipate.
Born in Italy, I now live and work in Toronto. I studied at Western University with painter Paterson Ewen, in Florence, Italy though the University of Windsor, and received my BFA at York University, studying with painter Claude Breeze, photographer Jack Dale, and artist Vera Frenkel. I apprenticed with multimedia artists Noel Harding and Joyce Wieland. I received my B.ED at the University of Toronto, Ontario Studies In Education.My work has been shown extensively throughout southern Ontario. I am a board member of Propeller Gallery, former member of the board of TOAF. I have taught visual arts and photography through the TDSB, the OAC, Photo Educators Forum, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. I am very active in the Toronto arts scene where I have coordinated numerous exhibitions and events.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I have photographed the Oak Savannahs depicting one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems, transformed during prescribed burns. “It is the visual change in the state of things which will reveal their essential reality”. Taking artist / philosopher Roy Ascott’s quote as inspiration, I introduce a temporal aspect to the representation of the landscape. My work is made up of photographs taken at different intervals of time, from a second to a decade later. By photographing different points of view over a period of time, a more complete representation of a specific environment emerges. Smoke and destruction are a natural part of this environment. The images of burning forests remind us of the transitory condition of our natural world, where there is a fundamental need to destroy aspects of the present, in order to make room for renewed growth and rejuvenation. The fire electrifies the earth and air to produce smoldering and ephemeral images lasting a brief time before they dissipate.
$1,250.00
Mixed media, acrylic and photography on wood panel (framed).
24x21"
