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Wednesday, March 27, 2024
‘Home’ and COVID focus of new Pumphouse exhibit

A new month-long show opens Oct. 1 at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre featuring the artwork of Sue Archibald.

In her exhibition “Home – Protector or Predator,” the artist tells stories of what a safe home means through the imagery of domestic dwellings. The scenes depicted in the works stemmed from the artist’s personal experiences and imagination.

Archibald said she was in the midst of creating a body of work focused on “Home” when COVID-19 hit.

When the stay-at-home mandate was enforced last year, the isolation from the outside world heightened the meaning of her paintings.

For Archibald, images of dwellings represented comfort zones and safe spaces. The series morphed into a pandemic theme, as the two became intertwined.

While several paintings in the exhibit are playful, folksy and whimsical, others show long-term care homes as places of death. 

“Most of my inspiration comes from something I might have seen, read or heard on the radio. This is what sparks my imagination,” said Archibald.

 “My work is narrative, colourful and appeals to people on multiple levels.  Regardless of what is painted, my style remains consistent,” she added.

Archibald is an award-winning artist from Mississauga, whose work can be found in private collections across North America, Ireland and the U.K.

Sixteen of her paintings will be on display in the Pumphouse's Joyner Gallery until Oct. 30. The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 pm.

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