HERS

Canadians have an identity, one to be proud of. Within the last fifty years, women artists in particular, have made great strides in defining our country and what it stands for. In their honor we have decided to create 32 large-scale portraits of contemporary innovative Canadian women in the arts. Our goal is to depict each of these women expressing their passion in their respective art forms.

Because the sitters in” Hers” are all women and all artists, the series also explores the meaning of the phrase “Official Portrait” and the question of who deserves one. It also evaluates the symbiotic relationship between old and new in the art of contemporary portraiture. In this way, each painting not only reflects the complex and subtle nature of the individual artist as a human being, but also explores portrait painting itself as practiced in a post-modern environment.

In this series, we are also keen to demonstrate that the word "artist" should be also applied to certain occupations that do not fit, in the strict sense, the narrower definition of “artist” which is typically used in the world of fine arts. Each of the following women, whether it be in the formal world which we normally associate with the description “artist”, or whether it be in the worlds of athletics, beauty, motion film production, or culinary skills, is an artist in the truest sense, having elevated their skills to the highest level of accomplishment in their chosen fields. Through our "Hers" project we want to demonstrate that each of these nationally-known individuals is an artist in their own right.

“Hers” will be displayed across Canada. After a significant number of Canadians have seen the exhibit, the paintings will return to Edmonton. Here they will be sold through an auction. Proceeds from the sale are to be donated to a charitable organization chosen by the participating artists.

Izabella Orzelski- Konikowski

Bogdan Koral- Konikowski


Amanda Forsyth 48 x36”, oil on canvas, 2008	Angela Cheng 40 x30”, oil on canvas, 2008	Erica Ehm 30” x 40” & 30” x 6”, oil on canvas, 2008

Isobel Rolston 48 x36”, oil on canvas, 2008	Carol Ann Cole 30 x 40”, oil on canvas, 2008	Elyse Hopfner 40 x 30”, oil on canvas, 2008

Jamie Sale 40 x 30”, oil on canvas, 2008	Susan Gilmour 36 x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008	Mary Pratt

Joy Coghill 36” x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008	Julie Nesrallah 48 x 36”, oil on canvas, 2008	Heather Wenman 36” x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008

Lorna Crozier 40”x 30”, oil on canvas, 2008	Shauna Rolston 48 x 36”, oil on canvas, 2008	Maureen Forrester 48 x 36”, oil on canvas, 2008

Myrna Kostash 30” x 40”, oil on canvas, 2008	Natalie MacMaster assemblage	Natalie MacMaster 40” x28” & 15” x15”, oil on canvas, 2008
Susan Benson 40 x 35”, oil on canvas, 2008	Sylvie Frechette 36 x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008
		Tania Miller
		installation	48 x 36”, oil on canvas, 2008


		Mary Pratt
		installation	36” x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008


Anne Wheeler		Tracy Dahl		Astrid Janson
installation	48 x36”, oil on canvas, 2008	installation	40”x 30”, oil on canvas, 2008	installation	30” x 40”, oil on canvas, 2008

Heather Ogden		Janina Fialkowska		Salome Bey
installation	48 x36”, oil on canvas, 2008	installation	36” x 48”, oil on canvas, 2008	installation	30” x 40”, oil on canvas, 2008