JANUARY 11 - FEBRUARY 8, 2025
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Earls Court Gallery is excited launch into a new year of exhibitions with the colourful exhibit “React, Respond” featuring new abstract paintings by artists Cobie Cruz and Priti Girgla.
Within the exploration of abstraction there is an intuitive component to laying down paint. An artist reacts and responds to each gesture of paint which is often informed by a thought or emotion. These gestures continue to build upon each other until the artist reaches a pivotal point in the painting. At this point the artist steps back and decides it is now the viewer’s turn to respond-with their own thoughts and feelings. Cobie Cruz’s exploration uses colour to evoke thoughts and emotions in the viewer by way of vibrancy and contrasts. Priti Girgla translates here feelings, memories and life experiences into paintings of abstract structures and forms. Throughout “React, Respond,” the viewer will engage with non-representational paintings that will evoke a journey to explore their own inner feelings.
“React, Respond” exhibition can be viewed in person at 215 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton, ON. Earls Court Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. The artworks will be featured in the main gallery. All artworks will be featured online starting January 11, 2025.
Entry is free | Family Friendly | Fully Accessible | Groups Welcomed
About
COBIE CRUZ
I begin on a blank canvas without a preconception of the final outcome. I allow things to develop according to my thoughts, feelings and moods and how these shift and change as my painting begins to unfold. I don't start with a colour order, but find the colours as I go. The whole business of spotting the small areas of color in the canvas, how the edges meet, how accidents are controlled----all these things fascinate me. The colours in my paintings are juxtaposed to support and contrast. They are chosen to evoke thoughts and emotions. I don’t fear change throughout the process. Objects are often altered, destroyed, erased and even returned as I feel my way to the best way to bring a painting to life. I call this stage in my process – “push and pull”. My challenge is to constantly push myself and test the limits of my imagination in the hope of creating impressions that are distinctly mine.
PRITI GIRGLA
As a self-taught professional artist, my work explores the intersection of abstract realism and layered, tactile expression. I use multiple mediums, often alternating between paint and collage, to build depth and complexity in each piece. My subjects are varied, from landscapes and still life to figures and florals, but they are always rendered with a sense of transformation. Through the layering process, I strive to evoke both the richness and the impermanence of the world around us, allowing each layer to reveal new perspectives while supporting a sense of mystery. Whether capturing the exquisite beauty of a flower or the quiet strength of a landscape, I strive to encourage the viewer to engage with my painting at a deeper emotional level Each piece is a journey for me exploring my relationship with my subject, it is an invitation to pause, reflect and connect with the world in new ways.