News | Margaret Walsh Best | Artist and Art Educator

Society of Canadian Artists – Elected Membership

January 13, 2017 News

Looking back on 2016, it has been a monumental year for me as an artist. One piece of news that I am excited to share is that I have been recently honoured as an Elected Member of the Society of Canadian Artists.

To become an elected member of the SCA one must be reviewed by a jury of esteemed artists, who judge the work for skill, originality, consistency, and impact among others. Elected members enjoy a number of benefits associated with being a part of this community. These include participation in exclusive exhibits, access to professional and artistic resources, invitation to society events and awards, as well as permission to punctuate your name with “SCA.” Continue reading →

Plandaí Oidhreachta, Heritage Irish Plants

January 13, 2017 Exhibition, News

For those of you who subscribe to my newsletter you’ll know that I was in Ireland last year on an art vacation, where I had the opportunity to enjoy time with friends new and old, immerse myself in the exotic – yet familiar – nature of the country, and most importantly, gratefully avail of pleasant painting time and very instructive botanical workshops. Most of my painting time was at the National Botanic Garden in Glasnevin, Dublin, and in the beautiful gardens of Tourin House in Cappoquin, County Waterford.

Since my time overseas, two of the paintings I worked on at Tourin became part of an exhibition on “Gardens of Ireland” and one of my paintings was displayed in an exhibit at the National Botanic Garden of Ireland, and published in an accompanying book, which shares the title “Plandaí Oidhreachta, Heritage Irish Plants.” Continue reading →

Forget-Me-Not

January 13, 2017 Exhibition, News

While 2016 was eventful, there was one event that followed me through the entire year, and that was the centennial of the battle at Beaumont-Hamel. This battle, which occurred on July 1, 1916, was a defining experience for not only the soldiers who fought and survived, but for the entire population of Newfoundland from that day forward. With over 700 men sent to fight, only 110 survived, with only 68 available for roll call the next day. This is the reason that, while the rest of the country celebrates Canada Day on July 1st, Newfoundland and Labrador also observes Memorial Day.

When the year turned to 2016, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador turned to remembering those fallen soldiers at Beaumont-Hamel. The flower chosen to represent remembrance of these deaths was, appropriately, the Forget-Me-Not.

The most personal project that I completed was Continue reading →

My Forget-Me-Nots Commemorate World War 1

July 1, 2016 Daily, News, Products

My painting of Forget-Me-Nots was chosen to commemorate World War 1

Hi Everyone,

Today is the last day of June, 2016. Tomorrow in all of Canada, our country will celebrate its birthday. My Canadian flag is ready to be proudly hung. In Newfoundland & Labrador, however, July 1^st also marks a much more solemn event. On that day, one hundred years ago, during the early part of World War 1, the Dominion of Newfoundland, a British Colony, lost a huge portion of an entire generation. The members of the ‘Royal’ Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont Hamel were tragic casualties in the first day of the Battle of the Somme in France. July 1^st is Memorial Day for us in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Following World War 1, the people of the province chose the forget-me-not as a symbol of those who gave their lives and sacrificed so much for all of us.

I feel very pleased to have had my watercolour painting of this hardy but delicate plant selected by The Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland & Labrador (http://www.historicsites.ca/ ) for use on commemorative products related to World War 1. Currently available is a limited-edition collection, a mug with a tea pot and sugar and cream pieces, all in bone china at Heritage Shops throughout the province – http://www.historicsites.ca/store-locations/ . You can see these and more images of the pieces at https://heritageshops.ca/collections/remembrance/products/ . I am happy to have done a small part in remembering and celebrating those whose actions and sacrifices touched us all.

The original 22 x 30” watercolour painting will be on exhibition at the Water Street Gallery 2^nd floor of The Heritage Shop, 309 Water Street in St. John’s, NL, from July 10 to August 27^th.

I wish you well as you commemorate and celebrate on July 1^st and during the years to come.

Forget-Me-Not Tea Set Image by Margaret Walsh Best

Margaret

Detail Forget-Me-Not watercolour by Margaret Walsh Best

Check back in a couple of weeks with news about upcoming summer exhibitions, workshop and classes at home and abroad in 2016 and an Art Vacation on the island of Madeira, Portugal in 2017.

Exhibitions – St. John’s, Ireland and Online

May 11, 2015 Exhibition, News

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
I currently have three (3) of my paintings selected for juried exhibitions both locally and internationally.

THE ROOMS GALLERY – ST. JOHN’S, NL – CLOSES SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015
My landscape watercolour entitled “ Ancient Rocks Share Their Space” was selected for the Arts & Letters Exhibition in St. John’s, Newfoundland at The Rooms Provincial Gallery (www.therooms.ca/artgallery)

Since 1952, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has celebrated excellence in the arts though the Arts and Letters Awards. This annual awards program affords a special opportunity for writers, musicians and visual artists – young and old, amateur and professional – to showcase their talents through a variety of media. The Rooms is pleased to present this year’s winners and works of merit selected by the adjudicators in the categories of visual art, literature and music.
You can view all 35 visual arts pieces selected for this year’s Government of Newfoundland & Labrador Arts & Letters Awards Exhibit every day this week.

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SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS – ONLINE – CLOSES JULY 15, 2015

My piece “Giant Step From Signal Hill to Cape Spear” was selected to show in the Society of Canadian Artists Online Exhibition this year.

The painting in this exhibit is a landscape from Signal Hill, a fascinating landmark near my home in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. The Hill has a very colourful history and wonderful hiking trails, but what catches my attention is the amazing profusion of plants surviving in the crevasses of 500,000 year-old rocks. Here is a link to view my paintings as well as the other artists.

http://shop.societyofcanadianartists.com/exhibitions/2015-national-open-juried-sca-online-exhibition-exposition-concours-nationale-en-ligne-2015-de-la-sac/

The Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) was created in 1957 and is a national, non-profit artists’ organization dedicated to expanding the visibility and stature of the visual arts. SCA has representation in all of the visual arts media. We respect our historical roots, are aware of our current world, and are future-minded.

http://www.societyofcanadianartists.com/content/splash/splash.aspx

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AIBÍTIR EXHIBITION AT THE HUNT MUSEUM, LIMERICK, IRELAND
I have a piece entitled “Su talun fiain – Wild Strawberry” featured in The Hunt Museum in Limerick, Ireland. The opening will be on May 12, 2015 at 6:00pm and will close on June 28th.

http://www.irishbotanicalartists.ie/aibitir-belfast/

Here’s is a write up from the ISB website with more touring dates:
Following the successful showings of Aibítir: The Irish Alphabet in Botanical Art in Dublin, Derry and Belfast in 2014, Derry the exhibition continues during 2015 in a number of venues, including Bunclody Library Co. Wexford (March); The Hunt Museum, Limerick (12 May–28 June) and Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford (10 July – 21 August).

If you have friends or family in either location, do let them know about these opportunities to see this wonderful exhibition.

http://www.irishbotanicalartists.com/margaret-walsh-best-3/

Current Exhibitions

May 5, 2015 Exhibition, News

Exhibition News!!! Two of my paintings have been selected into current juried exhibitions.

One is at The Rooms Provincial Gallery, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. ( http://www.therooms.ca/artgallery/ ) It is open from April 28 – May 17, except Mondays. Check it out with the 34 other visual arts pieces selected for this year’s Government of NL Arts & Letters Awards Exhibit.

The second Continue reading →