FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2015, KLEINBURG ON—Celebrated abstract expressionist painter, Césan d’Ornellas Levine—who has exhibited across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and throughout Europe—has signed on to take part in the Art Mentorship Project, an initiative launched in 2013 by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and York Region Arts Council (YRAC). The Project’s last term saw renowned contemporary artist and arts educator, Bonnie Devine, paired with recent York University BFA graduate, Kevin Yung.
Césan d’Ornellas Levine is an experimental visual artist based in Richmond Hill and Toronto. She is known for her large-scale expressive abstract paintings, and more recently, for her original mixed media work.
Césan has had a studio practice for more than twenty-five years. As a self-trained artist, her work is grounded in a self-imposed regimen of ‘above the wrist’ disciplines inspired by influential Russian artist and art theorist, Wassily Kandinsky, such as meditation, fasting, and personal development.
Her analysis and practice of this rich process has made her a sought-after and inspiring artist-presenter.
Highlights of Césan’s career include international representation by notable public and private galleries, and invitations to participate in various artist residency programs, including two consecutive sessions at Trent University. Césan also supports numerous charitable organizations through donations of time and artwork. Her work can be viewed online at http://www.cesan.ca.
When asked for her thoughts on mentoring an emerging artist, Césan said, “Artists who have the opportunity to work side-by-side or collaboratively, regardless of their distinct approaches and/or modalities, will discover many profound gifts and teachings from one another and from the experience.”
“The York Region Arts Council is thrilled to announce Césan’s participation in the Art Mentorship Project,” said Samantha Rodin, Executive Director of the YRAC. “Césan is a brilliant artist from a technical standpoint, but her holistic approach to a fully embodied art practice makes her an excellent mentor. Her practice is rooted in York Region (Richmond Hill), therefore she understands, first-hand, the challenges and opportunities local artists face.”
“The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is committed to supporting the growth and development of emerging artists in the community. Having the guidance of a practicing artist as prolific and inspiring as Césan is a rare and significant opportunity,” said Anna Stanisz, Associate Director of Creative Learning and Programs at the McMichael. “
NOW ACCEPTING 2015 APPRENTICE APPLICATIONS
Deadline: Midnight, March 15, 2015
About the Art Mentorship Project:
The Art Mentorship Project is designed to offer professional development to emerging local artists who have been practicing or exhibiting their work for less than five years, allowing them to fine-tune their skills through technical assistance, theoretical discussions, critiques, and exhibition preparation over a four-month period. The mentorship sessions will take place on the McMichael grounds throughout the summer and fall of 2015, culminating in an exhibition at the gallery later that year.
Applications are now open and will be accepted until midnight on March 15, 2015.
Download the Call for Applications by clicking here.
About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information: mcmichael.com.
Media Contact:
Samantha Rodin
Executive Director, York Region Arts Council
905.726.3278
samantha@yorkregionartscouncil.com
Connie Febbraro
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Associate Director, Marketing and Promotions
905.893.1121 ext. 2528
cfebbraro@mcmichael.com