Dave Fraser, Northumberland News
COLBORNE — Area residents will soon be stepping Into the Light with a new show at the Colborne Art Gallery. Jillian Roos-Markowitz's solo show is on display Oct. 6 to Nov. 11, but the gallery has an opening reception scheduled for Oct. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ms. Roos-Markowitz said she is very excited to have the opportunity to display her work at the gallery, and it has been very rewarding putting the show together.
"I love being a member of the gallery and we are blessed to have it," she said, adding the support it has received from Cramahe Township over the years, has been wonderful as well.
As the chairwoman of the exhibition committee, Ms. Roos-Markowitz has been involved with the organization of several shows at the gallery, but her upcoming exhibit will be the first time she has had a solo show of her own.
Examining the world around her is how the Cobourg resident goes about creating her work, which includes charcoal drawings, sculptures, fabric work and linocut prints.
"All my work is inspired by shapes I see in nature," she said.
It was during a course, years ago, on image development that Ms. Roos-Markowitz had "a watershed moment" that would shape her work from that point forward.
The instructor encouraged the students to closely observe an organic subject then close their eyes and draw from memory. That approach has stayed with her to this day and she always closes her eyes when she begins a charcoal drawing, she said. Ms. Roos-Marowitz said that approach really lends itself to getting lost in the work, letting the right side of the brain take over. Those initial drawings inspire the rest of her work and whether it be a sculpture or a mixed media piece, the origin is always something from nature, she said.
"Full of movement, rhythm and music" is how Ms. Roos-Markowitz best describes her work and she is honoured to be able to share it, along with pieces from other members, at the Colborne Art Gallery.