Art Gallery

Prior Exhibitors

Southlake’s Art Gallery has displayed the works of some of our regions most talented artists. Please take a moment to learn more about these artists by clicking on their names below.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the works displayed during these times, please contact Corporate Communications at 905-895-4521, ext. 2541.

Displayed April 24, 2008 to June 12, 2008
Raine Davis

Displayed February 24, 2008 to April 21, 2008
Adubi Akinola

Displayed December 18, 2007 to February 22, 2008
James Liao

Displayed October 22 to December 17, 2007
Josée Savaria

Displayed August 28 - October 21, 2007
Pauline Holancin
Jake Mol

Displayed April 1 – May 31, 2007
Joan Chalmers
Stanley C. Sandbecka
Christine Valentini
John Walmsley

Displayed February 1 and March  31, 2007
Steven Brown
Akinola Adubi

Displayed December 1, 2006 – January 31, 2007
Kathryn Bury
Maureen Joyce
Deb Tucker
Stella Wadsworth

Displayed October 1 – November 30, 2006
Ralph and Margarete Brunner

Artists A to Z

Adubi Akinola
Akinola Adubi (Dubi) was born on July 15, 1970 in Kitchener, Ontario, where he lived for a few years before moving with his family to Nigeria, West Africa.

He started playing with “B” pencils and paper at the age of seven years. Even though his parents tried to discourage him from spending so much time on his drawings, he persevered and became a freelance artist—painting and drawing portraits of people, animals, and buildings.

In 2001, he returned to Canada where he trained to become a certified personal support worker. He worked in several group homes as a residential counsellor before joining Southlake in 2004.

Steven Brown
A local, self taught artist, Steve has been painting for over 30 years. A full-time member of Southlake’s Food Services Department, Steve paints during his spare time and has exhibited his works locally and in Haliburton County. His paintings are enjoyed in private collections throughout Ontario and abroad.

Ralph and Margarete Brunner
Ralph Brunner, APSA and Margarete Brunner, EFIAP are highly reputed photographers. Well known for their high standard in making prints, their works have been published in several books, magazines, and calendars. They have hosted numerous highly successful print exhibitions not only in Canada but also in Germany and Austria. In fact, they were among the first photographers invited to showcase their prints at the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto as part of an Art Show. Ralph and Margarete also excel in creating audio visual presentations in an artistic manner.

Ralph is internationally known for his outstanding nature photography. He was honoured by the Photographic Society of America with a PSA Associate Ship for his contribution to photography at the individual, national, and international levels.

Margarete’s interest in photography goes way back to her roots in Germany. In her hometown, she was an active member of a Culture and Art Circle, and for ten consecutive years, she was president of the local Camera Club. Margarete is especially known for her sensitive interpretation of landscapes and the painterly quality of her images. In 1992, the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) rewarded Margarete for her achievement in photography by making her an Associate, and in 1996 she was honoured with the title of an EFIAP for Excellence in Photography.

In December of 2007, the Brunner’s donated over thirty prints of their photographic art works to the Hospital, where they are on display in the Medical Arts Building at Southlake. In addition to enhancing a number of patient care areas, the collection serves as a permanent exhibition and copies of the pieces in different sizes can be purchased by contacting the Gallery 15516 at 905-727-5270 or by e-mail at rbrunner@aci.on.ca

Over sixty pieces of work are on permanent display at Gallery 15516.

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Kathryn Bury
Inspired by its changing beauty, Kathryn expresses her love of nature through her landscapes. She has exhibited in juried and non-juried shows and is an acclaimed “Award Winning Artist”. Her paintings are enjoyed in private collections in Canada and the United States. Kathryn is also known for her award-winning floral arrangements and use of dried flowers in her collages. Her work is currently on display at the Georgina Art Centre. 

Joan Chalmers
A native of Toronto, Joan was born in the “beach” area.  She grew up becoming aware of the city’s architecture and many of those artists who painted it.  This piqued Joan’s interest in art, and later, her career choice.

While at school, Joan received art instruction from several talented artists, i.e. Ethel Currey, John Bennett, and Dora de Petrie-Hunt.  These artists were of considerable influence.  Joan was a scholarship winner and an honour graduate of Northern Tech’s four-year art course.

During a life long career in advertising art, Joan continued to paint and travel, often painting with several well-known Canadian and American artists.  Later she established her own art company and directed JJ Commercial Art Inc, for two decades.

Joan has shown her art in many venues and galleries throughout Toronto and Ontario.  She has received various awards and her work was purchased for display at the Region of York Administration Office.

She has instructed and generously shared her extensive knowledge with her students.  When not painting commissioned works, she is always experimenting with new ideas and new medias.

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Pauline Holancin
Born in Gatineau, Quebec, Pauline’s early interest in art and talent for drawing and painting were fostered by classes at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa. As a result, the Canadian landscape tradition strongly influenced her choice of style and subject matter.

Now living just north of Toronto, Pauline is an active artist and art instructor. A dedicated on-location painter, nature is an unfailing source of inspiration for Pauline. Proficient in oils and watercolour, Pauline’s work can be found in many private and corporate collections in Canada and abroad. In recent years, her studio work in still life and florals has also attracted a loyal following.

Pauline teaches classes for many Ontario Art Groups and is a summer instructor for the Haliburton and Blue Mountain Schools of Art. She shares with students her love of painting, as well as her skills. Pauline continues to study with prominent artists in Canada and in the United States. As active member of several Ontario Art Associations, she has won many prizes and awards over the years. Pauline is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.

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Maureen Joyce
Maureen Joyce was employed by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection for 21 years, which provided her the opportunity to meet such acclaimed artists as A. J. Casson and Doris McCarthy. In 1999, Maureen had to face the difficult challenge called cancer. It was a turning point in her life. Maureen now devotes her full time to painting and has entered her work in a number of juried and non-juried shows. Her paintings are enjoyed in private collections across Canada. 

James Liao
James Liao was born in China in 1972. James worked in Traditional Chinese Painting for more than 12 years before he ventured in oil painting in 1999. Benefitting from his Eastern culture background and combination of two different media, James is committed to making each piece of his artwork individually unique.  As a full-time computer science engineer, James devotes all of his space time to developing his art. In the future, James hopes to showcase additional oil paintings and Traditional Chinese Painting in Southlake’s Art Gallery.

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Jake Mol
Born in the Netherlands, Jake arrived in Canada in 1952 as a teenager, continuing his art education at several Ontario Colleges such as Central Tech, O.C.A and others, while also continually taking part in art workshops with prominent North American artists.

Jack first received public interest across North America in 1964 with a published portrait of J.F. Kennedy. Since going public in 1969, Jake has received many awards in Juried Shows, and by 2003 had participated in over 60 Solo/Duo and numerous Group shows.

Jake is an Elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, a Signature member of the Toronto Watercolour Society, a Charter member of the Vodka Painters of Canada and a member or associate member of numerous North American art societies.

Jake is a well liked, respected and sought after Painter, Instructor and Juror. His charcoal painting of Chief Joseph is displayed in the Crazy Horse Museum of South Dakota.

Jake loves the outdoors and the Canadian Shield. Northern and world wide scenes can be found in Jake’s many on location paintings.

Jake’s work can also be found in many private and corporate collections in North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, etc.

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Stanley C. Sandbecka
Stan, the son of proud Scandinavian emigrants, was born in Toronto in 1933.  Times being what they were, Stan was introduced into the workforce at a very young age where he learned the carpentry and cabinet making skills of his craftsman father. 

As time and money permitted, Stan studied architectural drafting where he learned to marry the technical know how with his love of design, and in 1959 launched a successful general contracting business in Richmond Hill. 

Stan’s enormous energy, imagination and innate sense for the use of form, line, colour and texture not only became the cornerstone of his success as a builder, it also became the foundation of his life long interest in, and passion for, painting.  While Stan has experimented with a number of mediums over the years, he mostly enjoys working with acrylics, and despite being largely self taught, his landscapes and cityscapes in particular have attracted a devoted following.

Josée Savaria
Josée Savaria was born in Varennes, Quebec, Canada, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, and has always loved to draw.

Formally trained as a graphic designer in Montréal, Québec, Josée subsequently discovered the tremendous libration found in expressing imagination and unique whimsical imagery on sculptural surfaces using the power of texture.  Over the years, Josée has explored various types and styles of artistic expression before discovering the art forms that provide her with a more complete creative outlet: Original Paints and Acrylic Paint.

In her studio in Newmarket, Ontario, Josée experiments with various materials and constantly works towards perfecting her technique. Integrating and adapting the varied facets of colour and material, she attempts to best portray her chosen theme: the sea and its creatures. "The sea and its power profoundly move me, and its variety and mystery infuse me with a deep sense of awe. I am particularly captivated by marine life and my art is influenced by the endless variety of form and function found in the creatures which inhabit our blue planet: turtle, seahorses, starfish, fish…"

Josée’s husband is an oceanographer and was instrumental in introducing her to the wonders of the marine world. On regular trips to the seashore, Josée takes these opportunities to spend as much time as possible both in and under the water. The vibrant beauty and majesty of the sea never ceases to fill her with wonder, at once in its scale and its attention to detail. It is this wonder which Josée attempts to capture in her work.

For more information on Josée Savaria, please visit her website at www.joseesavaria.com

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Deb Tucker
Deb Tucker taught herself to draw as a child, using a series of “How To” books. As an adult, her interests turned to watercolours. Benefiting from the teachings of various artists, including Chuck Witter, Donna Cameron II and at Loyalist College, Deb spends at least one week each year painting “en plein air” and has won several awards. Deb has exhibited her acrylic, watercolours and mixed media pieces in a number of open and juried shows. Much of her work is now in private collections in Canada and England.  

Christine Valentini
Born in Vienna, Austria, Christine settled in Canada in 1964.  Her love of the Canadian landscape and her European background influence all aspects of her art.

Christine works in all media, but prefers oil, watercolour, india ink and mixed media.  Encouraged by the beautiful countryside in northern Ontario many of her works are executed as detailed nature scenes and florals.  Her miniature oil paintings are executed with a palette knife only.  This technique is very suitable for the rugged Canadian landscape and makes each piece of artwork unique.  The mixed media art combined with her detailed work gives her paintings an unusual contrast.

Her interest in art and drawing led to attending classes in Germany and at the Agincourt and Wexford Collegiate Art Centre.  Painting trips have taken Christine to Europe, the United States, eastern and western Canada; leaving northern Canada yet to be explored.  She participates actively in a cultural and artistic life, though most of her works come to life at her Haliburton retreat.
Entering art shows at many public and juried art exhibitions, including the McMichael and Varley Galleries, her art has won many awards of excellence.  Her works are included in private collections in Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada.

Associate memberships: Visual Arts Ontario, The Algonquin Arts Council, Scarborough Arts Council, The Art Guild of Scarborough and The Society of York Region Artists.

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Stella Wadsworth
Following a successful career in healthcare, Stella changed her dream of painting into a reality. She started watercolour classes in the fall of 2003 and has since explored painting with acrylics and ink and wash. She has also participated in  workshops through her membership in the Society of York Region Artists (SOYRA), and recently returned from a painting trip to France.

John Walmsley
John received his art education in the UK at Manchester Regional College of Art and Manchester University.  He has worked in several art studios including Photo Engravers Ltd Toronto.  There he was head illustrator and company artist; later he became partner in JJ Commercial Art Inc.

A lifelong interest in Aviation led to being a member of the Canadian Aviations Artists Association of which he is a chartered member.  He is also a member of the American Society of Aviation Artists.  His work has been exhibited at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa, and the Air Force Museum in Trenton.  He has also had his art published in several books and magazines.

John has instructed for the Leaside Group, the City of Scarborough and the York Region School Board.  His work is included in the Bowman Collection – Newmarket Public Library.

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