Saturday, September 22, 2012

Open Doors display at Button Factory








Display of photos, tools and other artifacts found in the building for Doors Open 2012.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Urban Landscape Painting class.

Urban Landscape Painting class taught by Robert Achtemichuk.

The class was asked to paint something they saw during a walk through downtown Waterloo we took the previous class. This was done from memory as the use of photos was discouraged. This was done to encourage insightful expression of an experience rather than copying a photo. lower attendance fees to this painting class was made possible through a grant from the Waterloo Regional Arts Fund and the cooperation of the Waterloo Community Art Centre (The Button Factory).
Ana Wilcken

Habiba Iqbal

Juana Duque

Loor Sakakini

Paul Gitschner

Salome Perez


Friday, April 13, 2012

New Online Members Gallery

WCAC is in the process of making an online gallery for members to show their work to the world!

If you are a member and would like to be a part of this, please email three images of your artwork in jpeg form and a 50 word bio to membersgallery@buttonfactoryarts.ca

If you would like to be part of the online gallery but you do not have images of your artwork available please call us at 519-886-4577.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

PieceMeal First Dance







The piece pays special attention to play's critical stance on gender
performativity.  The characters wear traditional masculinity as a costume or
camouflage for self-defense purposes.  As a nod to this idea of 'passing',
I've employed an excessively 'feminine' aesthetic (lace, grace, quiet
flexibility, purity, ornamentality, etc) addressing the idea of conformity
as a coping mechanism in a culture unfriendly towards gender deviance.
In First Dance, the characters seek to deviate without seeming deviant and
find revolution without the boat-rocking as they work to carve new
traditions out of a history that excludes them.


In traditional ballroom dance, gender roles are forced upon participants by
the very mechanic of the medium.  With this comes the baggage of the subtle
violence inherent in gender roles under the surface. The dance steps
symbolize cultural expectations and freedom of expression within the
confines of allowed behaviours, and in First Dance, the feather step becomes
a metaphor for finding an opening within a tradition that appears to offer
little flexibility.  I've turned Alex Moore's feather step diagram into a
recurring, overlaying pattern in order to call attention to the plurality of
modes of gender expression and relationship types that exist, but are
sometimes invisible to us.


The characters describe a notable moment in a salsa club where two men begin
to dance and their actions deviate from expectation so much that
the normally-crowded floor clears around them. As this seems
symbolic of their personal struggles, I have chosen to recreate this moment
in the composition of the installation.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Star Portraits: Brenda Halloran

1st place
Janet Saunders

2nd place
Carol Melanson

3rd place
Debra Lengyell



The Waterloo Sketch Club presented its very own version of "Star Portraits",based on the popular tv show.  Our star this year is Mayor Brenda Halloran, who graciously consented to sit for us a few weeks ago at the Button Factory.  Our group has portrayed her in a variety of media, including acrylics, watercolours, ink, and collage!  The Mayor selected her favourite 3 pieces, and at the end of the show took home her First Choice!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Neighbours Mural for Pat the Dog's PieceMeal series




In this interpretation of Neighbours by Allie Bell, artist Jamie Quinn's aim was to tap into our collective memory as a society, and cause the viewer to use their critical, and cynical, eyes to analyze our shared world surroundings. With help from student volunteers, the group has created a striking visual piece called 'Foragers for Freedom', which reveals layers of sour notes about security, community and revolt.