Artist: Esther Slevinsky
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 20'' x 20''

Bidding on this artwork will take place at the Live Auction event, Friday, April 10. Tickets available at the link at dvsa.ca. Absentee bids can also be placed in advance – request a form at the school office or email bid@dvsa.ca.

About This Piece
The initial inspiration for this piece was painting for painting’s sake, to explore relative colour in a complimentary colour palette. But as it progressed, it dawned on me that this still life is really a self-portrait in that all the items hold personal meaning. Ironically, they were all gifted to me: the white bowl and the pewter shell butter knife from my aunts, the aloe plant from a friend during my chemo treatments, the green dish from my son's teachers, and the stainless steel teapot with my reflection was from a family friend. I love that simple objects can hold a deeper connection to those who have supported me in my past and present. 

Artist Statement
My work explores our connection to home by representing domestic items and tasks traditionally considered to be ‘woman’s work’. I like playing with how point of view can create a feeling of intimacy or a warped sense of reality. I solely paint from life using objects around me and enjoy the restrictive time limit this method imposes. My goal is to evoke memory, promote conversation, and create connection to what is familiar.
 

Biography
Esther is a multidisciplinary artist based in Waterloo, Ontario. She graduated from ACAD (now Alberta University for the Arts) with a B.Des in Graphic Design and Illustration in 2006. She worked as a muralist on commercial and residential projects for two decades before transitioning to painting on canvas in 2018. Her work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions throughout Ontario, including a solo show entitled Homebody at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts in March 2020. Esther's installation piece Chips and Cancer was part of the CAFKA.23 Biennial in Waterloo Region.