Update: Visit Christine Reimer & Krysia Gallien at Eclectic Gallery  July 2 - July 30 2016 
Artist Reception Saturday July 9, 3-5pm
Eclectic Gallery is located at 2170 Oak Bay Ave in Victoria 
Hours  Mon-Sat 10-5:30 

Picture
Violins Play On, collage, AP, 8x10 in, 2010
Picture
Bamboo & Orchids, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 24 in, 2010



​Transition - Visceral Landscapes by Christine Reimer 
at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill, May 15-27, 2014. 
Opening by invitation Thursday May 15, 5-8PM.
christinereimer.ca

Picture
Christine Reimer in her studio, April 2014.
Picture
“Glacier in the Icefields Highway, Jasper” 30x40 in. 2011.


                                                                     In the News!
            Article by Robert Amos (May 18, Times Colonist) at http://www.timescolonist.com/1.1065027
Article by Christine van Reeuwyk (May 15,Vic News) http://www.vicnews.com/entertainment/259404401.html

Christine Reimer, BFA, DipEd, is an established Victoria artist, well known for her colourful landscapes. Reimer’s vibrant acrylic-on-canvas paintings sing with the rugged energy of interior and coastal BC and Alberta. Currently represented by several North American galleries, her paintings are in private and corporate collections worldwide. (Painting above right is an example.) 

This new body of work marks a dramatic shift in subject matter and technique for the artist. Over the past five years, the artist has experienced a series of passages in her personal life, beginning with the death of her mother: “My ability to paint was curtailed and I felt very frustrated. It was also a period of reflection, reassessment and coming to terms with life, mortality and how to express this in a meaningful way in my art.”

Picture
“When the Moon Falls from the Sky” 36x36
Picture
“Excavation” 30x30 in. 2014.
Picture
“Transformation - Release” 48x48 in. 2014

In Visceral Landscapes, the artist uses the term “landscape” to suggest a physical environment - person, place or thing. The language of colour, line, texture and form articulates strong emotions from the inner realms (viscera) of heart, gut and imagination. “Creating this body of work has been cathartic,” she says. “In essence, I am finding a new voice.” 

Picture
“Underground Stream” 24x24 in. 2014
Picture
“Mysterious Pathways” 24x24 in. 2014
Picture
“Mystic Landfall” 36x36 in. 2014.
Picture
“Tipping Point” 30x48 in. 2014
Picture“Spring Transformation” 30x40 in. 2013.

















To re-boot her painting process, Reimer began by editing her nature photographs into abstractions. She moved to smaller canvases, experimenting with different acrylic grounds, glazes and mediums. Using various tools to draw through the paint, she created random marks and textures without conscious thought, until imagery and ideas emerged.

“Often the metaphorical significance was not apparent to me until well into the painting process.”
Picture
“Tree in Flight” 30x30 in. 2014.
Picture
“Seeking Heat” 36x36 in. 2014
Picture
“Spring Blossoms” 36x36 in. 2014.
Picture
"Love Letters from Home (Ukraine)" 36x36
Picture
"Heart's Blood" 36x36 in.
Picture
"Weight of the World" 36x36 in.

Christine invites guests at her exhibition to find personal meaning in the expressive and emotive imagery in the new series. Just like her landscapes, these works are enlivened by colour, texture and movement. Supported by family, friends, colleagues and collectors, Christine Reimer’s opening on May 15 was a great success. Some interviews with guests follow:

Picture

Ken Campbell is an established artist who teaches painting and drawing at his home studio and community centres. Looking around the gallery, he calls the paintings a suite of self-portraits, both energetic and evocative. “Christine has shown great courage with this series,” he says, “by following her muse and going off-script.”



Ken Campbell stands between Seeking Heat (on viewer’s left) and Love Letters from Home (Ukraine). Ken respects his colleague’s skill as a colourist. For Ken, “Seeking Heat” echoes the virtuosic abilites of abstract painter Neil Fujita (1921-2010). Whereas, in “Love Letter from Home” he sees references to the early cubist work of Juan Gris (1887-1927) and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).

Picture

Sally Stubbs is a playwright and drama instructor with master degrees in Art History and Creative Writing. A life-long friend of the artist, she’s taken part in the transitional process surrounding Christine’s grief. “I started to see a shift in Christine during our trip to England in 2013,” she says. Sally noticed her friend re-engaging with visual ideas and images, often through photography.

In The Tipping Point, Sally sees the themes of release, transformation and rebirth encapsulated by the egg shape and ocean blue void. From the void, the twisted tree forms emerge, tentatively pushing through deep layers of indigo hues and crackling metallic texture. “This artistic journey has landed Christine in a brand new place,” Sally concludes.


 Picture
Richard Chambers is a dentist and collector of Reimer’s paintings. During his country excursions, Richard looks for scenes from his paintings. A favourite in his collection features a church and graveyard from the Cowichan Valley. His hobbies include sculpting figurative works in clay, inspired by classical and First Nations’ themes.

Richard’s favourite painting, When the Moon Falls From the Sky, features a circular disk spiraling down to earth. “I like being able to see the landscape,” he says, “and the receding mountain ranges on which the moon hovers.” The greenish-yellow orb rests on a dramatic background of colours, ranging from twilight blue to sunny orange. 
Picture








Jackie Hamilton encourages cultural development by attending local arts events and actively collecting. She recently joined the Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Jackie has followed Christine’s career from the early 1980’s and is excited about the artist’s new direction. “Each piece in the exhibition is unique and refreshing,” she says, “showing the artist’s new perspective and mode of expression.”

Jackie delights in the complimentary colours of blue and yellow that enliven the painting Spring Blossoms. She enjoys the vertical landscape references as well as the pink blossom shapes top right. The dripping paint is reminiscent of rain, she explains. Combined with the sunny colours it presents a joyful image tempered by life’s wistful sadness. “If I lived with this painting,” she says, “I’d discover new things every day.” 



 Picture
Neil Hamilton is a long time neighbour and friend of the artist.














He praises Christine’s generous personality and ability to embrace all aspects of life. Neil’s favourite painting is Mysterious Pathways (at top of photo). He likes the combination of the colours, and the way the shapes coalesce into a warm peaceful centre.

The rich iridescent blues and greens remind him of Ammonite, an opal-like gemstone made of fossilized shells. In contrast, Neil notes the bottom painting, Underground Stream has elements of darkness and departure, represented by the serpent image and truncated torso. He sees a yin-yang relationship between these two paintings.
Picture
Kate Cino with Christine Reimer.
Web Design, Content and Photos: 
Kate Cino previewed arts events 
for 18 years at Boulevard magazine. 

She has a History in Art degree and 
Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria. For ten years, Kate operated an art & framing shop.

This website and its content is copyright of Art Openings, 2009. All rights reserved. Written permission is required for reproduction of photos or text.