Madrona Gallery presents
Wild Things by Madeleine Wood
April 15 - 29, 2023
Wild Things by Madeleine Wood
April 15 - 29, 2023
In 2010, Madeleine Wood and her partner moved from the bustle of Vancouver to the wilds of Fanny Bay.
Their new home is near Ships Point Park, an ocean front area with a public beach. Wood wanders often in the park land, appreciating the towering Douglas fir, Sitka spruce and Garry Oak. The dense understory has Oceanspray, Nootka Rose, Black Hawthorn and Red alder. Dune grass grows along the shoreline, completing the picture-perfect scene.
In 2010, Madeleine Wood and her partner moved from the bustle of Vancouver to the wilds of Fanny Bay.
Their new home is near Ships Point Park, an ocean front area with a public beach. Wood wanders often in the park land, appreciating the towering Douglas fir, Sitka spruce and Garry Oak. The dense understory has Oceanspray, Nootka Rose, Black Hawthorn and Red alder. Dune grass grows along the shoreline, completing the picture-perfect scene.
Arbutus Veil, acrylic and oil on canvas, 24x30 in.
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Arbutus Reach, acrylic and oil on canvas, 26x39 in. SOLD
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The 16 original paintings in Wild Things celebrate Wood’s connection to the natural world and its visual enchantments.
“I can’t believe the richness of my chosen profession,” she says. “I am always learning and growing.” Her career as a professional artist spans nearly three decades and includes numerous group and solo shows. Her artworks are widely collected in Canada, the United States, Europe and Hong Kong. Wood earned a Masters in Fine Arts from Concordia University in 1996, after first studying at Emily Carr University.
“I can’t believe the richness of my chosen profession,” she says. “I am always learning and growing.” Her career as a professional artist spans nearly three decades and includes numerous group and solo shows. Her artworks are widely collected in Canada, the United States, Europe and Hong Kong. Wood earned a Masters in Fine Arts from Concordia University in 1996, after first studying at Emily Carr University.
Swamp Lanterns, acrylic and oil on canvas, 18x24 in.
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Dogwood Spray, acrylic and oil on canvas, 30x40 in.
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Wood has delighted audiences over the years with her close-up abstractions of everyday encounters. Rumpled bed linens, resplendent tropical foliage, repeated patterns and luxurious textures, invite the viewer into a sensual world. The everyday can be exceptional, believes the artist, who takes inspiration from other female contemporary artists like Mary Pratt and Joan Semmell. “I am an observer,” she says, “which gives me a rich inner life.”
These inward emotions can bubble over, pouring erotic energy into visual forms. Look for skin-soft Arbutus bark, the textural twitching of lichen and the lusty curves of Swamp Lantern. On a more ethereal level, the flowers in Dogwood Spray take flight - becoming angelic wings that brush aside mortal cares and woes. Wild Things features some gorgeous close-ups of a native species in the Pacific Northwest called Swamp Lantern. The artist presents three views of this wetlands wonder, also called Skunk Cabbage.
Rosey Beach Walk, acrylic and oil on canvas, 30x40 in.
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Nootka Rose High, acrylic and oil on canvas, 24x30 in.
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Other paintings, like Rosey Beach Walk, show Nootka roses in the foreground with an ocean panorama receding in the distance. In Nootka Rose High, the rosy blooms are placed against a darker background, focusing our attention on the lively pinks and greens. “I invite the viewer to come closer,” she says, “and share in some mystery I have discovered.”
Harry Stanbridge noticed Wood’s artistic gifts when she was his student at Spectrum High School. Stanbridge recalls one assignment in which Wood enlarged a running shoe using a grid pattern. “Madeleine showed a remarkable ability to accurately render details using the medium of paint,” he says. Stanbridge is proud of his former student and applauds her success with patrons. He hopes that collectors can look deeper than her lush, illuminated surfaces. “I’d like people to appreciate the professional skills and hard work that produced these amazingly detailed canvases,” he says. Harry Stanbridge and Linda Stanbridge are both represented by Madrona Gallery.
Dance of the Rosehips 1, acrylic and oil on canvas, 24x30 in. SOLD
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Dance of the Rosehips 2, acrylic and oil on canvas, 24x30 in.
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On her walks, camera in hand, the quality of light plays an important role in capturing an enticing image. In Dance of the Rosehips 1, a moment of golden light illuminates the background. The small orbs of crimson fruit appear to jiggle and dance in the radiant glow. In Dance of the Rosehips 2, the rosehip branches are set against a dusky blue background making the fruit appear plump and succulent. Using her designer’s eye attuned to balance and symmetry, Wood arranges the compositions as energetic spaces that keep our eyes in motion.
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In Maple Dressing, a complex eco-system appears. “I researched these plants,” she says, “something I don’t usually do, and was intrigued by the complexity of their symbiotic relationships and evolutionary tactics.” Looking closely at native species in their natural habitat has opened her eyes. “I see how much we owe to trees and plants and am grateful,” she says. Wood believes her interests are deepening as she continues to grow as a human being in our changing world. Much like the plants and wild things that have evolved through time to find their places, she too is intent on thriving and spreading out roots. Visit Madeleine's website HERE Email: [email protected] |
Maple Dressing, acrylic and oil on canvas, 30x24 in. SOLD
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Madeleine Wood's Opening at Madrona Gallery on April 15 was a grand success. See photos below.
Michael Warren with Rosey Beach Walk.
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Madeleine with sisters Valerie and Deborah. Photo: Anneke Gosker.
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Madrona Gallery, 606 View Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1J4
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-5:30. 1-250-380-4660.
Visit Madrona Gallery website HERE
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