Marie Allison

Marie-Andrée Allison at Martin Batchelor Gallery in June 2015.
Also, visit with Marie in her home studio and the Saint Sophia Mosaic Studio.

Marie-Andrée Allison is an accomplished artist with over 40 years of experience in various media: byzantine mosaic, egg tempera, fresco buono and printmaking. She describes her energetic art practice as having two intertwining forms: one objective and classical, the other conceptual and abstract. Her June show at Martin Batchelor Gallery presents a series called Bianco (Italian for white). The exhibition includes oil paintings, fresco fragments, intaglio prints, encaustic mixed-media and a mosaic angel wing. “The beauty of white fascinates me,” she says, “it promotes inner reflection and a variety of effects.” Themes in Bianco include the nature of consciousness in relation to space, time and multi-dimensional reality. Selected artworks in the show are featured below, as well as artist quotes.

"The texture of the smooth sun-bleached beeswax reminds me of creamed honey."

Encaustic or hot-wax painting applies melted beeswax mixed with pigments to a prepared surface. Used widely throughout antiquity, found in Egyptian tomb paintings, the technique produces exceptional portraiture and religious icons. Contemporary artists appreciate the layering, luminosity and sculptural qualities found in this challenging medium. In Rise I below, the thinly applied encaustic appears to flow in some areas. In others, circular forms and irregular textures accent the smooth surface.

“Rise I” encaustic on wood panel, 24x24 in, 2014

Detail: “Rise I” encaustic on wood panel, 24x24 in, 2014

“I love the feel of oil paint, how it glides over the surface of the canvas.
With oils, I develop images that remind the viewer to breathe more deeply.”

"Choir Loft", oil painting on canvas, tetrad, 48x48 in, 2015

Marie-Andrée Allison attended Montreal’s Academy of Fine Arts from 1972-1974. Her skills are evident in this oil painting titled Choir Loft.

This large painting (48x48 inches) recalls a photo taken from a church balcony in Greece. “I was inspired by the rounded architectural forms of these sacred spaces,” says the artist. The painting echos the simplicity and elegance of carved marble interiors, alters and pillars.

Allison savours the buttery, slow-drying qualities of oils. The medium allows her to blend undercoats and build up several layers of paint. These four square panels mounted together form a tetrad. The picture plane is broken by irregular shapes that alter the viewer’s perspective. The muted palette of warm earth tones and watery blue suggest peace and tranquility.

“In intaglio, white inks are oxidized by the copper plate,
giving new variations to the colours and paper.”

For many years, Allison has collaborated with artist’s printer Susy Raxlen. Allison uses dry point engraving to create linear detail, which holds the ink during printing. Raxlen mixes the inks according to Allison’s instructions and produces the monoprints. Post-production additions, by the artist, of paint, chalk pastels and gold or silver leaf enliven the surface. Allison praises Raxlen’s technical skill and critical eye. Raxlen is impressed by her colleague’s stamina, focus and attention to detail.

“Shadows” intaglio monoprint, 24x24, 2015

Detail: “Shadows” intaglio monoprint, 24x24, 2015

“Untitled” intaglio monoprint, silver leaf, chalk pastel, 24x24 in, 2015

Detail: “Untitled” intaglio monoprint, silver leaf, pastel, 24x24 in, 2015.

"In mosaics, white marble, onyx and glass dance with light reflecting from all sides of the tesserae."

Since 2004, extensive studies in Italy have honed the artist’s expertise in Byzantine mural, floor and micro mosaics. Her skills are evident in the meticulous mosaic panels and exquisitely crafted dome found at Saint Sophia Russian Orthodox Church in Victoria. Allison designed, assembled and installed the dome in sections together with Father John Adams. The artist shares her knowledge of visual art techniques (mosaics, painting and fresco) at the Saint Sophia Mosaic Studio.

Below are two mosaic panels appearing in the June exhibition. In Crevasse, note the variety of shapes, colours and textures used in mosaic. Venetian glass, marble and onyx sparkle and glow as the light changes. The life-size angel wing (Homage I) is a potent image with profound reverberations. “I’ve painted many flowing angel wings over the years,” she says, “so I enjoyed working in a different medium.”

“Crevasse” venetian glass, marble, onyx on wood panel, 24x24 in, 2015

Detail: “Crevasse” venetian glass, marble, onyx on wood panel, 24x24 in, 2015

“Homage l" marble, Venetian glass, onyx on board, 56x26 in, 2015

Detail: “Homage l" marble, Venetian glass, onyx on board, 56x26 in, 2015

Marie-Andrée Allison at Saint Sophia Mosaic Studio. While preparing artwork for Bianco, Allison continued working on other projects. Below left, Allison breaks tesserae using traditional tools of anvil and hammer at the Saint Sophia Mosaic Studio. Below right, she assembles tesserae in the construction of a six-winged fiery angel called a seraphim.

Below left: Detail of the dome in Saint Sophia Russian Orthodox Church.
Below right: Allison receives assistance from a young apprentice during installation.

Marie-Andrée Allison in her home studio.
Below left: For many years, the artist studied and painted the iconography of Orthodox Christian images and symbols. In this work, Princess Eve Galitzine (1909-1993) was her painting mentor and colleague for 10 years. Below right: Allison learned the laborious art of fresco painting from professor Dokinanda Sharma, a Brahmin visiting from India. This process adheres pigments to a wall or ceiling using a freshly-laid lime plaster ground, and dates back 2000 years.

Some photos and comments by guests at the lively opening on Saturday June 6, 7-9pm

Marie-Andrée Allison welcomes guests to Bianco on June 6.
The exhibition includes oil paintings, fresco fragments, intaglio prints, encaustic mixed-media and a mosaic angel wing. Marie's dress was sewn by her daughter and echoes the patterns found in the mosaic dress hanging at the show

Nicholas Vandergugten is a printmaker in his last year of a BFA program at UVic. Nic's multidisciplinary practice began with traditional relief printmaking in black and white. In October 2014, the artist exhibited at the Fifty Fifty Arts Collective. Like Marie, he alters an established medium to include contemporary dialogue.

Anne deVerteuil is a fashion designer with expertise in fabric dyeing and screen printing. She enjoys the serene but expressive qualities of Marie’s artworks. As a self taught mosaic artist, Anne marvels at Marie’s grout-less technique. Anne designed and hand-dyed her stylish summer dress.

Debra Sheffield completed her Fine Art degree at UVic in 2009. At “contemporary muse art” she combines drawing and digital media, with a focus on the female form. Debra is inspired by the shared excitement of exhibition openings. She likes the subtle colours and variety of techniques in the Bianco show. ardebra.com

Andrea and Andrew Swan have been friends and supporters of Marie’s artwork for over 30 years. Andrea enjoys Marie’s yoga classes. The couple winter in France, where Andrea discovered the joys of watercolour painting. Andrew leads a busy lifestyle including bike riding, sports, yoga and singing in a local choir.

Florence MacKay and Steve Savage are neighbours of Marie and her husband Alec. They appreciate Marie’s yoga classes and her calm, confident demeanour. Their daughter took a summer camp with Marie several years ago and brought home a lovely mosaic. Steve paints large-scale abstracts inspired by west coast beauty.

Marie-Andrée Allison [email protected]

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.