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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 15, 2008 - 35 Two new exhibitions at Oakville Galleries Exhibitions on display until June Oakville Galleries recently held openings for its two new exhibitions, What We Bring to the Table and Onward Future. Gairloch Gardens, located at 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E., is exhibiting What We Bring to the Table. The exhibition features the work of artists Patrick Faigenbaum, Bettina Hoffmann, Instant Coffee and Laura Letinsky. What We Bring to the Table ignites interactions of all types, ranging from celebratory festivities and story-telling, to a foodfight just waiting to happen. As an expression, "what we bring to the table" attests to the cultural importance and metaphorical nature of the table as a place where complex social dynamics are discussed; family, religion, gender, class and group identity - all issues that stir strong sentiments and passions. This exhibition is curated by Marnie Fleming, Curator of Contemporary Art, Oakville Galleries. Currently on display at Centennial Square, 120 Navy St., is Onward Future. Suspended at some point between a familiar past and an undiscovered post-apocalyptic future, the exhibition represents the first substantial overview of the collaborative project T&T. It was initiated by the artists Tyler Brett of Bruno, Saskatchewan and Toronto's Tony Romano. Configured by an amateur interest in disciplines as diverse as architecture, industrial design and music, this project colonizes a number of popular myths into a new world order. Here, we find ourselves nomadically adrift in what Michel Foucault calls "a place without a place." Caught between the past and the future, childhood and adulthood, reality and fiction, Onward Future sets the stage for an artistic practice built on imagination, innovation and play - albeit with a motif of doubt. This exhibition is curated by Patrik Andersson, an independent curator, art critic, and art historian. For the first time, a series of public programs have been created specifically to involve the local community. Both shows opened on Friday, Feb. 8, and artists were in attendance. The exhibitions run until June 6. OPENING NIGHT: Bettina Hoffmann (top) poses in front of her video work titled Momentum at Gairloch Gardens, while Tyler Brett (bottom, left) and Tony Romano pose with their work at Centennial Square during Friday's opening. Get ready for the Ten Thousand Villages Oriental Rug Event With spring just around the corner Ten Thousand Villages is eagerly anticipating its first annual Oriental Rug Event to be held from June 6 to 22. As with all products available through Ten Thousand Villages, these handknotted, heirloom quality rugs are fairly traded. "They are made to last more than a lifetime," said Frieda Kehler, Manager of the Ten Thousand Villages Oakville, which is located at 226 Lakeshore Rd. E. As a fair trade shop, Ten Thousand Villages encourages consumers to shop with a conscience. To fully appreciate the beauty of these rugs is to know that the artisans are being paid fairly and that no children are employed. For buyers, this is assurance that experience and strong hands are at work and therefore have produced high quality pieces. "These artisans are proud of the work they do and their skill shows in the quality of the rugs," said Frieda. The upcoming event features the work of the JAKCISS Artisan Cooperative of Pakistan. More than 700 families in 100 villages, both Christian and Muslim, are employed through the co-operative. Each earns a fair wage and in turn, enables them to care for their family's needs. "Rugs through Ten Thousand Villages enrich the lives of families, so that they are able to buy food, pay for healthcare, education and decent housing," said Frieda. For example, receiving a fair living wage makes it possible to purchase a water buffalo, which ensures that a supply of fresh milk is available and used to make yogurt and butter, which is heavily incorporated into Pakistani cooking. Any extra milk can be sold to provide additional income. That's the ripple effect from adding a gorgeous rug to your décor. Visit Ten Thousand Villages for fairly traded handcrafted products from around the world. s? s? t? nge eas? ol? lem PA? des? ues? le d b connect with other parents sharing the same o por p ? D al l Now youro g p canugh attitu ing b FORUM @ arty i at sch experiencessues eds su t ch ry? is in o 24/7 in the PARENT-TO PARENT en al rain ing en s with stfeed le par day p lems ng riv ipline ial ne y T Parent TVO looking recognize and h children who made difference! ott CityGett andeenare Brea toSing Birtrewardrob Sibli havesc aSpec T Di P P Your families' best local resource! Sponsored by