www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 25, 2015 | 40 Artist's works put a new spin on Pan Am Games by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" A n Oakville artist is taking advantage of the upcoming Pan Am Games to share her love of cycling with a wider audience. Luigia Zilli is opening her latest solo exhibit, Art of Cycling, at the Milton Centre for the Arts' Holcim Gallery, 1010 Main St. E., from July 2-25. Zilli started focusing on bicycles as the subject matter of her paintings in 2006 because she said she feels a connection to them. "They have been a part of my life since I OSCB Interested in broadening your ballet experience this summer? Junior Summer Intensive dancers ages 8 12 Senior Summer Intensive dancers ages 12 and up Join us at our 2015 Ballet Summer Intensive. Our experienced faculty offer a full schedule of classical and contemporary ballet classes: · · · · · · ballet technique ballet repertoire character dance conditioning classes contemporary lyrical jazz. Summer Intensive JULY 6 JULY 31,2015 They (bicycles) have been a part of my life since I can remember. They are my muse, my inspiration. They bring back many memories of happy moments growing up... I love how my paintings bring out happiness in those who are passionate about cycling. I can see the joy they feel when they see my work. It's priceless. Luigia Zilli Oakville artist Classes begin at 9:00 and finish at 3:00pm. Monday Friday TO BOOK YOUR PLACE CONTACT US: p. 905 302 Jeté (5383) e. oakvilleballet@gmail.com www.oakvilleballet.com Oakville School of Classical Ballet 260 Robinson Street Oakville, Ontario L6J 1G6 Offering the very best in classical & contemporary ballet training for over 50 years. can remember. They are my muse, my inspiration. They bring back many memories of happy moments growing up...," she said. "I love how my paintings bring out happiness in those who are passionate about cycling. I can see the joy they feel when they see my work. It's priceless." The subject matter of Zilli's latest exhibit is the perfect match for Milton since the town's new velodrome, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, is hosting the indoor cycling competitions for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, which run from July 10-26 and Aug. 7-15, respectively -- the centre will be known as the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome during that time. Milton is also the host of the Games' individual road cycling time trials. Burlington's City View Park, and its three artificial turf fields, is the site for Pan Am Games teams' soccer practices, while actual competitions will be held at the new Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. The Games will feature 49 sports and thousands of athletes from 41 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Zilli said she was looking for a place to show her latest works, approximately a year ago, when she recalled the Pan Am Games were coming to Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. "I thought it would be a good idea to have it (the exhibit) during the Pan Am Games and with Milton having a new velodrome where there will be the track races and time trials -- I thought Milton would be a good place to have it," she said. Zilli went to the Town of Milton's website and discovered the Milton Centre for the Arts and contacted Holcim Gallery. Its curators told her they would be happy to show her works as it would go along with the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games celebrations the town was planning. "I'm also excited because it's a good opportunity to share my art with more people out of the province and the country," said Zilli, who moved to Oakville in 2009 after living in B.C. for 11 years. But the 49-year-old local artist is no stranger to showcasing her works internationally, having put on her first exhibition in her hometown in Italy at age 20. Mostly self-taught, Zilli said she honed her see Latest on p.41 The Best of British Theatre right here in Oakville swan lake June 7 & 10 the duChess oF malFi June 21 & 24 the rise & Fall oF the City oF mahagonny July 5 & 8 titus androniCus July 19 & 22 tiCket PaCkages available 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 film.ca/signature facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas