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B8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 9,199! Songs Sinatra Taught Me Saturday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. For anyone who is a fan o f "Old Blue Eyes ", this show is not to be missed! Featuring former television star Tommy Ambrose singing classics such as "New York, New York", "Strangers in the Night" and many more! Presented in association with d lW O 1250 Royal Bank Festival of Classics presents Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare July 21 to August 14 Monday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Theatre at the Lake, Coronation Park Jesse Cook Saturday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. Enjoy the hot latin sounds o f the Jesse Cook Trio. A "guitar virtuoso" this two time Juno nominee has wowed fans and critics from coast to coast! Presented in association with The CteviLLE Beaver now, FOft THE PEfiFORMINCi ARTS (905)815-2021 <tilfo r tickets now! Visit the box office, 130 Novy Street (at Lokeshore), Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 2 to 5 p.m.; or two hours before show time. For more information on upcoming shows explore our website at W W W by Affirmative Communications. with their art studies By Claudia D 'Souza SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Fiery, disciplined and a study in contrasts. These are the words judges used to describe the two winners of this year's Oakville Gal­ leries Volunteer Association Art Awards. For the first time, both first and second place winners, Graeme Maitland and Jee Young Oh, are from the same high school - White Oaks Secondary. Maitland's graphic, startling, and sometimes disturbing acrylic images captured first prize - $2,000 toward furthering his artistic education. Simultaneously colourful, dark and amusing, the 18-year-old OAC student integrates his own poetry into his images and dabbles in computer art. White Oaks teacher Barbara Eadie has wit­ nessed the artistic genius of Maitland for many years. "I've watched him recognize who he is since Grade 9," she recalls. "He struggled with zon- ing-out due to boreddm and then suddenly real­ ized how to express himself. His work is excit­ ing and violent, reflecting the values and strug­ gle of the generations. There's an openness and individuality there that belies this classical training in art. An energy, vigor and a scariness exists in his work, too." One of three judges for the awards, Oakville Galleries executive director, Francine Perinet adds, "His raw, simple images are a reflection of him and how he deals with life within the context of the'society in which he lives. They're not based on shape or form, and there are no cliches. Nothing is borrowed." "I was absolutely thrilled Graeme won," admits judge Heather Greening of Greening's Custom Framing and Art Gallery Inc. "He real­ ly doesn't realize how talented he is. That's what sets artists apart. They do it out of pure love and execution." Greening reveals, when she asked him how long he'd been painting, he replied, "Just this past year." "You're kidding? What were you doing before that?" she asked. "Playing video games," he said with a shrug. "That's what fascinated me," says Greening. "He's so natural, innocent, and unaffected. He wasn't out to impress anyone. To him, this was a lark." Maitland credits Eadie and art teacher, David Milne with awakening the young man's creative sensibilities and keeping him in the program. About a year-and-a-half ago, Eadie showed the class some 1960s inspired slides including a few of Andy Warhol's. He liked what he saw. "It made it exciting for me," says the River Oaks resident who often incorporates those closest to him, including his two brothers, into his work. "I'm very happy. I was blown away by the talent in this contest." Photo by Peter J. Thompsor This year both winners of the Oakville Galleries Volunteer Association Art Awards came from White Oaks Secondary School. Graeme Maitland and Jee Young Oh each hold a painting that helped them win scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, to further their art education. Maitland plans on studying illustration at Sheridan College or visual arts at York Univer­ sity. His goal is to be a book illustrator. Jee Young Oh, a 21 -year-old English as a Second Language student, received $1,000 for her second place finish. Oh came to Canada four years ago from Korea settling first in Montreal before she and her family moved to Oakville. Oh, who has been studying and perfecting her craft since elementary school, concentrated more on still life depictions in Korea. Drawn to the beauty of Canada, her work now focuses more on landscapes. Oh's style, in sharp contrast to Maitland's unstructured, off-the-wall statements, is tradi­ tional and conservative. Employing a variety of media including watercolour, oil, acrylic, charcoal and conte, her work ranges from dreamy landscapes to life drawings. Her love of Impressionism, especial­ ly Edward Degas, shows in the light and move­ ment in her brush strokes. Talent and patience are the words Eadie uses in describing Oh's work. "Her strengths are her observation, attention to detail, and understanding of basic forms. She's very open to suggestion. She's a deter­ mined woman." "She obviously puts a lot of time and desire into painting," notes Greening. "I feel she is totally committed," agrees Per­ inet. "For her, it's about knowledge and gaining control of her work. The contrast between the two winners is quite amazing." Both are fiery and consumed by their art, she adds, but it translates in different ways. Maitland's fire was almost self-destructive at one point, but he turned it around and under­ stood where he could be productive. Oh is determined to know how much power she has and is consumed by discipline. "Both merited this award very strongly, I think." "My goal is to be a great artist," Oh says simply with a shy smile. "That's not easy because there are so many great artists. I'm so happy to win." She plans on studying fine art at the Ontario College of Art in September. The Oakville Galleries Volunteer Associa­ tion Art Awards are open to any graduating Oakville students planning a post-secondary education in the field of art. Portfolios must consist of 12 to 20 original pieces with examples from the following cate­ gories: three dimensional, painting, drawing, video and printmaking. Other items could con­ sist of photography, fashion design, textiles, multi-media and interior design. The portfolio should be accompanied by a sketch book/journal. Awards of $2,000 and $1,000 are given fol­ lowing proof of acceptance to an art training institution. Information and application forms are avail­ able from student services or art departments at all Oakville secondary schools. Junior Jazz Ensemble wins gold T he Halton Region Junior Jazz Ensemble won a Gold Standard at the week-long National Musicfest Canada '99 festival held at Toronto's York University last month. The ensemble is comprised of 17 Grade 7 and 8 students chosen from across the Halton region. Auditions for the band were held in the fall of 1998, and the students have been rehearsing most Tuesdays since then under the direction of Carolyn Lewis and Jane Wamsley, teachers at C. H. Norton Public School in Burlington. Previous to national Musicfest, the Halton Region Junior Jazz Ensemble had won Gold at the Greater Toronto Area Musicfest Regional Festival. They have played for various public school audiences as well as the North and West Halton Band Sharings and the Halton Music Showcase at Hamilton Place. Our town's version of 'Our Town' The Royal Alex is currently running a pro­ duction of Our Town in Toronto. But, here in Oakville, the drama students of Iroquois Ridge High School (IRHS) are also present­ ing this Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The students selected this large scale pro­ duction because it gave more individuals the opportunity to get involved - the cast consists of 30-plus students, under the direction of teacher Don Marshall. "We chose the play because it takes place at the beginning of the century," said Mar­ shall. "As we face the millennium, we felt it was an appropriate choice to finish the year." Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the school theatre on tomorrow (Thursday) Fri­ day and Saturday. Tickets are available for $5 at IRHS, 123 Glenashton Dr. For more information, call 845-0012. *, H alton K iW a ld o r f■ * rtistic cJA livc School * O pening fall '99Kg., Gr. 1-8 a beautiful, new campus at 2193 Orchard Rd. in Burlington In fo rm atio n N ig h t Wednesday, June 23, 7:30 p.m. Central Arena Auditorium (Drury Lane) For more information, call 854-0191, or visit us on the Web at www.waldorfschool.net B e c o m e a B ig T ic k e t M e m b e r a n d $ a v e ! For Just $30, you get: savings of 20% on shows of your choice first chance at best seats special offers from local restaurants and retailers Ask about our new BIG TICKET PLUS membership! 130 O a k v il l e n a v y s t . C enttfie s i s-2021 Arts & Entertainment OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVIIiT: CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS O akville B eaver E n terta in m en t Editor: Carol Baldwin 845-3824 (Extension 254) Fax: 337-5567 Scholarships will help students continue 4 http://www.waldorfschool.net