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"I decided to let the kid out to play, to paint just for fun," said Currah. "It just blew my tutor away." Joanne Currah refers to it as a paradigm shift. Whatever happened, the transforâ€" mation of heart and soul she experiâ€" enced changed her life. By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff Her small ‘timid‘ paintings of floâ€" rals, created under the tutelage of an artist neighbor, suddenly transformed into large, lively vibrantly colorful works which now hang in collections around the world and are members of the Posters International collection. Joanne Currah uplifts the spirit with florals Currah was always searching for her niche running through a series of pottery, ceramics, floral arranging, millinery and fashion design courses while holding down fulltime jobs as office manacer and mom. She started painting seriously in 1980 and her work has gradually taken on an expressionistic flavor with Join us for Monte Carlo Night! Saturday March 5, Otello‘s Banquet Hall Ticket Reservations, 844â€"7984 a mixed media. Her first solo exhibit in 1989 at CC James was followed by another exhibit at McLaren Barnes two years ago, where she returns with up to 30 new florals for an exhibit runâ€" ning today through to March 5th. In between local shows she has also exhibited at the Art Gallery of Mississauga‘s annual Visual Arts Juried Show, the Color and Form Society‘s 32nd annual Juried Exhibition, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Niagaraâ€"onâ€"theâ€"Lake annual Artistry by the Lake juried exhibit, Queen‘s Quay Terminal, amone a host of others. In March of 1991, the company for which she worked closed allowing her to pursue her painting fulltime, someâ€" thine she has done with much gusto. "I love flowers, the lines, the color, the freedom â€" they almost dance," says Currah. "It‘s the color that excites me. There is so much unhappiness in this world. If we can just put some happiâ€" ness around us, and color makes us happy." A very gentle person, whose beauâ€" tiful home is a floral sanctuary, Currah promises no political or social stateâ€" ments. "I just feel we should uplift the spirit," says Currah. "People smile (when they view her work) and that‘s An exhibit of new florals by Joanne Currah opens tonight at McLaren Barnes. THE GETAWAY (R) Brutal Violence. Evgs 7:00 9:45. MY GIRL 2 (F) Evgs. 7:20 9:35. Sat. Sun. Mats. 2:00 4:30. I‘LL DO ANYTHING (AA) Evgs. 7:10 9:40 MRS. DOUBTFIRE (PG) (Dolby Stereo) Evgs. 6:45 9:15. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:45 MY GIRL 2 (F) Eugs. 7:15 9:30. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:45. SCHINDLER‘S LIST (AA) (Dolby Stereo) Evgs. 8:00. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:30. Language, Violence (Dolby Stereo) Evgs 7:00 9:40. Sat. Sun. Mat. 2:00. REALITY BITES (PG) Mature Theme. Evgs 6:30 9:00. Sat. Sun. Mat. 2:15. No IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (AA) Course passes accepted THE PELICAN BRIEF (AA) Evgs. 7:00 9:35. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:30. SHADOWLANDS (PG) Eugs. 7:10 9:40 Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:30. THE PIANO (R) Evgs. 7:00 9:25. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:45.. I‘LL DO ANYTHING (AA) Evgs. 7:10 9:30 Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:45. BEETHOVEN‘S 2ND (F) Sat. Sun. Mats 115 3:00. GRUMPY OLD MEN (PG) Evgs. 7:10 9:15. Sat. Sun. Mat. 1:45. REMAINS OF THE DAY (PG) Evgs. 7:00 9:35. Currah says men in particular have complimented her work and she believes that‘s because "there‘s a boldâ€" ness to them, a strength. I‘m so sure of what I‘m saying." important. > A COMEDY ABOUT LOVE IN THE ‘90s RoBIN WILLIAMS FIELD MRsS. DOoUBTFIRE The best comedy of the year mygirl 2 ACADEMY NOMINEE NO PASSES 323 Church St. Church Reynolds Five Oakville schools are involved this year: White Oaks with its production of Moliere‘s Miser; Loyola High School (TBA); St. Thomas Aquinas with Journey; Queen Elizabeth Park, Trifles and T.A. Blakelock with Subject to Change. Tickets are $6 per night or $18 for the package which opens Feb. 22nd and runs to Feb. 25th with the Awards Ceremony, Feb. 26th. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. each night. Winners of the district comâ€" petition move on to the regional finals which will also be held at Burlington Central. Adjudicator is Ian Waldrum, head of English at North Toronto Collegiate, a former festival particiâ€" pant and the Festival adjudicator in 1989. The Sears Drama Festival, a high school drama competition, gets underway this month at Burlington Central High School. The voyage of Twoâ€"Step continues with a pictorial cruise to the Balearic Islands of Spain, the Azores and Canary Islands and an eventâ€"filled adventure to Brazil. Transâ€"Atlantic sailors and photogâ€" raphers, Paul and Sheryl Shard, will share their adventures in one show only tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Oakville Centre. Tickets are $10; $9 for students £. and seniors and children, $5 and are available by calling 815â€"2021. Burlington Central is located at 1433 Baldwin St. inBurlington. Voyage continues Currah has set no lofty expectaâ€" tions for her McLaren Barnes showâ€" ing, no heavy objectives. "I just go day by day. It just seems to be right," she says. Schools vie for Sears awards (Photo by Peter McCusker)