Wednesday, A p r il /, i n n vj/\rv. v d c a v c k . ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Photo by Peter C. McCusker Michael Young has donated one of his sculptures to the art auction this Saturday, which will raise money for the Oakville Art Society. Art is a visceral experience says Young By Carol Baldwin ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Sculpture is a hard sell. But that didn't stop Michael Young from switching to sculpting from painting a few years ago, and he's enjoying every minute of his new career. However, the Oakville artist does admit that people will buy paintings more readily that they will a sculpture. But he doesn't buy the argument that there's always an empty wall for a painting but not always an empty surface on which to display a sculpture. "People will find a place for a piece of sculpture if they really like it," he says, adding that many pieces carved in marble or stone can decorate the garden if there really isn't any room in the house for them. Before Young took up sculpting for a liv ing, he was painting - a hobby that turned into a career when he took early retirement from his engineering job six years ago. Young also decided to go back to school, and he has only two academic credits left before graduating from the Ontario College of Art. "It's a challenge. You get to explore new media and new approaches...to play on the edges," says the 61-year-old art student. "I wanted to make sure I was getting the best education in my art and find the direction I wanted to take." One of Young's sculptures, titled Heavy Metal, is a metal sculpture that plays rock music with the flick of a switch. This, along with other contemporary works of art that he refers to as "abstract intellectual pieces, are perfect examples of how he "plays on the edges" with his art. But before he got into creating those modem "constructive" sculptures, he con centrated on "subtractive" work in stone, which were preceded by "additive" sculp tures in clay. And it was a Sheridan College instructor who got him hooked on sculpting again - he won a school prize for a sculpture he did in England as a teenager. "I've always had an ability to see in the round. I guess I'm a natural for sculpture," he says. "I work in clay, bronze and stone, but more stone that anything else... Stone is reasonably tough physical work, but it's sat isfying." But even before his clay sculptures, the Oakville artist had been painting sporadical ly. "I had started taking painting at the OAS (Oakville Art Society) while I was still working. My first (class) was with Joyce Kellock at the red house in Coronation Park (where the OAS held its functions in the 1960s and '70s)," he explains. Even then he was preparing for his retirement. It just came a littler earlier than he expected. And it was always portraits, and still life to a lesser degree, that Young painted, not land scapes. "I was a suburban kid and adult; and it doesn't really have a landscape. Hence my interest in landscape has been pretty sparse," he explains. "I'm a humanist. I'm interested in the human condition, and as such, one reflects one's interest in one's art.. .Artists really have to express what they know or what interests them - for some it is memory; for others it is the soil. For me it is people." Young has donated a sculpture to the OAS art auction which he hopes will garner on the auction block what it would in a pri- ' vate sale. (His sculptures range in price from $300 to $500.) But even more than that, he's hoping the person who buys his sculpture will enjoy it. "To hear someone say, 'I so love this piece. I look at it every day, and it gives me a lift' - it feels good that some people have found pieces of mine that do that for them," he says. "For me art is more of a visceral expe rience than an intellectual or spiritual one. You feel in your guts that this does some thing for you." Bid on a bargain for original art (C o n tin u e d fro m p a g e B 6) artists," said Peri Jolley, artistic director of the OAS. "People who come to art auctions want to be assured that the works they are bidding on are of the best qual ity. So it is essential for us to make sure that the artists represented have established themselves and are recog nized for their accomplishments in the world of art." This year the auction will be offering over 100 works of art in a variety of styles and media. Along with paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolours, there will be many fine pieces of pottery, ceramics and sculpture. Paintings will range from realism to abstract and from flowers to landscapes. Pottery will offer everything from functional to fanciful, while the sculptures promise to provide three-dimensional form in a variety of materials. There is also a silent auction, which will begin at the start of the preview showing tomorrow (Thurs day). "This could very well mean that you could pick up a great piece of art at a terrific price without even being at the auction on Saturday night," said Joe Smith, vice-president of events for the OAS. However, he warns, bidding continues right down to the slam of the auctioneer's gavel at the live auction. Proceeds from the auction provide the OAS with funds so its members can continue to offer reasonably priced art education programs to people of all ages. "We are one of the very few organizations that does not rely on any kind of financial support from the fed eral, provincial, or municipal levels of government. All our funding comes from the dedicated and hard work put in by our members," said Broten. "It also comes from the support of the many art patrons in our community," added Smith. "It is the people who come out and support our events who make it possible." Admission to the OAS art auction is free. Previews in Centennial Gallery at 120 Navy St. (on the ground floor of Central Library) will take place April 8th from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., April 9th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 10th from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday with the auc tion beginning at 7:30 p.m. POSTAGE STAMP SHOW Millions in Stamps, Covers and Postcards at the Queen Elizabeth Building, CNE Grounds April 9,10,11, 1999 FRI. 11 A M -7 PM/SAT. 10A M - 6 PM/SUN. 10A M -4P M FREE ADMISSION lUEInrly P r i n a ! Presented by: Canadian Stamp Dealers' Association 6000 INK FILM V t r ANYTIME CINEPLEX ODEON C IN E M A G U ID E Sh<m times i-Htvhu- \pril 9 - \pril 15. IWV OAKVILLE M E W S 171 SPEERS AT KERR STREET 844-4800 " P A T C H ADA Fri.-Thurs. 7:10,9:30 • (PG) Y O U 'V E Q O T M A IL (PG) Frl.-Thurs. 9:20______________ S T E P M O M (AA) Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 7:00 Sat.-Sun. (1:40,4:10) 7:00 A C IV IL A C T IO N (PG) Frl.-Thurs. 9:40 B L A S T F R O M T H E P A S T (PG) Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 7:30,9:50 Sat-Sun. (1:20, 3:50) 7:30,9:50 M E S S A G E IN A B O T T L E (AA) Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 6:45,9:10, Sat-Sun. (3:00) 6:45,9:10 O C TO B E R S K Y (PG) Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 7:20 Sat-Sun. (1:10,3:40) 7:20 A B U G 'S L IF E (PG) Sat.-Sun. (1:00) P R IN C E O F E G Y P T (PG) Sat.-Sun. (1:30,4:00) Spring Bridge Lessons The Bridge Centre has offered the best in bridge lessons for over sixteen years. © Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre & The American Contract Bridge League For Beginners... 10 weeks, $129 Monday evenings beginning April 26th For "Rusty" Players. . .8 weeks, $109.00 Wednesday evenings beginning April 28th Supervised Play For Newer Players Monday mornings weekly at 9:30 ...$6.0Q/visit Duplicate Bridge Games For Newer Players Wednesday mornings weekly at 9:30 ...$6.00/visit Thursday afternoons weekly at 12:30 ... $6.00 /visit Please call 274-1976 couTdbenefit from a one to one relationship with an adult female volunteer?-- ^ m Our matching and group programmes offer friend emotional support and guidance allowing girls to r f l their full potential, build on their unique strengths arid enhance their self esteem. | * Please call Karen or Fiona at t s j r m 1 3 3 8 - 0 2 3 8 to see if Big Sisters is right for you! A S neededI volunteer board Members ' 4 O A K V IL L E Prem ier Craft Show Saturday, April 10,10:00 am - 4:00 pm GLEN ABBEY RECREATION CENTRE (1415 Third Line at Upper Middle Rd) Some of Ontario's Finest Artists & Craftspeople offering their work for sale;1 Show Pass $2.00 / Children Free . | Lots o f F ree P a rk in g ! 1 -519 -3 7 1 -4 4 7 7 1 D O N 'T M IS S T H I S O N E ! New Hamilton Orchestra Towards The Millennium 1 Does 2d Cenhirii Classical Music Make you... 1 H ead fo r the h ills • Fo a m a t the m o u th • H a tc h r e -r u n s o f Th e P artrid ge F a m ily? Get the REAL TRUTH! Relax, cabaret style, at this fun informal concert uihere candelit tables and refreshm ents mill enhance yoor evening. Saturdaq. Hpril 17rh. 1999 8:00 p.m. - Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place Learn To S ail Bronte Harbour Yacht Club S a ilin g School Junior 7-11 Years Youth 11-1? Years ^ d"\ Monday to Friday ?:90a.ni.-2:20b.rn. ^ 7" July & August - 2 ,4 or £ Week Programs Program starts July 5 Adutt Sailing Program-Nowfca to Adwnced Dinghy, Mon. & Wed. for ? evening? [ Keel, Basic Cruising evenings & weekends Both courses offered June, July & August Call CM> £ 2 7 -6 4 3 7 ■ Brian 2 5 7 4 3 3 0 Jana £ 2 5 4 4 3 3 9 a.m.-5 p,m.____________ \ Ives: Davies: Louie: Ravel: The Unanswered Question Rhapsody - 4 dances for Strings (Premiere) Arc Ma Mere L'Oye (Mother Goose) r*MKbr/fi#1 Guest Soloist: Lance Elbeck (Violin) Millennium 2 Concert Saturday. Hail 23111.1939 Studio Theatre. Hamilton Place New HAMILTONOrchedtm 'V.. Call For Tickets Today! General Admission $25 The New Hamilton Orchestra Box Office Jackson Square, 2 King St.W. Ham ilton, ON L8P 1A1 Phone: (905) 526-6556 Fax: (905) 527-5306 Sponsored by Elizabeth & Frank Butty x■S iUi G o l d e n G l o b e N o m i n e e Best Actress i- Emily Watson One Of The Best Films Of The Year! Gutsy, moving. provocative and intelligent with tu o sensational Oscar-caliber performances." -Jo n a th a n Forem an, NEW YORK POST "Astounding! As beautifully acted as it is directed, edited and written." -S tep h en Holden. THE NEW YORK TIMES "Superbly Acted! Difficult to resist. " -K en n eth Turan. LOS ANGELES TIMES "Outstanding! Watson is mesmerizing -Ja n e t Maslin. THE NEW YORK TIMES ^ W t I j L racheti.k . f f . t h s H I I A U Y . I M . k l E The true story o f two sisters who shared a passion, a madness and a man. Soundtrack available on Sony Classical OCTOglEM, -'-'--flLM FOl R„ INTERMEDIA FILMS . BRITISH SCREEN THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND OXFORD FILM COMPANYEMfrY WATSON McHEL CRIFUTHS HILARY AND |Al KIE lANffSFRAIN DAVID MORRISSEY CHARLES DAME LF1IA IMRIl SIMONE IRFLANDc VA.NE.ssA PEREIRA HILARYc- 'ANDY POWELL ALICE NORMIM.TON DAVID JOHNSON BARRINGTON PHELOCNCCUV LAST NIGEL SINCLAIR RLTH [ACKSON FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE ANDY PATERSON t NICOLAS KENT ANAND TUCKERYNJlYNUs nivew ' • www.octoberhhm.com C -- • w-? FT Screening: Wednesday April 7, 7p.m. Famous Players Cinemas, Oakville Town Centre, Dorval & QEW Organized by the Oakville Arts Council, 815-5977 Sponsored by Royal & SunAlliance Financial. Official Media Sponsor: The Oakville Beaver Tickets $6 members, $8 non-members. Tickets available at the door from 6:30 p.m. or in advance at Bean There (Oakville Town Centre, Dorval & QEW) Information call 815-5977. http://www.octoberhhm.com