The Calgary Fiddlers Association

Artist: Cecilia Gossen, BFA, MFA, PhD

Inspiration: Madam Butterfly

I am a fan of opera and have been planning a series of sculptures celebrating famous characters in well-known operas. The shape of the violin inspired me to make a female figure and Madam Butterfly popped into my mind. Several chin rests created her hair, and the pegs and peg box became her hair ornaments. Red lips and rosy cheeks give her a coquettish air. All she needs is to burst into song…. ‘un bel di’ indeed!

Artist Bio:  I was born in Colombia and came to Canada in 1969. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master in Fine Arts, and PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Calgary. My work is represented in collections worldwide and has been exhibited in Canada, England, Colombia, Spain, and Chile. My work is represented by Masters Gallery Ltd., Calgary.

Artist: Karen Biko

Inspiration: Gretta

Artist Bio: 

I have been surrounded by art and creativity all my life. Some of the influences started early when as a child we were living across the street from a well-known artist in Winnipeg, Bruce Head. My family all seemed to be creative, which just helped fuel the desire and the creativity.
At an exhibition, someone came by one day and sneered at me that I had no “formal training”. But my experimentation and appetite to learn have brought me further than I ever thought possible. I’m always looking to try something new, or figuring out a new touch that will add to the composition. I don’t have formal training, but I am having a lifetime of inspiration.
My inspiration for this Fiddle stems from that last project I did with a Cello. I wanted to have the same feel of colour and movement in the piece. A sensation of meandering music. Her name Gretta resonates with me according to some of the music I listen to while painting.

Included with the fiddle is a small black wooden piece I created as a hanging mechanism for Gretta so she can be displayed on a wall.

Artist: Gerardo Carsolio

Inspiration: Never-ending Winter

My inspiration for the piece was the beautiful long winter we’ve had. I love the elegance of the bare trees against the snow, but I want them green already!!

Artist Bio: 

Gerardo has always been attracted to nature. As a child he loved to study flowers, leaves, seeds, landscapes, and anything else that caught his eye during frequent hikes in the diverse Mexican countryside, always imagining what he could create with the objects he found. A self-taught furniture maker, carver, and painter he learned through self-exploration how to do this difficult work with his hands. After earning a degree in textile engineering, Gerardo spent a year in Europe developing his art. After moving to Canada, Gerardo continued to develop as an artist, experimenting with different media, his work evolving into a unique combination of painting and carving. By using wood as his canvas, Gerardo’s art focuses on using the natural beauty of this material and bringing the hues, grains, and textures into balance in the whole composition in a way that is unexpected. Light is the final component when appreciating a piece of Gerardo´s art, completing the image by showing the detail of the carving portion of the painting, and letting the spectator experience and immerse himself into the realm of the work.

Artist: Maya Kamachi     

Springbank High School        

Inspiration: Jellyfish

The jellyfish is a symbol of grace, peace, and mindfulness, which is exactly what the violin reminds me of.

Artist: Ruby Jackson                    

Springbank High School

Inspiration: Reaching for the Stars

I can see the child who used to play this violin, slowly learning how to make a beautiful sound and working hard for their dream. My violin represents this, reaching for the stars and making something lovely through the mistakes and bumps.

Artist: Jennie Harluk                   

 Springbank High School

Inspiration: Home

 The city, where I occasionally venture to. The foothills,   where I’ve grown up among fields and hay bales. As well as the mountains, that tell me I’m home. These three landscapes symbolize certain aspects of my life  and so I decided to do Calgary as I experience it.

Artist: Brooklyn Babcock

Springbank High School

Inspiration for this piece:  “Illusion”

 I love the idea of an “illusion”. Having to take a double take at something always intrigued me. When your mind begins to play tricks on you, then you begin to look at things with more beauty and perception. I painted this piece because I love the idea of not only wanting to understand something but needing to.

Artist: Natalie Champagne        

Springbank High School

Inspiration: Happy Christmas

 The inspiration behind my violin was the lack of happiness I saw around me. When I typed in “painted violin” on the internet all that came up was deep profound pieces that didn’t reflect who I am. So I chose to make my violin as bright as possible. Adding vibrant colors and happy patterns.

Artist: Michaela Cacic                 

Springbank High School

Inspiration: Hidden Mysteries of Geodes

I have enjoyed art since I was a kid. When I’m not doing art I’m playing club volleyball with the Canucks or doing my Chemistry homework.

Artist: Keely Austin

Springbank High School

Inspiration: Life and Death

A violin creates both beautiful music and flat/squeaky sounds. I thought of representing this contrast in my violin painting with symbols of life and death. A gradient rainbow can be happiness and life or beautiful music, and a gray gradient for death or off key sounds.

Artist: Taylor Joerissen             

Springbank High School

Inspiration: “Four Seasons”

 I decided to create a literal depiction of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Arguably the most iconic concert of all time. Each concerto differs from the others but each is heavily influenced by the use of violins. One foundation, four interpretations.

Bow Valley Fiddler

Artist: Simone Duttchen

Inspiration: “Life is a Hoot”

I am so thankful that I have a grandmother who not only

painted an art fiddle but also even helped me paint one. I painted it because I am a member of the Bow Valley Fiddlers, part of the Calgary Fiddlers Association and I love creating art. Also I wanted to be like my grandmother.

Artist: Sarah Shepherd

Westmount Charter School

Inspiration:

 “Midsummer Night’s Enchantment”

 Sarah’s inspiration came from a scene in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when the fairy queen, Tatania, has been enchanted to fall in love with Nick Bottom, a mortal craftsman whose head had been turned into that of a donkey and dotes on him while he plays her a song on a fiddle.

Artist: Eliza Housman

Springbank High School

Inspiration: Soul of Music

The gears represent the basic mechanics of the violin, while the flowers represent the soul of the previous owner and their influence upon the music they create and the instrument.

Artist: Emma Dicken                                           

Joane Cardinal-Schubert School

Artist: Sydney Curwen 

Joane Cardinal-Schubert School

Artist: Kyla Curwen

Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School

Artist: Maggie Ryan

Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School

Artist: Rebecca Clayton  

Joane Cardinal-Schubert School

Artist: Dora Poettcker

Cochrane High School

Inspiration: Steampunk

“I was inspired by Steampunk style. I wanted to try and create the illusions that the violin was mechanical and that the machinery was on the inside, trying to add the sense of depth.”

Artist: Brooke Kindleman

Cochrane High School

Inspiration Title: “Flickering Beats”

 “The work was inspired by the fast-paced and intricate music played by the fiddles. For myself, personally, I’ve always pictured fiddles as the musical translation of flames and fire. Though intimidating and complex in the nature of their music, there’s a sense of freedom and release in listening to them. I wanted to capture the open feeling in the work by showing the wild force of the music, but also the faint pause and moment of serenity in the heart of the music.