paavo airola: the artist and his influence in ontario. the collection of terri lipman
Paavo Airola is returning to Quinte! Many of you will remember him as a wonderful painter and teacher who had a very intense, but short, tenure here in Eastern Ontario. In fact, many of the artists who formed the Belleville Art Association, Gallery 121 and who have shown here at the gallery over the years were very strongly influenced by his work.
Terri Lipman has been collecting the works of Paavo Airola and his students since she first discovered him in 1986, and this incredibly passionate journey spanning more than a quarter century has led to this moment – the first ever public showing of this magnificent private collection.
Over these many years, in her quest to learn more about the artist and see more of his work, Terri had the good fortune to become involved with the incredible patrons, collectors, colleagues, friends and artists who would be pivotal in helping her to amass this collection. Terri says: “with every archival article, phone call, road trip, cup of tea, note taking session, Airola came to life through the stories and anecdotes of those who painted with him.”
Local artists who studied with Airola include Philippa Faulkner, Dorothy Brown, Barbara Whelan, Doris Richardson, Wilma Alexander, Genia Rickerson, Alfred Karu and Helen Cavalier Quinn.
We are so happy to be able to show a substantial body of his work, along with the paintings of his students in Galleries One and Two from March 7th to March 30, 2013. Please join us on Saturday, March 9th from 2-4 p.m. to meet Terri, the woman whose drive and love for this artist made this exhibition possible, some of the artists featured and enjoy a story or two about Paavo Airola.
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