Group Exhibition on the theme of Love.

February 3rd - 26th.

Meet the Artists: February 3rd. Thursday 6 -9 pm. (First Thursdays)

February 3rd . 6 - 9 pm (Meet the Artists, Grand Opening)

Everyone is invted

Open Bar

Free Admission

Participating Artists: Lilly Butter, Hans Blokpoel, Jennifer Cook, Cairn Cunnane, Ivy Lee Deavy, Claudia Dennis, Christopher Lea Dunning, Michelle Gates (two paintings from the United Kingdom), Shawna Guy, Madhu Kumar, Mathieu Laca, Michèle LeCourtois, Shannon Lee, John F. Marok, Judith MacRae, Carmela Marrese, Patrick John Mills, Zaneta Pernicova, Komi Seshie, Bruce Stewart, Stefan Thompson, Tic Tock Tom, Lorena Ziraldo.

Susan Jephcott (featuring a 25 foot scroll painting). Plus 25 plus of her paintings.

Featured Sculptor (February). Hans Blokpoel.

Thank you for the best Vernissage ever. It took me hours to come down from my high. What great energy! I was thrilled to see how the artists interpreted the theme. Also, you blow me away with your advertising. You don't know how many people have said to me that they had seen the ads. Frankly, if someone hasn't heard of the LOVE show, then they must have their head up their butt. You're building fantastic credibility for yourself and you're showing the public that Ottawa has one Hell of an art scene!

Here is the photo (above image) in cropped and original versions. Sorry - it's a bit grainy because I only had my pocket camera with me that night.

All the best,

Michèle LeCourtois - Artist

January 31st, 2011.

Today one of my signs (sandwich board signs) at the end of my street was damaged. It was really destroyed.

In the last 6 – 8 months I have been contacted by:

- BY-law (many times)

- Health inspectors

- Electrical Safety authority inspectors

- Building Services

- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (Property Taxes)

- Canada Revenue Agency … two officers came to my home to do a field trip. As part of their comprehensive audit.

- Head office of the LCBO in Toronto

- Liquor Inspectors

- Local police Officers (two under cover officers).

I do not believe this is simply bad luck. Dealing with all these above bodies has resulted and continues to result in a great deal of time, stress, and expense.

For every action there is a positive and negative reaction.

Over the last three years I organized, hosted, funded The Hintonburg Arts Festival. I do not believe in government funding for the arts. I have never applied for funding nor any sort of grant from the government.

Last year I was contacted less than 24 hours before the Arts Festival by: the head office of the LCBO in Toronto, Liquor inspectors, Ottawa Police department, Health Inspectors, and Bylaw. It was very clear that a neighbor contacted all of the above (Red Flagged)

In organizing an open to the public community event… there are many potential problems. Not wishing to risk potential fines and liabilities… I decided to not serve alcohol and food. Without the sales of beer and food… I had to pay out of pocket all the bands, sound equipment, sound man, toilets, posters… etc. So in the future I will not be organizing open community events, but rather focus on private parties.

Over the past three years I have had 700 plus posters ripped up and thrown on my front lawn. That does not include the posters that have been destroyed and not put on my front lawn. So now I limit putting up posters up in my community. I drive down town and put up posters.

Marketing? How does one design a poster that will be noticed downtown? A catalyst. An obstacle. I must think how to promote art. I must find a way. So I have to say thank you and fuck you to the individual or persons who have been going out of their way to messing with me. The posters are significantly different from those printed in the past. Two years ago I would put an image of a painting on a poster and get 30 color copies printed. Now the posters are black and white and I get 2100 printed. The nature of the posters is text based. Such words include: I Killed the Group of Seven, LOVE, Naked, Naked, Naked, Porn is Not Art, WAR, Pretty Ugly Art…

Currently I am being contacted by Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). I received two letters from the City of Ottawa - Supplementary Tax Bill. They have increased my property taxes since I built a Sculpture Garden. Effective period 2009 and another for 2010. Amounts $758.21 (2009), and $967.03 (2010).

I will be contacting the Police department and filing a report on the sign.

Please support Art

Please support Community

Please come to the Art Opening this Thursday Night.

It is a great show. LOVE

Sincerely
Patrick