Act From Your Art Project
is all heart (and art)

Verona Sorensen’s latest endeavour combines trio exhibit with good cause

By Byron Toben

Abstract painter Verona Sorensen, who created a homeless activity called Food For Thought for the Homeless has now combined that activity with a new exhibit at a “pop up” gallery at 5364 St. Laurent.

A vernissage is scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at 5 pm. The exhibit will continue until Sunday, April 28.

We reviewed her last exhibit, a duo with Sunny Savage, at Duc du Lorraine last August. This new one is a trio with figurative painters Mark Lang and Gianni Giuliano.

About the project

Fifteen percent of sales will go toward the Homeless project. The 1700 square foot space will also double as a drop-off spot for food/care donations for those living on the streets of Montreal. Here is a list of requested items:

Non Perishable
CLOTHING – Socks (new), underwear, T-shirts, blankets
TOILETRIES – Toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorants, lip balm, soap, lotion, pads/tampons, combs, brushes, band aids
CREATIVE TOOLS – pencils, pens, sketch books (no lines), erasers, sharpeners
OTHER – Reusable water bottles, energy bars, chocolates

Perishable
FINGER FOOD – sandwiches, pastries
FRUIT – apples, oranges, bananas, nuts, raisins
VEGGIES – lentils, rice, carrots, celery, salads

In addition to the paintings displayed, there will be a workshop on Sunday, April 14 on how to weave recycled plastic bags into mats and pillows to distribute to the homeless. This will be shown by Lisa Wadup from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.

Another event on Friday, April 19 will include drawing lessons for volunteers to prepare sketchpads to add to the care packages.

Fifteen percent of sales will go toward the Homeless project. The 1700 square foot space will also double as a drop-off spot for food/care donations for those living on the streets of Montreal.

About the artists

Verona Sorensen obtained a BFA at Concordia. She studied art in Austria and Italy, then in Mexico where she studied encaustic painting (hot beeswax with added pigments, dating back to ancient Greece). She is represented by a gallery in London, UK.

Her works can be found with corporate collections (Loto Quebec, Bankers Hall, NCK, Inc., Jameson Development, Nordstrom) as well as private collections in Canada, Europe, Mexico and the USA.

Mark Lang is an oil painter who often combines elements of historic artistic works with Mise en Abyme (or recurrent images reflected within themselves). These reframings, sometimes with persons he knows – or himself – adds a personal, oft humorous element.

Having studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design and the New York School of Visual Arts, he now resides in an old church in the Eastern Townships. His paintings are in various international collections.

Giannini Giuliano is influenced by both the Old Master Italian painters and the London School. He does not work from preparatory sketches, but composes “on the spot”.

Born in Montreal, he obtained a Concordia Bachelors in Painting and Drawing and a UQAM masters in Painting. A winner of the 6th Brush Off competition, he is a two time recipient of a Greenshields grant and many other prizes. His works are in many private and public collections.

Act From Your Art Project continues at 5364 St. Laurent until April 28.
514 239-8403
actfromyourart.com

Images: courtesy of Verona Sorensen

Read more articles from Byron Toben

Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.