Laurie Boese Reviews

Glenn Kauth - from St. Catharines Standard
Codi Jeffreys, entertainment writer- from Pulse Magazine This is the review with illustrations.
Brittany Gogo, entertainment writer- from Brock Press Section: Arts & Entertainment

Learning away from school distractions

By Glenn Kauth
Standard Staff

April 28, 2005

Enriched program students experience an 'artist's space'

The 20 students spread across the floor of the Niagara Artists Company gallery got to try a new artistic technique Wednesday - drawing from memory.
Using sculptures of horses and Greek-style figures, the students traced the images onto paper and later used their memories to fill in the details. The activity at the downtown St. Catharines gallery was part of a series of arts workshops staged by the District School Board of Niagara's special education department.
For Laurie Boese, an artist at the gallery who led the drawing workshop, copying real life objects is often better than using a photograph. "It helps to capture more of the details," he said.
Boese added drawing from memory is a practical skill. '"The idea is to finish (the drawing) after you've drawn the sketch. That way, you don't have to get a model to sit there for two hours."
Venus de Milo: Drawing from memory

The 80 enrichment students who took part also got to choose from three other workshops: stll-life painting, print-making and sculpting. At the painting workshop, students were introduced to a classic art activity - painting fruit.
Leanne Angus, a Grade 12 student at Laura Secord Secondary School in north St. Catharines, tried to add a twist to her work by using textures and colours to create a more impressionistic and abstract picture.
"It looks real," she said of her choice of style. "It has a lot of expression in it rather than looking like a photograph."
In the print-making workshop, students used a variety of tools to sketch a stylized self- portrait onto a thin piece of wood. Once done, the drawing goes onto a 100-year-old pilot press for printing onto paper. The idea was to show students how to make several copies of their work.
The wildest art was in the sculpting room. There, students moulded wires to create a mix of abstract shapes. Melissa Wolff, for example, a Grade 10 student at Niagara District Secondary School in Niagara-on-the-Lake, created a triangular sculpture punctuated by spirals and spikes. Tim Kruitbosch of E. L. Crossley in Fonthill took a more traditional approach. He sculpted a grand piano.
For Wolff, attending the workshops was just a way "to get out of a history test." Angus, too, said while she's often taken art classes in her spare time, art isn't her career path. Instead, she's planning to take applied languages at Brock University in the fall.
Still, event co-ordinator Monica Hepburn, an art teacher in Fort Erie, said creating future artists wasn't the focus of the event.
"The idea is to be in more of an artist's space," she said. "It's good to get out of the classroom," she added, noting students can often learn and accomplish more away from the distractions at school.
"We started this as an enrichment opportunity for students,"she added.

St. Catharines Standard

Pulse Niagara

Codi Jeffreys

January 28, 1999

When I first started doing this art thing, I was not so sure I was the artsy type. The more I visit these exhibits and showings, however, the more I realize that even I can become an art lover.

My latest crusade into the art world was to check out the first solo show of one Laurie Boese at the Niagara Artists Company. His paintings are in a word, truthfully honest (I guess that's two words, but you get the point). This show features 15 of his latest works that transform the world around him into incredible works of art.

In one of my favorite pieces, The Bowling Alley, a female sits on the alley while some onlookers stand around. That piece made me feel like I would when I try new things, as in say bowling, I'm sitting at the center of attention while it feels like everyone is staring at you.

Alex is another neat piece - not actually done on canvas but on oilcloth - like material discarded from a printing press. Boese calls these "Rubber Paintings, and they appear to be a favourite; he has sold quite a few already.

Another great piece is The Haircut (the Benediction) where a friend of Laurie's is being painted while his hair is being cut. The picture savours the moment while the subject collects his last strands in a bag tied around his neck.

Not all of Boese's work centres on his friends or people. If you are more into landscapes, there are paintings for you as well. One is called The Cellar Bench and the other is Montebello Park , another of my faves. This last piece captures the true peace and tranquility of the park.

I cannot finish talking about Boese's pieces without giving my favourite a mention. I would like to start by saying I am not a prude about nudity. The naked body is a natural and beautiful thing and when captured properly can be an exquisite site. Some nudity oversteps these boundaries, but not Boese's Ladybug . The painting has class, style, and is very tastefully done. In this subtle painting a girl lies on her stomach with a ladybug perched just below her shoulder.

"A friend of mine asked me if I would mind painting her in a couple of different poses," Boese explains. " When the work was done, and I was putting together my show, she asked to be a part of it. She was even there for the opening night to answer questions".

Boese, 29, started drawing at a very early age. Told he was talented, he pursued his ambition. While most children would give up or move on to other careers in life, this artist persevered even through the hardest times.

"Drawing people has always been my hardest thing; there is so much detail. But I never gave up, I just kept doing it until I got it right, and everything else just kind of fell into place. I even now teach others what I have learned in art classes held in Niagara-on-the-Lake".

An inspirational spot. And Boese's inspiration can happen anytime, anywhere, - whatever hits him at the moment. What is hitting him now is a charity fundraiser slated for May to raise money for the Niagara Artists Company. More on that later; for now, you can check out Laurie Boese's latest offerings at the NAC, 2 Bond Street, Downtown St. Catharines. Those interested in lessons can give him a call at 641-0451.

Niagara Artists' Company

Through the looking glass

Brittany Gogo
Brock Press

11/29/05

Strega café in downtown St. Catharines offers the latest and intriguing art display Art Under Glass, inviting individuals to view and engage with art right at their own tables.

When Strega owner Kelly Gillard asked local artist and teacher Laurie Boese to showcase some art work at the café, he came up with a unique display idea.

"One day I looked down at the glass on the tables and I saw that there was a menu under it, and I thought I bet you we could put art under there," said Boese.

Boese then came up with the idea for a group show, but quickly realized that there were so many people interested that he decided to allot a full month for each of the different artists.

This month, the art work of Karen Daniels is on display. Daniels' art work was created using the blind hand technique.

"This is a sketching technique for learning proportions," said Daniels. "You use your non-dominant hand, and you watch the model or your object without looking down at the page." This technique is interesting in that it is very process-oriented rather than focused exclusively on outcome. It helps people to become aware of the subtle differences in contours and light. "It is really an exercise in learning how to see," said Daniels. "This exercise works to develop ones sense of variances in light, because if you look at a painting what really makes it come to life is colour and light."

During the month of December, Strega will showcase Boese's own art work. Boese has come up with an interesting concept for his pieces based on the idea of a board game. He has painted canvases to resemble different board games, and has titled his display Games People Play.

"Each table will have a little board game, a little risk board, or checker board, or a tic-tac-toe board," said Boese. "I don't expect people to play, but they could if they wanted to, it's just an idea for something fun."

Boese's unique way of showcasing the works of these different artists has generated much positive feedback. People are able to have a lot of fun with the art work because of the informal nature of the displays.

"People get to have their favourite tables after while," said Boese. "I have some fun setting it up because I know where some of the staff like to sit and where some of the regulars like to sit, so it is fun placing the art that way too."

The first of these table top art displays took place last April and the idea generated so much interest that Boese quickly found that they were booked for a whole year. Each new month brings a new artist and new art work, with the exception of group shows which showcase a variety of different artist's works.

The next group show is going to take place in February with an anti-Valentine's Day theme. It will be a chance for local artists to have some fun with their pieces, and Boese is currently doing a call for submissions.

Boese and Daniel's both expressed that there are many talented artists in this area and these art displays give us a chance to see some of this local talent.

"This is really about promoting creative activity," said Daniels. "The restaurant itself is run by a very creative person and she promotes creative people in the community."

For more information about Art Under Glass, visit www.strega.ca.