Marian Simpson and Marguerite Finlayson are among the artists drawing Jessica Miller, Miss Independent Florists of Brampton 2007, at the Flower City Street Festival. (Photo by Nicholas Moreau.)

Visual Arts Brampton is constantly out in the community. Besides our year-round exhibits at Artway, Fridge Front, and the World Art Gallery, we love being at events around town, with live demonstrations, activity tables, and more.

November — Shoppers World Santa Claus Parade
Visual Arts Brampton brought Millie to the parade; she and volunteers handed out cut-out-and-colour Christmas ornaments.

June 16 — Weekend of the opening of Farmer’s Market, at the PHC
At the Peel Heritage Complex yard sale, VAB had a colouring table in front of the old court house. BAC mascot Millie was present. Our annual floral art exhibit was on display at the Brampton City Hall during this time, and was viewed by visitors to the Brampton Blooms Flower Show.

June 22-24 — Carabram, Canada pavilion
For all three days, Visual Arts Brampton members Conrad Mieschke, Keith Moreau, and Mary Noble exhibited at the newly revived Canada pavilion. Colin McClean, who was a member of Animex, was also on display. Leah-Anne Goyeau arranged the exhibit, and BAC’s mascot Millie was present on Saturday the 23rd.

October 6 & 7 — Studios of Brampton art tour
Tour of artists’ studios and galleries throughout Brampton, including the Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios. Visit, meet the artists, and see how they create their masterpieces. The Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios was one of 10 studios on the city-wide tour. Adult members Debra Ali and Stephanie Czolij are youth member.

February 1, 2, 3 — Recreation and Leisure Show at Shoppers World
On Friday, the portrait bunch worked on a portrait of a costumed model. On Saturday, some teens worked on artwork, and reproductions of adult member artwork was on exhibit, while Millie visited the group's colouring table. The same schedule was repeated Sunday, sans teen artists.

June — Millie at the Peel Heritage Complex
On the day of the opening of the farmer's market, and the Flower City Parade, Millie wandered around at the museum's yard sale.

November 16 — Shoppers World Santa Parade
Our third year in the event was awarded with one of Shoppers World's three awards. Students from all three youth classes participated, some of whom were wearing costumes based on boxes. Millie also walked in the parade.

April 4, 10:30 am to 5 pm — Meet Pud
Come say “hi” to Pud, star of the popular comic strip Pud, by Steve Nease. He will be hanging around the Artway entry corridor of Shoppers World Brampton. Pud's appearance presented by City Parent magazine.

April 4, 10:30 am to 5 pm — Create a Cartoon for Fridge Front
Create at our drawing table Saturday. Let us borrow your cartoon for a month, and it will be on display at Fridge Front Gallery's own Laughlines show.

March 2 to April 30, all day — Brampton Civic Centre/Chinguacousy Library exhibit

VAB is exhibiting in the Brampton Civic Centre entry corridor, in Brampton Library Showcase. Featured in the current exhibit are William Band, Marguerite Finlayson, Paul Highgate, and Dolores Miron; the show runs March 31 to April 30, 2009. The previous show ran March 2 to 30, and featured Betty Jean Evans, Paul Highgate, and Keith Moreau.

October 3 and 4, 2009 — Paul, and Keith at the Peel Heritage Complex
On Saturday, scratchboard wildlife artist Paul Highgate was on hand to talk with the public.

On display both days was art by Highgate, Moreau, Veltri, and photographer Chris Edgar.

acrylic artist Debra Ali. Keith Moreau will be at the Complex Sunday only, and will be working on carving a woodblock for printmaking.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 — Sandra Bell-Lundy’s “Between Friends” event
“Between Friends” creator Sandra Bell-Lundy will on hand to meet and share with the public, on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Shoppers World Brampton. Starting at 1 pm, the event begins with a presentation and talk, followed by a question and answer period, and a book-signing. MORE INFO »

Sunday, November 22, 2009 — Shoppers World Brampton Santa’s Arrival parade
Visual Arts Brampton will be participating for the fourth year, with holiday characters created by Visual Arts Brampton youth class students. Joining us this year are Millie, the Brampton Arts Council mascot, and PAWSitive, the National Women's Hockey Association mascot.

The parade starts at 11 am in the Winners Court, circles the entire mall counterclockwise, finishing at the Santa meet-and-greet area in the Centre Court, near Laura Secord.

Celebrating Canada's Paralympians prelude

Wednesday, December 2, 2010 — WinterLights 2009: Winter Wonderland at Chinguacousy Park
This evening event included appearances by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including a sledge hockey gold medal. Sadly, it was raining the entire night, so Podi stayed indoors; our great thanks to the Brampton Fire & Emergency Services Fire/Life Safety Education Centre, our host for the evening.

Thursday, December 3, 2010 — Brampton Battalion versus the Oshawa Generals, Powerade Centre
During an intermission, the Brampton Battalion will be hosting two local sledge hockey teams, who will be demonstrating this action-packed sport, among those played at the Paralympic Winter Games. The final Olympic Torch bearer for the Brampton leg of the run, a local sledge hockey player, will be there as well. The Battalion face off against the Oshawa Generals.

Podi Paralympic, mascot of the Canadian Olympic Committee's educational program, will be visiting Brampton to promote Fridge Front Gallery's Celebrating Canada's Paralympians. The show will feature portraits of Canada's Paralympic team, as well as shots of them in the heat of the action, all drawn by local youth.

24th Anniverary event at Shoppers World, Staples Court

  •  Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 10 am to 2 pm — Portrait bunch at the mall
The Visual Arts Brampton portrait group went to the mall for their regularly schedule session; they drew new VAB member Anand Vaid.
  •  Friday, May 14, 2010 — Various artists working on 24th anniversary project
  •  Saturday, May 15, 2010 — Various artists working on 24th anniversary project, particularly teens
From 1 to 5 pm, Jacqueline Veltri oversaw teen students working on their 24th anniversary floral paintings. Also there at various points were VAB board member Stephanie Czolij and VAB workshop instructor William Band.
  •  Sunday, May 16, 2010 — Various artists working on 24th anniversary project

24th anniversary floral art exhibit

Since 2002, Visual Arts Brampton has had an annual floral art show at the City Hall's atrium gallery. For Visual Arts Brampton's 24th anniversary project, in 2010, we've asked members to create 24 inch by 24 inch artwork for the annual show. So far, our members have entered 25 artwork in the show, but there's still more to come at the upcoming locations of the show.

Five locations to see the show:
  •  June 1 to 30, 2010: City Hall Brampton atrium gallery • Weekdays and Saturday, June 16 during the Flower City Parade, 21 works on display
  •  July 9, 10, 11, 2010: Carabram Canada Pavilion • Select hours, Carabram "passport" applies
  •  July 12 to 28, 2010: Artway Invitational Gallery • Daily, Shoppers World mall hours
  •  August 20 to September 6, 2010: Canadian National Exhibition • Display located in the Heritage Court in the Direct Energy Centre, near the Garden Show • Daily, 10 am to 10 pm, with admission
  •  September 8-30, 2010: Brampton Library, Four Corners branch • Daily, library hours, 1st and 2nd floors
  •  October 1 to November 1, 2010: Extension of Brampton Library, Four Corners branch • Daily, library hours, 2nd floor
Note, not all works will be on display at each location, due to space restrictions.

July 9, 10, 11, 2010 on select hours — Carabram: Canada pavilion — Official site
Our group returns to the event, at the CAW Local 1285. VAB member art will be featured in one room, along with lots of food, music, and displays. Since 2002, Visual Arts Brampton has had an annual floral art show at the City Hall's atrium gallery. For Visual Arts Brampton's 24th anniversary project, in 2010, we've asked members to create 24 inch by 24 inch artwork for the annual show.

Friday, September 24, 6:30 to 8 pm: Trot 4 Kids exhibit at Fridge Front Gallery, part of Culture Days
Both Trot4Kids readers and Visual Arts Brampton's youth students contributed horse art for a special Fridge Front Gallery show. In promotion of the show, VAB had a colouring table and a meet-and-greet with magazine mascot Willie Win, both in the corridor outside Artway, near Janine's.

September 25, 8 am-2 pm: VAB @ Brampton Day, part of Culture Days
Visual Arts Brampton proudly participated in Brampton Day, in the Community Village at Gage Park. "Celebrating our Heritage!" themed colouring sheet, exclusive to VAB, and copies of a Trot4Kids activity book were handed out, while teen members worked on artwork. Magazine mascot Willie Win was at the event. [Culture Days page]

Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 11 am to 2 pm: Shoppers World Brampton Santa's Arrival Parade
The parade itself goes from 11 to 11:30 am, doing one-and-a-half circuits of the mall, from Winners to Staples, to Centre Court (Laura Secord), and back to Staples. Note to parade participants: we are part of "Group C", so we meet at Stitch It at 10:30 am. When possible, be in costume when you arrive, as there are very limited amounts of change rooms.

December 7, 2010 to March 3, 2011: 25 Works
Visual Arts Brampton will be presenting an anniversary show at the second floor Art Gallery at the Rose Theatre, from December 7, 2010 to March 3, 2011. On display will be 25 Works by VAB members Jacqueline Velti, Ryan Thompson Keith Moreau, William Band, and Debra Ali.

Mid-May, TBA: Visual Arts Brampton at 25 artist meet-and-greet event
Rose Theatre Brampton, during Subscriber's Night

June 18, 8 am to 1 pm: Floral painting demonstration
City Hall Brampton, outside • Event info
With Debra Ali and Jacqueline Veltri, as part of our Floral Art Show.