Bayfront at Dusk

40” x 50” x 1.5”
Acrylic, flashe, ink on canvas
2021 - 2022

A place for summer evening walks for ice cream, mid-day jaunts to the water. She’d watch the boats come in and out of the shore, walk the path, avoid the goose shit on the ground, sit on the grass and look at the shoreline. She’d dodge the skateboarders and the roller bladers speeding around the path. She’d bring books and beers and pens and papers and sunglasses and sweaters. A place for Wednesday evening, a place for Friday night. First dates. Swans. Sunsets. Running shoes. Baby ducks. Bees. Flowers. The sun dropping into the horizon. A place for telling her truths when she was used to hearing nothing but stories. 

This painting was originally completed in 2021 and previously entitled Finding The Words  which is shown here as the last photo.

The I Used To Hate This City collection embodies a celebration of self-empowerment, rage, persistence, triumph, perspective and resilience. It explores the evolution of the artist’s relationship with the City of Hamilton over the course of the past year as it shifted from Love, to Hate, back to Love again. These themes coincide with what the artist has experienced on her personal journey but also touch upon her observations of the City during recent times of gentrification, isolation and political change.

The paintings in this collection began as self-portraits that have since been covered with layers of paint, spray paint, coffee, and gold leaf to form abstracted depictions of Hamilton landmarks that are reminiscent of the new memories the artist has created in familiar places. 

The idea that the artist's previous and new-found sense of identity is strongly tied to various landmarks for the worse or the better is a relevant aspect of this collection and a reminder that while our environment may feel static and permanent, our minds and hearts are in a constant state of change and growth.