Samantha Pickard, Jennifer Bain and Taryn Henry showcase what Close to Home means to them during their combined exhibition at Gallery in the Grove. The exhibit opens March 15th with a reception from 11am-2pm and runs until April 26th. With Samantha’s love of colour, Jennifer’s whimsical, interpretative landscapes and Taryn’s dream inspired paintings, there is something for everyone to admire.
Samantha comes from an artistic family, on her mother’s side. Enjoying both music and visual arts, Samantha has been contributing to Sarnia’s music scene since the late 90’s. “Music is something I have pursued in my adult life, but ART, “Visual” art, has been something that has pursued me, since birth.” Samantha has always LOVED Colour which you will immediately notice when viewing her paintings. “Red is my colour song.” Her work leans toward illustrative storytelling, using different mediums from Chalk (soft) pastel, Acrylic Paint, and black ink. She is self taught and has been fortunate with shows, and commissions. In 2023 she won First Place at Gallery in the Grove's, “Call out for Colour” juried exhibition, with Original Chalk Pastel “Pollination for the Nation Station”.
Jennifer is an artist who enjoys working across various mediums to create whimsical, interpretative landscapes infused with figures. Her work explores the interplay between environment and emotion, blending surreal elements with familiar landscapes. Jennifer graduated with honours from the University of Western Ontario, earning a combined degree in Visual Arts and English. She currently teaches visual arts at the secondary level in London, Ontario. Jennifer’s mixed media paintings for the “Close to Home” exhibit involves blending various materials and techniques to capture the essence of familiar landscapes and the people who inhabit them. “Through an imaginative fusion of artistic elements and principles—colour, contrast, shape and movement—the works reveal both personal and universal connections to home, highlighting the emotional resonance of familiar places and the stories they tell.”
Taryn Elizabeth is a Visual Artist, Mother and Spiritual Practitioner based in Sarnia, ON. She holds an advanced Diploma in Fine Art from Fanshawe College and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from NSCAD University. Taryn’s subject matter is inspired by nature, the passing of time, nostalgia, and change. Taryn is an accomplished muralist, live painter for both private and public events and offers commissioned pieces. “The landscape is a common ground that holds so much memory; it almost feels like a dream. Most of my paintings are inspired by dreams, my work as a psychic medium, nostalgia and my home along the shores of Lake Huron. I love to paint the beauty of a storm; the clouds remind me of the challenges we all face every day, our individuality and the power of surrendering and persevering.”
Volunteers welcome visitors into the gallery Monday - Thursday 2pm - 5pm and Friday & Saturday 11am - 2pm. Gallery in the Grove is a volunteer registered charitable organization with a mandate to support Arts Education in Sarnia Lambton. The gallery exhibits local and regional visual artists with six exhibitions a year.
