What is your story? by Ottawa artist Loretta Bonet
Montebello, September 5, 2024 - Centre d’exposition Napoléon-Bourassa is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition What is Your Story?by Ottawa artist Loretta Bonet. This exceptional exhibition, which highlights the innovative technique of fused glass, will be on show from September 14 to November 3, 2024.
In What is Your Story?Loretta Bonet transforms glass into striking sculptures and objects that go beyond simple contemplation. Each work is designed to provoke meaningful interaction with the public, inviting visitors to explore and share their own reflections.
A distinctive feature of the exhibition is its participatory approach: some works are accompanied by an open-ended question designed to prompt the viewer to reflect and respond. Answers can be provided mentally, written directly on paper, or even shared with other visitors. This dynamic encourages an exchange of ideas and emotions, making each visit unique and personal.
Loretta Bonet hopes that this immersive approach will provide visitors with an enriching, interactive experience, where their reactions and interpretations become an integral part of the work. The exhibition aims to create a platform where individual stories and perspectives meet, offering a collective and evolving vision of art.
The vernissage will take place on September 14, from 2 to 4 pm, in the presence of Loretta Bonet, who will address visitors at 2:30 pm.
Loretta Bonet, Earth and Water I, kiln-fused glass, granite, 11.5 x 5 x 5 cm, 2020
Loretta Bonet, Ice and water, kiln-cast glass, Quebec quartz, 13 x 7.5 x 5 cm, 2021
Location : Centre d’exposition Napoléon-Bourassa 548 Notre-Dame Street, Montebello
Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After a rewarding career in education as a school principal, director of education and consultant, Loretta Bonet decided to devote herself fully to her passion for the arts. Some 15 years ago, she began exploring various artistic mediums, including metal paste, fused glass and silver silversmithing. In recent years, she has concentrated particularly on sculptural forms in glass, while continuing to experiment with other materials.
Loretta Bonet has founded and coordinated several significant projects that have had a notable impact, including two major initiatives for the local community on the Caribbean island of Eleuthera:
Eleuthera Lizard Trail (2019-2020): In this project, the artist collaborated with local welders to create a metal canvas from recycled oil drums and organized the painting of lizards by local artists and art students. The sale of the works created an outdoor trail and raised $10,000, all of which was donated to a children's summer camp, while showcasing local artistic talent and beautifying public buildings.
Art in the Park (2017-2018): Loretta Bonet created an art festival in a local nature reserve, bringing together music, catering and a bar. The event brought together 28 artists and collectively generated $68,000 in a single day. The success of this initiative led the National Trust to take over the event, which has now become an annual event.