Marianne Shaker
I studied Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, and, obtained a teaching certificate from McGill University. I have been teaching the visual arts to the youth as well as pursuing my own artistic practice.
Arriving to Canada at a young age, as well as traveling lead me towards creative inspirations. Art is the equivalence of oxygen for me, as I enjoy passing on this love for art to the youth, who are naturally creative, and, have a strong desire to express themselves. Art provides an outlet in which they are able to voice their opinions, as well as, their personal styles. I realized solo exhibitions, as well as, exhibited in numerous group exhibitions. Several of my art pieces are in five private collections. I’m a member of Le regroupement des artistes du Levant; Arts Council Of Montreal; Diversité Artistique de Montréal; and, National Arts Education Association (US), as well as, having been on a few committees. I was the recipient of juried awards, and several nominations. Also, I curated fundraising group exhibitions at the Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Quebec for education & development. In 2007, during a humanitarian trip I animated art workshops, and exchanged drawings between students from there with those from the school where I taught. I also created several book covers.
2015 The Global Art League, 2nd prize for the work ‘Adopted Land’.
2013 Nomination for Les Lauréates Espace Femmes Arabes Du Québec, for Achievement in Arts and Culture, for excellence in accomplishments for Quebec society. presentation of a short speech on culture & Art education before 250 people.
2009/2012/2014 Nominations; ‘Cry of Colours (2009), ‘Window into Life’ (2012), Playful Visions (2014), Arts Council of Montreal, Laureat for ‘Le prix interculturel Abe-Limonchik’.
2007 Nomination ‘Tourbillon’ & ‘Banquet Dancers’, for an acquisition by the Minister of Culture and Communications of Quebec.
2006 Bronze medal award in pastel category, ‘Maelström’, Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I create each art piece with its own unique aesthetic expression, intertwining the real simultaneously with symbolic imagery. For several years my work has been inspired by travels, and, by reflections on universal questions of identity, and, the crossings of cultures that I try to create as timeless. The subjects portrayed reflect the search for human connectedness, and, the perception on the passage of time, origins, exile and places. I seek to communicate, and, to draw the viewer into the image that expresses my vision of unforgettable moments of human struggles with the disruption of displacement, often accompanied by hope, as well as, conflicting doubts and uncertainties. Life is in a perpetual struggle of the renewal of ideas, encounters and exchanges.
The approach in my work frequently treads between the abstract and the representational, working with mixed media. I may use a palette of mainly warm yet vibrant colours pastels alone, or mixed-medium, pastels with acrylic paint, ink on paper, and incorporating my own photography. I try to create my images to convey the mood of the subject using light, texture, and, through the movement of line and form. Different planes dissolve into an arrangement to create, and, to transform a complete and unique piece of work is a technique that I have been developing over the years.
Arriving to Canada at a young age, as well as traveling lead me towards creative inspirations. Art is the equivalence of oxygen for me, as I enjoy passing on this love for art to the youth, who are naturally creative, and, have a strong desire to express themselves. Art provides an outlet in which they are able to voice their opinions, as well as, their personal styles. I realized solo exhibitions, as well as, exhibited in numerous group exhibitions. Several of my art pieces are in five private collections. I’m a member of Le regroupement des artistes du Levant; Arts Council Of Montreal; Diversité Artistique de Montréal; and, National Arts Education Association (US), as well as, having been on a few committees. I was the recipient of juried awards, and several nominations. Also, I curated fundraising group exhibitions at the Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Quebec for education & development. In 2007, during a humanitarian trip I animated art workshops, and exchanged drawings between students from there with those from the school where I taught. I also created several book covers.
2015 The Global Art League, 2nd prize for the work ‘Adopted Land’.
2013 Nomination for Les Lauréates Espace Femmes Arabes Du Québec, for Achievement in Arts and Culture, for excellence in accomplishments for Quebec society. presentation of a short speech on culture & Art education before 250 people.
2009/2012/2014 Nominations; ‘Cry of Colours (2009), ‘Window into Life’ (2012), Playful Visions (2014), Arts Council of Montreal, Laureat for ‘Le prix interculturel Abe-Limonchik’.
2007 Nomination ‘Tourbillon’ & ‘Banquet Dancers’, for an acquisition by the Minister of Culture and Communications of Quebec.
2006 Bronze medal award in pastel category, ‘Maelström’, Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I create each art piece with its own unique aesthetic expression, intertwining the real simultaneously with symbolic imagery. For several years my work has been inspired by travels, and, by reflections on universal questions of identity, and, the crossings of cultures that I try to create as timeless. The subjects portrayed reflect the search for human connectedness, and, the perception on the passage of time, origins, exile and places. I seek to communicate, and, to draw the viewer into the image that expresses my vision of unforgettable moments of human struggles with the disruption of displacement, often accompanied by hope, as well as, conflicting doubts and uncertainties. Life is in a perpetual struggle of the renewal of ideas, encounters and exchanges.
The approach in my work frequently treads between the abstract and the representational, working with mixed media. I may use a palette of mainly warm yet vibrant colours pastels alone, or mixed-medium, pastels with acrylic paint, ink on paper, and incorporating my own photography. I try to create my images to convey the mood of the subject using light, texture, and, through the movement of line and form. Different planes dissolve into an arrangement to create, and, to transform a complete and unique piece of work is a technique that I have been developing over the years.
