Natural Beauty of Autumn

‘Liminal’ - Chiba (Japanese maple) harbinger of winter in our front garden, Kitchener, ON Canada

Autumn or Fall conjures up for me mixed feelings. Fall is a happy time for me celebrating thanksgiving; many, many birthdays in our extended family; gorgeous beauty in nature; time to put the garden to sleep… I even tolerate Halloween! However, I also feel the loss of the warmth of summer, almost always wondering if I made the most of the short season; coming to terms that I am one year older, and still getting used to the idea of being an “elder”; preparing myself for hibernation till next spring… From the perspective of an art photographer, the season is full of promise, capturing that ‘perfect’ fall scene, discovering the hidden late blooming gems of the garden like tricyrtis, fall crocuses, catkins on the locust and red berries on the aronias, and being blown away by the brilliant burgundy, burnt orange and popping golds of the native shrubs and trees that surround our home. A few personal and family happenings sidetracked me this fall, however I am grateful for life and all the parts of creation that sustain our lives, especially the nurture and love of family. This autumn I have had a much more profound experience of liminality than I can remember, amplifying the realization of transitions and being neither here nor there, in between summer/winter, young/old, wellness/sickness, even life/death. I have renewed my appreciation for who we are and what we have, here and now.

Pioneer Tower, Doon village, Kitchener, ON Canada

‘Golden Sunset’ near Paris ON Canada (available at Uptown Gallery Waterloo until January 2023)

‘Harvest Traditions’, Mennonite families harveting stooks Hawkesville ON Canada

Benjamin Road, Waterloo ON Canada

Overlooking Hidden Valley, home to endangered species and precious wet lands and woods, Kitchener ON Canada (available now until Jan 2023)

'Melancholy' (part of Relationship & Emotion show at Uptown Gallery Waterloo)

"Gray overcast sky with a glimmer of light backlit this rural scene in late winter along a back road in Waterloo County (southern Ontario). The brightly coloured orange snow fence broke the sombreness"

Title: Melancholy

Medium: Photography on canvas, edition of 5, Dimension: 16"x 32"

Price: 575.00

Trusting my instincts is not always easy and I’ve discovered that if I can pay attention to my gut more often, it really pays off. The creative process is such a mystery, part intuition, part science, part technique and part luck! In this exhibition ‘Relationship & Emotion’ I really want to explore the relationship between the artist and the subject of the art, the viewer and the art, and the relationship between the viewer and the artist. I find it fascinating to pay attention to those who view my art and observe their reactions. At the exhibitions I have participated in over the past few years, as well as interacting with visitors during the weekly sessions at Uptown Gallery Waterloo where I am a member, I observe the emotional reaction to the art of the cooperative artists exhibited. As a featured artist, we get the opportunity to shine a brighter spot light on our art. I am amazed at the various and diverse reactions and interactions with my art—surprise, admiration, thoughtful reflection. In this show, I intentionally created pieces that evoked deep emotions that I felt as I was driving through the countryside last winter/early spring. “Melancholy” is a typical farm scene around Waterloo County, yet this scene got me to stop driving to turn back and look again. It took me some time afterwards to think about what it was that grabbed me, but trusting my instincts I framed the photo without being too analytical, and in processing it, I tried to remember and stay true to the feeling I had when I was in the scene, in the moment, and let the work emerge: melancholy! I would love to hear what you see and how you feel as you interact with my art.

@manchoichow facebook.com/manchoichow

'Day is Done'...all is well

The music of Peter, Paul and Mary (folk group from the last century) stirred something in me in my teens. One of their songs have stayed with me, and when I was thinking of a title for this piece, ‘Day is Done’ just popped into my head. This piece taken at sunset driving home on a late winter’s evening between Paris and Ayr, ON caught my eye and I took the picture out the window of the car while stopping on the shoulder. The soft fading light created a haunting stark silhouette that somehow also felt soothing and warm. The power lines in the mid ground echoed the lines of snow in the foreground framing the line of naked trees in the background. The barren frozen ground was beginning to thaw and the promise of regeneration and hope of new life has sprung!

“Tell me why you’re crying…I know you’re frightened like everyone…

And if you take my hand, all will be well when the day is done.”

Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)

Winter Solstice reflection

Light and darkness; hope and despair; sadness and joy; anticipation and disappointment; it feels like we are caught on an emotional roller coaster these days. Not easy to find balance and remain optimistic, and I say to myself: “And this too shall pass!”, as I remind myself the days will be getting longer, and life does go on, even when I’m not sure what that may mean, on this day of winter solstice.

“Liminal" will be available at Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener, until January 9, 2022, that includes the following pieces, “And this too shall pass” and “Between and Betwixt”.

‘And this too shall pass’, part of exhibition “Liminal” at Homer Watson House & Gallery, Kitchener, ON Canada

‘Between & Betwixt’, part of exhibition “Liminal” now showing at Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener