June is membership month at the Niagara Artists Centre. In our NAC Member of the Moment series, we ask NAC members about art in Niagara and the number one reason to join NAC. Artist and NAC board member Geoff Farnsworth tells us about the good tiiimes and being part of NAC’s shared studio / shop at 433 St. Paul Street.
Geoff’s paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. Geoff’s paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy, while also building a compelling image. Working with people and motifs from his personal world, Geoff focusus continuously on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. His figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape.
Geoff’s paintings have been shown in New York City, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, the Niagara region, Thunder Bay, Vancouver, Sweden, Norway, and Trinidad.
When did you become a NAC member and why?
I became a NAC member 4 years ago because I HAD to in order to join the first NAC initiated communal studio. But glad I did with also getting into the know n’ flow of the local Niagara art scene. Goood tiiimes!
Are you an artist, an art appreciator or both?
Both.
What’s the best thing about being an artist in Niagara?
A flourishing art scene locally, with close access to Toronto and Buffalo. We are lucky with so many venues here now like NAC and the PAC, Brock and Niagara College, and the cafe and restaurant scene that’s helped with the confluence of a really vibrant and connected sharing of art, influence, and ideas.
Name a Niagara artist whose work knocks your socks off.
William Griffiths, Chris Pew, Amber Lee Williams, Bruce Thompson, Shawn Serfas, and so many more.
Tell us about a memorable NAC experience.
Lots. But the big winner for me lately is the newly incarnated NAC-initiated communal art studio on the upper end of St. Paul: 14 artists working in the back, good energy, gallery space at street level shared with Roly Poly.
What’s the number one reason to become a NAC member?
Membership really keeps you updated and invited to a lot of cool events and exhibitions where you meet many interesting artists, musicians, and arts appreciators. Really fleshes out the experience of this rad community. Super dope!
Sign up for your very own NAC membership online or stop by NAC at 354 St. Paul Street in St. Catharines during gallery hours to get your membership in person.
