Welland artists have their work on display at Victoria Park Gallery through August

Pam Duncan and her daughter, Stacey, of Welland are the guest artists for the month of August at the Victoria Park Gallery in downtown Kincardine.

They both love colour, with Pam using acrylics and oils, while Stacey uses mainly acrylics and mixed media.

Pam is a self-taught artist in Welland where she has lived all her life. A mother and grandmother, she began sketching at the age of six and moved to oils at the age of 12. During her working years, she set aside her brushes to raise her family with her husband, Brian, and held many positions, the last being a paralegal/property manager for 20 years before her retirement.

In 2018, she and another artist, Deedee Alexandre, organized a Welland Arts Group which took off, and in January, 2019, was incorporated to become the Visual Artists of Welland. This non-profit group has a usual membership of 60-65 people with artists now joining from across the Niagara Region, drawn to the mandate to give back to the community through art.

While she loves to use vibrant colours in her work, Pam doesn’t like to be labelled as a landscape artist or a whimsical artist.

“I paint what I feel like,” she says, adding that she was turned down for an exhibition once because her paintings were considered eclectic.

She enjoys experimenting with new techniques and styles, never wanting her work to become stagnant and boring. She uses watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels and mixed media, letting the subject determine the one that will best convey her ideas to canvas.

Pam loves to paint with motion, colour and emotion, often letting her work become a bit whimsical in nature, with a love for fairies and mythical lore showing through. She hopes to continue her artistic journey for many years to come.

Stacey is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary visual artist who began exploring the world of painting in early 2020. She works primarily with acrylics, oils and mixed media, often blending traditional techniques with experimental approaches to create dynamic, emotionally-resonant pieces.

Her work draws inspiration from nature, sensory experience and memory, and has evolved to reflect the interplay between inner landscapes and external environments. Her practice is now rooted in transformation. She creates to explore, to confront and to understand.

“Art has helped me to embrace change, both in the studio and in myself,” she says. “my creative voice continues to evolve, not toward a fixed identity but toward a fuller sense of honesty. Simply put - I make art to remember who I am.”

This is the first exhibit at Victoria Park Gallery for Pam and Stacey.

Two years ago, they visited the gallery while they were in Kincardine - Pam’s sister, Gail Cahill, lived here for 25 years and her family continues to reside here. While at the gallery, they met with some of the artists and were invited to bring their work as the guest artists for August.

“It’s a beautiful gallery located in an historical building,” says Pam. "The artists are warm and welcoming, and their work is wonderful.”

“We’re very excited to be here,” adds Stacey.

Pam and her husband have two daughters and four grandchildren. Stacey has two sons and her dog, “Duckie.”

Victoria Park Gallery is located inside the Kincardine Arts Centre in downtown Kincardine. For more information, check the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pg/victoriaparkgallerykincardine/posts/