Village Squire, 1980-11, Page 35Unique exhibition
by Mona Mulhern
Serrenwood, an elusive, magical place
where "delightful and awesome things
happen" was the title of a unique
exhibition of pencil drawings by artist
Mona Istrati-Mulhern, which opened in
Goderich recently.
The show, which previewed Sunday,
October 5 in the R.J. Nephew Studio, was
a preview of Mrs. Mulhern's exhibition
which will open in the Thames Gallery,
Chatham on November 7. Mrs. Mulhern
said Mr. Nephew, who frames many of
her works, offered to hold the preview for
local residents. The result was a show
that was so well -attended it was difficult
for some visitors to get close to Mrs.
Mulhern's drawings of the world of
nature.
The artist said she was pleased by the
response to the show, adding "it's nice
when you live in a community to have
people aware of your work." She said the
response "indicates there is an interest in
gallery events going on in this area."
Mrs. Mulhern, who was raised in
Regina, and studied political science at
university, has taken a number of short
term art courses with instructors at
Fanshawe College and Beal Tech. in
London. Since 1973, her watercolours and
later pencil drawings of wild plants and
flowers have been exhibited at the Blyth
Summer Festival, The Gallery in Strat-
ford, and in an Ontario Artists show at
Sequoia Gallery in Edmonton.
Mrs. Mulhern is also a working
member of the co-op art gallery, Gallery
96, in Stratford.
Serrenwood, a name created after her
three children -Sean, Erinn and Brennan,
was originally the title of a series of hasty
nutes created by the artist. Now she has
expanded the title to include a series of
drawings which mix nature and fantasy to
create a world the artist describes as
"elusive, magical and symbolic."
Mrs. Mulhern, who originally worked
in watercolours, creating many works
with an almost Oriental style, said she
wanted to explore drawing more. She
found by changing to graphite and
coloured pencils, she could spend longer
creating a drawing.
The medium of pencil "lends itself to
the imagination - you can erase and
change and do all kinds of things." She
also finds children are intrigued by the
medium - "they realize you don't need all
sorts of great and glorious equipment to
produce art."
Mona Istrati-Mulhern's show "Serren-
wood" will be on display at the Thames
Gallery, Chatham until November 30.
Artist Mona !strati - Mulhern with u
favorite drawing from her
Serrenwood series.
Antler river
goes up in smoke
When Antler River, James Reaney's
play celebrating London's 125th
anniversary, played at Theatre London,
the drama wasn't restricted to the stage.
On the last night of the show, a
smoldering cigarette left on a dressing
room table burst into flames, and an
automatic sprinkler spilled hundreds of
gallons of water onto the floor and stored
costumes as cast members took their final
bow.
The studio theatre was set to open on
Nov. 12 with the production The Killing
of Sister George. Mr. Hopkins said the
damage to the downstairs of the building
won't affect Theatre London's main -stage
opening of The Deathtrap Oct. 29.
Antler River, which was performed
four nights at Theatre London, was
written for the Urban League of London
by UWO professor author James Reaney.
The play was performed by local
amateurs and volunteers from Toronto's
NDWT Theatre. It's Targe, 110 -member
cast used dressing rooms in both the
Grand and McManus theatres.
Antler River might be a hot act to
follow.
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184 Diagonal Rd.
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Phone 357-3833
See our array of colour blended Christmas
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May the gift of God's love fill your hearts and
homes this holiday season.
Thank you for the joy given to us by your
patronage.
Sincerely,
Margaret English.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1980 PG. 33