When an unexpected email arrived in her inbox, Patricia Adams was taken aback. It was an invitation to exhibit her watercolours at the 2011 Florence Biennale, which opens December 3 in Florence, Italy, and runs until December 11.
Adams declared, "I was truly surprised. Apparently the paintings had been viewed and judged from my website." The Florence Biennale, founded in 1997, is an international art show endorsed by the United Nations as a partner in their program "Dialogue Among Civilizations". Artists from around the world "meet to create a melting pot of cultures and languages". Each biennale has focused on a star of the contemporary cultural scene, and this year the artist Jeff Koons and the noted designer Agatha Ruiz de Prada will be recognized. Over 600 artists from 70 countries will showcase their work at the 2011 Florence Biennale and Adams will be among the thirteen Canadian artists whose work will hang in the Fortezza da Basso.
In 2003, the fourth Biennale showed more than 800 artists, and among them was Bowen Island's Bill Hoopes.
"I knew Bill had attended in 2003, because, at the time, I was involved in the design and graphics production of Lieben, Bowen Island Arts Council's newsletter and I had set his article. Little did I think I would get a similar opportunity to participate in an international arena. I called Bill, who has been a source of information and assurance," said Adams. "Although I was honoured to have been selected, I was hesitant to throw my hat in the ring or rather, my paintings at the wall, but there was no turning back!"
Another unexpected plum is exposure in a two-page spread in Kennedy Publishing's book The Best of Worldwide Still Life and Abstract Artists, Volume I, featuring the work of artists outside the USA. This series is a departure from their regular collections which focus on "The Best of American Artists in " various genres.
Adams explained, "Kennedy Publishing had seen my painting "Swatow Lace" on my website and I was asked to submit nine images, of which three were selected. Artists are usually charged an entry fee to compete for inclusion, however, my fee was waived, perhaps because my subject matter, that of Still Life, was appropriate for near Shanghai.
"Fleeing to Hong Kong during the Communist invasion of Shanghai, my mother packed the embroidery in her suitcase. It's one of the few heirlooms hearkening back to my childhood. We could bring with us only the suitcases we were able to carry and the one doll each my sister and I were allotted."
Adams emphasized that she is astounded and grateful for these two disparate connections via the internet and at the realization that the world has indeed become a global village one that she is anxious to explore.
Her paintings can be viewed at www.patriciaadams.ca.
