joe moran gallery, Wascana Centre (2900 Wascana Drive, Regina SK)
Show open until Friday, July 2, 2010
Gallery hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Closed weekends and statutory holidays

Here’s one example of a photo that is destined to become a scratchboard in the near future:

Akela: Grey Wolf at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone. Photograph, 5 x 7 in. Copyright 2010, Tania Nault.

The Land of Living Skies: An Exhibit of Scratchboard Art by Tania Nault
Opening Reception: Friday, May 28, 2010 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
joe moran gallery, 2900 Wascana Drive, Regina, SK

Show dates: Wednesday, May 19 – Friday, July 2, 2010
Gallery hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Closed weekends and statutory holidays

NEW DATE FOR OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, May 28th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.
joe moran gallery, Wascana Centre (2900 Wascana Drive, Regina SK)
Show Dates: Wednesday, May 19 - Friday, July 2, 2010

Cetus: the Whale. Scratchboard and acrylic, 14 x 11 in. Copyright 2010, Tania Nault.

 The constellation Cetus is based on mythology of a giant sea monster and is located in a section of the sky associated with other “watery” constellations such as Picses, the fishes, and Aquarius, the water-bearer. In Greek and Roman mythology, sea monsters figured in the tales of both mythical heroes Heracles and Perseus.

According to the myth, Poseidon the sea god became very angry when Queen Cassiopeia dared to compare her own beauty to that of the Neriads, Poseidon’s daughters. As punishment for the slight, Poseidon sent Cetus the sea monster to destroy the kingdom.  Acting on the advice of an oracle who told them their kingdom could be saved if they sacrificed their daughter to the monster, the king and queen tied their daughter Andromeda to a rock on the coast. Perseus killed Cetus, freed Andromeda, and married her.

In depictions of the constellation as a sea monster, Cetus is usually shown with its head at the top of the constellation and the body ends in a fishy-serpent tail. However,  “Cetus” is the root of the word “cetacean” and means “whale” in Latin. The constellation reminded me more of the shape of a whale: tail up and head down, flipper extended - like a humpback whale, which is how I chose to depict it.

Leo: the Lion. Scratchboard and acrylic, 20 x 16 in. Copyright 2010, Tania Nault.

Here is a peek at one of the other pieces in my upcoming solo exhibition, The Land of Living Skies (joe moran gallery: opening reception, Friday, May 21, 7:00 - 9:00pm). The piece is based on the constellation Leo, the Lion.

Although the constellation is much older, it is traditionally associated with Greek mythology of the Nemean Lion. According to the myth, the Nemean Lion was the offspring of monsters and was sent to terrorize the city of Nemea.  As the first of his Twelve Labours, the hero Heracles was sent to kill the lion and return with its pelt. However, the Lion had golden fur impervious to metal weapons and Heracles’s arrows bounced off its skin. Heracles finally killed the lion by strangling it, and then skinned it with one of its own claws. Generally shown as a crouching lion, I chose to interpet the constellation as though the lion was walking across the sky.

Pegasus: the Winged Horse. Scratchboard and acrylic, 16 x 12 in. Copyright 2010, Tania Nault.

Patience. Scratchboard, 11 x 14 in. Copyright 2010, Tania Nault.

I just received notice from the joe moran gallery that I have been given a one-person show from Wednesday, May 19, 2010 to Friday, July 2, 2010. I think if I work really hard I can finish the pieces in my new secret series…. how excited am I!!!

Regina Federation of Artists
Spring 2010 Art Show & Sale

Friday, March 26th, 1:00 - 9:00 pm (meet the artists 7:00 - 9:00 pm)
Saturday, March 27th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 28th, 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm

Wascana Place - 2900 Wascana Drive
(across from The Willow and marina)

Free admission, Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Proudly sponsored by Wascana Centre.