Well, I sure got a fantastic surprise today! A Montreal newspaper, The Suburban (1), published a Feature article about a local artist who uses her watercolour paintings to help raise awareness of chronic pain and of a rare disease called CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
Does that sound familiar? It should, if you’re a regular visitor to this blog, because that piece is about me! If you’re outside Montreal, you may not know that The Suburban is well-known in this area, at almost sixty years old it’s “the largest English-language newspaper in Quebec” (1).
The article was about an upcoming one-day art exhibition, for new or ‘emerging’ artists, in which I’m one of the featured painters. It will be held outside, rain or shine, on the grounds of a microbrewery in a charming little village just outside the island of Montreal – so even my husband is looking forward to this event! The exhibition is being presented by the arts wing of a local not-for-profit organization, whose goals include making art more accessible to the public.
That’s why this pop-up art show is being held outside, on Main Street, at a craft brewery – to make it a welcoming place for anyone walking by in the village. It’s being set up as a free festival-style event, with each artist displaying their work at a table or through live performances. The artists included aren’t only painters like me, but also jewelers, musicians, performance artists, photographers, singers, and more.
There will be live music, performed by at least three different groups, and we’re hoping to create a real party-style vibe that day. I’ve even picked up some bright decorations to hang at and over my table… but I won’t say more because I don’t want to ruin the surprise!
After all, I’ve already told you about the CRPS and chronic pain awareness cards that I’ve had printed as handouts for this event, so I have to leave some little surprises for everyone who’ll be stopping by this outdoor art exhibition on Sunday. Oh, and speaking of surprises, here’s an excerpt from that Feature in The Suburban:
Originally an amateur nature photographer while working in bioethics, Sandra Woods was struck in 2016 with a rare disease; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), formerly Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).
Although CRPS affects mostly her right hand and arm, it is both an autoimmune disease and a neuro-inflammatory condition so there are also full-body symptoms.
These include a ‘mild cognitive impairment’ (MCI) which developed in 2018, a disability that ended her healthcare career.Now a volunteer patient partner in chronic pain projects across the country, she uses her art to raise awareness of CRPS and pain conditions.
Woods began exploring the world through watercolours in 2021, as a form of movement-therapy for her neuropathic chronic pain — and as brain plasticity training to hopefully prevent further cognitive decline.
One of her paintings won the inaugural Art Awards of the Canadian Pain Society in 2021 in the Patient Category, while one of her nature photos finished second with an Honourable Mention in a national forest photo contest run last year by The Bateman Foundation.” (4)
Photo from Instagram feed of Sandra Woods.
The “What the Pop!” 2022 art show is coming up quickly – taking place this Sunday, outside Cardinal Brewing (2) at 466 Main Street in Hudson (Quebec), presented by YES Montreal (3), a local not-for-profit group that helps artists and others. Feel free to come say hi, and to pick up your very own “Art despite pain” awareness card!
- When: Sunday August 7, 2022, from noon to 1700
- Where: Microbrasserie Cardinal Brewing, 466 Main Street, Hudson QC
- Cost: It’s free!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope to see you in Hudson this Sunday, but if you can’t make it – or are simply too far away – please drop a comment over on Twitter or Instagram. I’ve had to disable the Comments feature here on the blog, as it became too much for me to manage with my CRPS-related ‘mild cognitive impairment’. I do love to hear from you, though! Stay safe, and keep well.
References
(1) Editor. About Us. The Suburban. Undated. Accessed 02 Aug 2022. Online:
https://www.thesuburban.com/site/about.html
(2) Microbrasserie Cardinal Brewing. Craft beer, brewed proudly in Hudson, QC (website). Undated. Accessed 22 Jul 2022. Online:
https://cardinalhudson.com/en
(3) Yes Montreal. Meet The Artists Of What The Pop! A Free Art Pop-Up Exhibition. Press Release (web version). Undated. Accessed 22 Jul 2022. Online:
https://yesmontreal.ca/artists/meet-the-artists-of-what-the-pop-a-free-pop-up-exhibition/
(4) Anthony Bonaparte. What the Pop! free pop-up art exhibition comes to Hudson Sunday, Aug. 7. Feature. The Suburban. 02 Aug 2022 (updated 05 Aug 2022, after this post). Accessed 02 Aug 2022. Online:
https://www.thesuburban.com/arts_and_entertainment/arts/what-the-pop-free-pop-up-art-exhibition-comes-to-hudson-sunday-aug-7/article_15c7de44-1286-11ed-b6cc-f35327bfa297.html