Missed the reception? No worries! Feel free to view the art during any of our shows or by appointment! If you would like to make an appointment please contact our box office (519.672.7950)! All art will be hung up until October 27.

Vanessa Zita Vanderidder sustained a traumatic brain injury over ten years ago in a freak accident.  After several surgeries, years of therapy and rehabilitation she decided to try finger painting as a therapeutic means to strengthen the fine motor skills in her right hand.  Vanessa was unable to return to her career so she continued painting – rather than focusing on her chronic pain she could redirect her thoughts into artful expression.  Over the years, she has broadened her art from oil paint to using a mixed and varied medium.  Always an advocate for education and therapy, a portion of her art sales are donated to the London Ontario Brain Injury Association.

Kristina Simpson is a contemporary painter based in the London, Ontario area. She received a graduate diploma in Art Therapy from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, after completing an Honours B.A in Psychology with a minor in Fine Art from the University of Guelph. Since then Kristina has decided to dedicate more of her time to her personal artwork. Her paintings are mostly acrylic on canvas and spans from abstract to representational styles of art. By using vivid colours, a variety of texture, and expressive brushstrokes, the pieces are infused with energy. Kristina aims to exude feelings of hope, love, passion & joy in every piece created. Two of her pieces were selected for the 2016-2017 Traffic Signal Wraps Public Art Project, one of which can be seen on the corner of Wonderland Road & Riverside Road in London, Ontario.

Sebouh Koulian has been painting since he was a young boy. After fleeing the Civil War in Syria, Sebouh painted full time in Lebanon as a form of therapy. Sebouh’s art is reflective of his life situation — he paints emotively in the form of abstracts. His son has noticed how the rugged natural landscape of Canada has now influenced his art. Both Sebouh and his wife Ani look forward to eventually setting up a studio where they can produce more art one day.

Ani Sarian has had a love for art since she was a child. She studied art at the Syrian Academy in Aleppo. Ani’s work has been displayed in expositions at various centres throughout the Middle East. When the civil war began, Ani, along, with her family, settled in Lebanon where she continued to paint and where she led painting classes for children. Ani now calls Canada her home. Along with fellow newcomers, Ani displayed her work at City Hall in Toronto. At Turtle House Art Centre in Toronto, Ani led art activities for children ages 6-14 who also fled civil war. In London, Ani has been leading a summer art and crafts program called “From Nothing to Something” in 7 public libraries. She is honoured to display her work at Aeolian Hall in London.