Showcase Exhibition - Ordinary Exaltation | Cheryl Long and Laura Keil

WHEN
JULY 31 ― AUG 24, 2026

WHERE
Mahon Hall Stage

Opening Reception
JULY 31  |  6 ― 8 PM

Artist Talk
AUG 2  |  2 ― 3 PM

Cheryl Long — Artist Statement
This recent body of work holds my longing to connect with the intangible, exalted essence of the world around me. In exploring the extraordinary nature of what I see in material reality, I try to reach beyond the physical to include the energetic, emotional and spiritual aspects I sense in nature, intending to express the inherent dignity and divinity in all living things.

I've recently been inspired by the resurgence of the"Transcendentalist movement" in the early 1900's. Especially Agnes Pelton, in whose work I find a kindred philosophy. According to their original manifesto, the term "transcendental" best expressed their aim "to carry painting beyond the appearance of the physical world, through new concepts of space, colour, light, and design, to imaginative realms that are idealistic and spiritual."

My personal quest, since beginning to paint with oils when I arrived on Salt Spring Island, has been to explore how we are in intimate relationship with our environment, how we are connected and not separate from our natural world. What I feel when I paint the sea, or a tree, is not accounted for objectively, nor is it purely a record of the details presented to me. In an intimate relationship, such as painting, I am engaged in a conversation that has the potential to be both profound and universal. In a pearl rising, a Yukon swimmer, or a man in a whale, I love blurring the lines between experiencing the world in all it's energetic and mysterious aspects while appreciating the beauty and perfection of form itself.

In recognizing that our natural environment carries stories and connections beyond their physical appearance, I give voice to a collective longing for a deeper communion with our environment, and offer a visual homage to the spirit in all things.

I am grateful to the Wilding Foundation and SSNAP for their generous support of this project with a Catalyst Grant.

Laura Keil — Artist Statement
Making pots using coils, slabs, and pinching is a constant practice of self-discovery, bringing moments of reflection and clarity. It is a slow process, methodical and mindful, that is also physically demanding and intimate. The pots take on a life of their own as the form develops. Large pieces are especially exciting to make because of how they relate to the scale of the human body. The work becomes a dance with a figure, it is hugged and caressed. Ideally, the result is a form that has a strong presence and a sense that it grew organically.

To further enhance the sense of an object that has evolved over time, some of the pots are fired in a wood kiln and some are glazed with a surface that resembles the patina on weathered bronze or copper. Firing the wood kiln takes from 24 to 36 hours of stoking to reach temperatures above 1200°C. The wood ash and flames travel through the kiln, leaving a record of their journey on the pots. Each piece is unique. The finished surface of a pot is a kind of alchemy, a collaboration with the chemistry of clay and glazes and the atmosphere of the kiln.

Sponsored by Hastings House Country House Hotel