Spotlight Day 11 Mary Burke

Welcome to day 11 in the Spotlight series.

Today we feature Mary Burke.
Bellow is her beautiful piece Niagara on the Lake

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Her artistic statement

How often do we visit the places of our youth to walk the “Main Street”, reminiscing about where the
movie theatre used to be, or the little corner store where we bought our penny candies? We all have
experienced this type of nostalgia at one time or another when visiting a town/city from our past. Through
my paintings I am bringing these unique “Main Streets” to life, capturing these beautiful locations of
previous generations and showcasing their importance in the modern era. This has become a labour of
love for me depicting over and over the variety of beautiful areas that surround us here in Niagara.
Through my paintings you will catch a glimpse of the local history of the Niagara Region. In these
images, I delicately capture the fancy brickwork, arched windows, and brightly coloured buildings of
the local architecture. My folk art style adds to the quaintness of these creations, and highlights my love
for this bucolic area.
Like a painted “snap shot” in time, the boards are all created on a standard rough edged 2×6, 28 inches
long with a varnish finish. Creating these paintings on lumber is also symbolic of the structures
themselves that were often built out of lumber similar to pieces I create on.
The beauty that is found within the structures of these places continues to amaze me. It is
incredible, a part of history that needs to be told. As an individual standing in front of a single
building we don’t get a chance to see the entire streetscape put together, herein lies the real
beauty, putting the frameworks together and gazing on an entire block at once, with their bright
colours, and beautifully designed buildings of yesteryear.
We also get a glimpse of how these buildings fit into today’s world. Restaurants, pizza
places, bars, and offices that were never imagined when these buildings were born fill these
sites today. Tomorrow may bring change again, but for today I give you a “snap shot” in time
through my paintings.
Please take a peek and enjoy as local history and art intermingle!