By Staff
October 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette is a Burlington newspaper published on line and while we are certainly aware of that smokestack called Hamilton to the west of us, we try hard not to be continually angry about all the stuff they spew into the environment.
They recently did something that we fully approved of and appreciated. They chose Joan Krygsman as a Hamilton Spectator Reader’s Choice Awards winner and named her the First Place Platinum Award winner as BEST LOCAL ARTIST 2014.
Joan Krygsman and her Striped Aardvark studio has been doing what has been called colourful, quirky and unique art. They are certainly different – we think delightful – but art is often in the eye of the beholder – so you get to decide.
Joan is one of those “she’s everywhere” type of people. She plays a guitar and takes part in any group that will invite her. She works with the Rain Barrel people and delegates at Hamilton City Council on almost every issue that touches on the environment.
Krygsman also does Income Tax returns for people. We came across Joan when we were looking for someone to put together a complex reader survey.
We learned that Joan was pretty good at revising and upgrading WORDPress themes, which is the software we use to format the Gazette. It was advice from Joan that convinced us to move to the theme we currently have.
Colourful, quirky and unique are words used to describe Joan Krygsman – she is all of the above
For more on Joan slip over to her website . Most of what she produces is for sale.
Krygsman usually takes a small selection of things each weekend to the Wilson Street Farmers Market in Ancaster.
Congratulations to Joan Krygsman!
The myth that “art is in the eyes of the beholder” has only partial validity. Personal taste due to experience may influence you as to whether you like a piece of art or not. This art experience for many ended in grade 8 and even then arts education may have been done by someone more knowledgeable about sports than art. Awards like this reflect the general public’s arts education or lack of arts education.
Those with eyes that have been trained and education to tell the difference between creative, innovative art with highly developed skills certainly are not comparable to a person who was trained to copy reproductions or glue paper on to a balloon in their art training.
It is difficult to see Joan Krygsman artwork on line. It looks intriguing and done with some stylist skill but I am not sure if she is the best painter let alone the best artist in Hamilton? Robert Ross, Stephanie Vegh, Svava Thordis Juliusson, Andrew Mcphail, Tyler Tetach’s media arts installation at the AGH this year were stunning as were other artists work .
Still, Congrats to the artist!!! You got the most votes.