George Szabo & Janine Wheeler at Quest Art School + Gallery

Images (left to right): George Szabo, Medusa’s Stoned Cousin, 2014-2017, Steatite, Chlorite, wire, 26″ x 20″. Photo: George Szabo. Janine Wheeler, The Archway, 2024, oil on Yupo paper mounted to board, 30″ x 24″. Photo: Janine Wheeler.

George Szabo & Janine Wheeler
A two-person exhibition pairing abstract sculpture and painting in the Main Gallery

Curated by Ginette Pelletier

January 10, 2025 – February 7, 2025
Quest Art School + Gallery, Midland
Thanks to everyone who attended the opening reception on January 10.

Artist Statement – George Szabo

I almost always begin a sculpture from a purely abstract direction, which happens when I pick out the stone or put together an assembly. I see inherent shapes in the raw material and merely bring them out. One of the most important features of my work is that I try to elicit a response and interpretation from the people viewing my work, which may be different from my concept of that particular sculpture.

Artist Statement – Janine Wheeler

Windows into my inner world; celebrations of all that make up me and all of my experiences. All of the difficulties and challenges – but not just my own. Leaning into escapism, collaborations with the creative process reveal something surprising, giving existence to the unseen. Surges of anxiety coexist with moments of calm. The interplay of confused and loud marks with soft delicate forms reflects the balance between chaos and order.

I am deeply interested in creating spaces within my work— spaces that allude to both the physical world and the intangible realms of the mind. I aim to craft an environment that invites contemplation, floating in obscurity and nodding gently toward a feeling of knowing- to something greater, arriving closer to some universal truth.

Installation shot of exhibition including works by both artists. Photo: Janine Wheeler

About the Artists

George Szabo is a Canadian artist, born in Hungary. He studied psychology and mathematics at the University of Waterloo until eventually attending their fine arts program in 1974. He works in sculpture, drawing, and photography and credits much of his inspiration to artists Tony Urquhart and Virgil Burnett. Though he doesn’t work exclusively in abstraction, it is his preferred genre. Some of his favourite mediums include stone, wood, clay, creating found object assemblages, and realistic illustrative drawings. He currently resides in Hillsdale, Ontario. He has exhibited throughout Toronto, Collingwood, Orillia and Midland. His works can be found in private collections throughout Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Collingwood, Muskoka, Midland, Florida, San Francisco, Germany, and Hungary.

Website: www.georgeszabo.ca

Janine Wheeler is a Canadian artist residing and working in Utopia, Ontario. She received her BFA, majoring in Drawing and Painting, from OCAD University (Toronto, ON) in 2016, after completing a diploma in Fine Arts at Georgian College (Barrie, ON) in 2014. Her studio practice is primarily oil and acrylic painting on Yupo paper. Working predominantly within abstraction, Wheeler’s work explores intermediary spaces and intangible forms. She has exhibited in group exhibitions throughout Ontario, with a solo exhibition at the Aurora Cultural Centre (Aurora, ON) in 2018. In 2022, she received a Research and Creation grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. Her work is held in private collections throughout Canada and the United Kingdom.

Website: www.janinewheeler.ca
Instagram: @janine_wheeler_studio

About Quest Art School + Gallery

For 29 years, Quest Art School + Gallery has passionately pursued its mission to inspire, explore, create, and innovate. We are committed to maintaining a supportive environment where aspiring artists and art enthusiasts can discover, learn, and grow through a diverse range of creative programs, workshops, and exhibitions. Through innovative and collaborative initiatives, we aim to be a driving force in the cultural landscape of North Simcoe, promoting the transformative power of art to connect people, provoke thought, and contribute to the richness of our society.

Quest Art School + Gallery
Midland Cultural Centre
333 King Street (2nd Floor)
Midland, ON L4R 3M7
www.questart.ca
Telephone: (705) 529-3355
Instagram: @questartschoolandgallery

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm

Accessibility:
Quest art is accessible with barrier free entrances, an elevator and barrier free washrooms.

For more information contact:
Lawrence Sagar, Director
director@questart.ca