#CHROMAYYC 2019

Tyler Lemermeyer's work is bold and graphic, with vibrant and minimal colour palettes. He constantly explores the balance between realism and abstraction in his work, using playful and lighthearted themes to inspire delight in the viewer. Lemermeyer draws inspiration primarily from his surroundings, often depicting objects, portraits, and landscapes of the places he finds himself. He has been a practising illustrator and muralist in Calgary since 2012, and he is always looking for new opportunities to share his work with more people.

Rhys Douglas Farrell is an emerging artist living and working in Calgary, Alberta. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction (major in Painting & Drawing) from the Alberta University of the Arts in the spring of 2016. He was signed with the Herringer Kiss Gallery in 2015 and his first solo show was named by Canadian Art Magazine as a “Must See”. Farrell has completed a number of public art projects with the Telus Spark Science Center, Beltline Urban Mural Project, the City of Calgary and a number of private commissions. His work has been aggressively collected by private and corporate collections alike and he recently completed three international residencies with Pinea & Linea De Costa A.I.R program in Spain, Graniti Murales in Sicily and the TARP Program in Kuala Lumpur with Taksu Gallery. Farrell is the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Horizon Award from AUArts.

Maria Galura made her dreams come true since being fascinated by balloons at age 8. Today, her balloon art installations have shared smiles, wonder and whimsy to Calgarians. Photos of her balloon art have been shared across Canada, US, Australia, UK, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico.

Creating one of a kind balloon art as community offerings, she finds delightful color play, various sizes of biodegradable balloons and textures for statement pieces. Maria's design theory begins with optimizing space and layering experiential elements to deliver unforgettable balloon moments for the audience. Be it outdoor in arctic temperatures or the heatwave: she is equipped with grace, parka or sunscreen respectively!

She is a proud Filipino immigrant and is based in Calgary with her husband and 3 daughters.

Michelle Hoogveld is a Canadian painter and mural artist whose distinctive style is inspired by colour theory, connection, and matters of the heart. Michelle creates compositions of bold patterns and textile-like blockings of colour, with layers that weave and fold together as an intricate tapestry of who we are, celebratory of human identity and emotion. Her colourful works are internationally recognized, beautifying and uplifting spaces in both the public and private realm. Creating around the world, Michelle has worked with a wide range of clients in Canada, the United States, Peru, Mexico, Germany, Portugal, and England.

Rachael Meckling is a fashion & beauty illustrator living in the Alberta Rocky Mountains. With a strong love for nature, women, fabrics and form, she paints whimsical, feminine subjects with a minimalist approach. With a Bachelor of Design from Ryerson University’s Fashion Communication program, Rachael’s illustrations can be seen in fashion publications such as FASHION and Flare, and she is an artistic contributor to companies including Saks Fifth Avenue, McKinley Burkart and Rockwood Luxury Homes. In 2018 she received support from RBC’s Emerging Artist program, and as a result is quickly emerging as one of Western Canada’s most sought-after multidisciplinary artists.

Marika is a floral artist and maker.

My venture into flowers was essentially out of necessity as I worked through my BA in Art History and English Lit. Program at U of C. It wasn’t long before i realized many of the themes in my programs could be easily expressed through flora. Flowers are also a very accessible medium in everyday life. While traditional art and academia are necessary and vital, many people find it challenging to incorporate art in their everyday sphere. Making public art critical. Accessible art is art with tremendous value and purpose. In this way flora can behave like any other artists medium. Its colour, composition, texture, dimension and ability to express are raw and immediate. It is no wonder that flowers have been an integral part of humanity since the beginning of mankind. They are beautiful, inspiring, useful and have the ability to connect us to ourselves and each other. It is also never the same arrangement twice and ultimately unique. Flowers are under my skin and in my DNA. Nature provides me with blooms that change by season in a raw and pure palette, offering endless possibility.

I completed my joint degree in Bachelor of Arts - Art History /English literature in 2001. During this time I actively volunteered working on urban planning and heritage preservation issues for my community association in Cliff Bungalow-Mission. My passion for history, art and community are driving factors in my daily life. My husband and I purchased Peaseblossoms flowers in 2006 after working there several years. Today its still my platform from where I work and am inspired. Over the years our business has supported ATP, Calgary Folk festival, Calgary Arts development, Calgary Library- readers for life program, Calgary Opera, PARK, Calgary Women’s Shelter to name a few. I have lived in historic Bankview for the past 17 years in a century home with my husband. We were joined by 3 exuberant kids, a diva of a cat and a bunny. My love of flowers is only rivalled by my addiction to handmade paper, fabric, art supplies and Lego, which my family does their best to tolerate. I currently volunteer as an active board member of the Calgary Firefighters Museum.

Chroma is a project I am very proud to be part of. Very much looking forward to bringing my 24 years of flower experience to such a fantastic project with such other talented artists.

Caine Chow is a visual artist based in the japanese planting styles of kokedama, “moss ball plants", and wabikusa. She explores the connection people have with nature and how interacting with nature has profound power and influence on us individually and as communities.

Rei Duncan is the artist behind Sachi&Jun. Described as fiber art, Sachi&Jun specializes in macramé and modern woven tapestries. Rei is self-taught, drawing inspiration from landscapes and the cultures she has been immersed in throughout her life. An elementary school teacher by day, Rei has recently relocated to Calgary from Melbourne, Australia.