JARED BETTS: DES OEUVRES D'ART QUI EXPLOSENT DE BONHEUR /JARED BETTS: WORKS OF ART THAT EXPLODE HAPPINESS
Sylvie Mousseau I Acadie Nouvelle
lundi 13 juillet 2020
https://www.acadienouvelle.com/arts-et-spectacles/2020/07/13/jared-betts-des-oeuvres-dart-qui-explosent-de-bonheur/
Jared Betts in front of two of his works exhibited in the Arches building in St. George. - Acadie Nouvelle: Sylvie Mousseau
(french follows)
Jared Betts' paintings have never looked so vibrant. Those who wish to spread happiness with their works leave traditional art galleries to exhibit their work in certain businesses.
A stroll through the city of Moncton will allow you to admire the work of Jared Betts in at least two businesses. Impossible to miss them so the colors are brilliant.
Exhibited in the Black Rabbit restaurant and in the lobby of the Les Arches building in St. George in the city center, his Happiness series brings together 11 works in vibrant colors. The gallery owner Nausika Breau who represents the artist in Moncton highlights that the paintings of Jared Betts are literally bursts of color. "It's happy and it's fun and it fits perfectly with the dishes that are served at the Black Rabbit which are also very colorful," said the owner from Apple Art Gallery.
For its reopening after three months of confinement, the restaurant owner Luc Doucet was looking for works that would bring color to people's lives.
"Of course there are fewer tables and fewer customers (physical distancing) and we wanted to bring joy with the works of Jared Betts. It's great fun, it's vibrant, there are lots of colors. We love Jared. His paintings are different and it stimulates creativity. For us, food is about conversation between people and for me, art also stimulates conversation. We try to do the same thing with our food and our tastings. It's a total experience. "
In this restaurant, the menu is inspired by different cultures (Korean, Louisiana, South American ...) and changes every week.
Jared Betts wanted to collect his most colorful works for this exhibition, especially in these difficult times. He chose the pieces with Nausika Breau.
"Some are new and others have never been shown in public. We wanted a happy theme to encourage people to get out there, feel safe and enjoy the wonderful food and art," said the artist.
In this collection, we find the butterfly is a symbol of hope in several cultures. There are works of different formats, including two large paintings in the entrance hall of the building.
By associating with certain businesses, he seeks to reinvent himself and to reach a different audience from that which frequents art galleries. He created a mural on the patio of the Tire Shack brewery.
"For me, working with restaurants is really wonderful. This idea of the mural on the floor is something I had never done before. It is so different than doing something on a wall, even just choosing the kind of painting that will stay on the floor. I did lots of research with other muralists. I also had to imagine the mural with a view of the sky as if I were a bird. "
The artist carefully chooses his partners. There must be certain affinities in the artistic vision. His exhibition at the Black Rabbit is on display until the end of summer.
Francais
Les peintures Jared Betts n'ont jamais ete aussi eclatantes. Celui qui souhaite repandre le bonheur avec ses oeuvres sort des galeries d'art traditionelles pour exposer son travail dans certains commerces.
Une balade dans lal ville de Moncton vous permettra d'admirer le travail de Jared Betts dans au moins deux commerces. Impossible de les manquer tellement les couleurs sont eclatantes.
Exposee dan le restaurant Black Rabbit et dans le hall de l"edifice Les Arches de St. George au centre-ville, sa serie Happiness (Bonheur) rassemble 11 oeuvres aux couleurs vibrantes. La galeriste Nausika Breau qui represente l'artiste a Moncton souligne que les toiles de Jared Betts sont litteralement des explosion de couleurs. "C'est heureux et c'est le fun et ca convient tout a fait avec les mets qui sont servis au Black Rabbit qui sont aussi tres colores", a souligne la proprietaire de la galerie Apple Art.
Pour sa reouverture apres trois mois de confinement, le restaurateur Luc Doucet cherchait des oeuvres qui apporteraient de la couleur dans la vie des gens.
"C'est sur qu'il y a moins de tables et moins de client (distanciation physique) et on voulait amener de la joie avec les oeuvres de Jared Betts. C'est super le fun, c'est vibrant, il y a beaucoup de couleurs. On a adore Jared. Ses peintures sont differentes et ca stimule la creativite. Pour nous, la nourriture, ce sont des conversations entre les gens et pour moi, l'art stimule aussi la conversation. On essaie de faire la meme chose avec notre nourriture et nos mens degustations. C'est une experience totale."
Dans ce restaurant, le menu inspire de differentes cultures (coreenne, louisianaise, sud-americaine...) change toutes les semaines.
Jared Betts a eu envie de rassembler ses oeuvres les plus colorees pour cette exposition, specialement dans ces temps difficiles. Il a coisi les pieces avec Nausika Breau.
"Certaines sont nouvelle et d'autres n'ont jamais ete montrees en public. Nous voulions un theme joyeux pour encourager les gens a ressortir, a se sentir en securite et a apprecier la nourriture merveilleuse et l'art", a exprime l'artiste.
Dans cette collection, on retrouve le paillon est un symbole d'espoir dans plusieurs cultures. Il y a des oeuvres de differents formats, dont deux grandes peintures dans le hall d'entree de l'edifice.
En s'associant avec certains commerces, il cherche a se reinventer et a rejoindre un public different de celui qui frequente les galeris d'art. Il a cree une murale sur le patio de la brasserie Tire Shack.
"Pour moi, travaller avec des restaurants est vraiment merveilleux. Cette idee de la murale sur le sol, c'est quelque chose que je n'avais jamais fait avant. C'est tellement different que de faire quelque chose sur un mur, meme juste de choisir la sorte de peinture qui va rester au sol. J'ai fait plusieurs recherches aupres de muralistes. Je devais aussi imaginer la murale avec un point de vue du ciel comme si c'etait un oiseau."
L'artiste choisit avec soin ses partenaires. Il doit y avoir certaines affinites dans la vision artistique. Son exposition au Black Rabbit est presentee jusqu'a la fun de l'ete.
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MONCTON – Tire Shack Brewing Co. at 190 John St. has opened its patio, with colourful art to help boost people’s spirit amid a pandemic.
“We figured people right now need a little colour in their life, they need something uplifting,” said co-owner Alan Norman, adding that it also spruces up the brewery and taproom’s parking lot.
“We wanted to make something nice with wood and have a colourful, transformative space where you’re kind of immersed in the art.”
The painting that covers Tire Shack’s patio is made by local artist Jared Betts, whose paintings are also exhibited at Apple Art Gallery and the restaurant Black Rabbit. He says he wants the art to reflect summer vibes, the beverages on tap, and some of his favourite colours.
“Generally I paint on canvas or a wall, so I had to completely shift my mind from wall to ground, and then it became kind of this interactive installation,” he said.
Betts said the project was exciting, as a lot of his projects and art shows have had to move online.
“It’s a different dynamic because it’s hard to connect with people and show them your paintings, it’s different when they’re just seeing it online rather than in a gallery with lots of other people in there,” he said.
But the patio, which Norman built with his spouse and co-owner Jerrica Kennedy, her father and her uncle, is just the first step to Tire Shack’s summer plans.
By mid-to-late June, they plan to have food trucks parked there, and also sell products of Lost and Found Ice Cream, a business owned by local chef Jon Morrison.
“We want to make it a community space, almost like a community market. It’s tough right now because of Covid, but we’re trying to have as much community as possible without people feeling uncomfortable and trying to reinforce the 6 ft. distancing and all that,” Norman said.
“One thing that we found a great positive that came out of Covid was people are so focused on supporting local and being part of the community, and going out of the way to find all these local people that maybe they didn’t always think about, or maybe they did, but now they need to support them more than ever,” he added.
“There’s a really great sense of community right now, and we want to keep holding on to that for as long as possible, and maybe even forever if we can get a change going.”
Tire Shack is operating at half its usual capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions, but Norman said business has been great.
They had to close the taproom for sometime, focusing instead on canning their beers, and continuing releasing new beers to keep people excited.
“We saw a lot more volume through the [NB Liquor] locations, cans-to-go sales were very good and a lot of people support us with the beer delivery that we had in place as well,” he said.
Once the taproom reopened, Norman said customers have been respectful in following the guidelines, and staff has been doing everything to make sure people feel comfortable and safe. There are hand sanitizers on every table, too.
“Luckily with the patio and the way we spaced out our tables inside, we have lots of space,” he said. “It’s as normal as it can be within the circumstances that we currently find ourselves in…People have been cooped up for a couple of months here and people do want to connect again and they want to do it safely.”
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N.B. ARTIST'S ABSTRACT, COLOURFUL CREATIONS' PART OF VIRTUAL EXHIBIT
Michael Staples I The Daily Gleaner
Sunday, April 19, 2020
https://tj.news/story/101241027
Paintings by Jared Betts, January 2020. documented in his studio at Centre Culturel Aberdeen, Moncton. Photo: Mathieu Leger
The works of a Moncton artist whose fun, abstract and colourful creations have been exhibited around the world are coming to Fredericton.
Gallery on Queen will be highlighting 14 pieces of Jared Betts's work - four of which are 64 x 84 - as part of a virtual exhibit set to open on April 27. Betts, who works out of a studio in Aberdeen Cultural Center in downtown Moncton, said he's thrilled to be part of the show, especially considering what people are going through at this time with COVID-19 pandemic. "I like that we're reacting to what's happening and still going through with doing a show and doing it online," Betts said. "That's what is neat about art, it's adaptable. It's really exciting to do this online show."
Nadia Khoury, owner of Gallery on Queen, said she wanted to feature Betts's for the last four years but, for various reasons, a show never came together."Jared is a very unique person." Khoury said. "He hustles for his art. He works extremely hard to always stay visible. He is a contemporary modern artist. Just a lovely person." Khoury described Betts' work as being just perfect for a society forced to move inside and live from a distance. "Our minds are so busy and everyone's mind is so occupied that we don't need to analyze a piece of art at this time," Khoury said. "His work is very simple for the spirit."
Betts described his work as "Neo Abstract Expressionist."
"Neo abstract expressionism is inspired by work that began in the 50s and 60s with artists like Jackson Pollock ...It was abstract art that was a reaction to [what] was happening at that time." Aside from '50s and '60s,Betts said he's also inspired by the neons, animal patterns and fashions of the 1980s. "My work also stems from right now and is influenced by technology, the internet and things like that."
Khoury said it's always preferable to have an exhibition where people can walk in, browse, talk and enjoy themselves but, in times like these, virtual is the way to go. "It's a new way of surviving," Khoury said. "I never really anticipated that I would be launching a show online. Our shows are quite popular because people like the gathering, the wine glass and chatting over a show ... but under the circumstances, we have to find new ways to go on."
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FINDING ARTISTIC FOCUS
Sean Hatchard
Times and Transcript + Telegraph Journal
Saturday, April 4, 2020
https://tj.news/story/101217910
Moncton visual artist Jared Betts' exhibition is on display at the Capitol Theatre, which is closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Mathieu Leger
Moncton visual artist Jared Betts’ work has taken him around the globe. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to ravage the world, there was only one place he wanted to be. “I think it’s best for me to be with my family right now,” said Betts, who cut short a stay in Montreal two weeks ago to return home to Moncton.
Betts’ Honolulu Escapism exhibition opened at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre on March 11 and was set to run until April 24. But with the Capitol closing due to COVID-19 concerns, his exhibit is on hold – indefinitely. “Right now, the No.1 priority is the health and safety of my family and friends,” Betts said in an interview “My art goes to the sidelines at this point.”
Moncton visual artist Jared Betts' exhibition on display at the Capitol Theatre is inspired by escaping the Canadian winter to Hawaii.
Photo:Submitted/Mathieu Leger
And while much of the world has been getting used to self-isolation and working from home, those aren’t new concepts for the 37-year old Betts, who has been painting professionally for seven years and works full-time as an artist. “I’m always alone when I do work and I’m never, ever bored. If anything, I’ve always been practising self-quarantine or social distancing,” said Betts, who’s seven-piece Honolulu Escapism series is inspired by escaping the Canadian winter to Honolulu, Hawaii and can be viewed online on his social media channels.
“Not a lot really changes for me. I sometimes go weeks or months without seeing many people, especially when I’m at artist residencies.” It can make for long days and nights. When he’s in the middle of working on a series, it’s typical for Betts to work from noon until midnight, seven days a week in his studio. “For me I really love working alone. It allows for me to really take steps back and focus on what kind of art, what kind of message and what kind of compositions I want to be making,” he said. “Sometimes I’m not even listening to music or anything at all. Most of the time it’s just completely quiet, and in that way it’s really just about me and the paintbrush or the different ways that I’m applying the paint. I find it very calming.” In that sense, Betts is used to the social distancing that comes with his profession. “I’m a pretty introverted person, so I spend a lot of time all on my own, working in my sketchbook or on paintings or watching different movies,” said Betts, who works out of a studio in Moncton’s Aberdeen Cultural Centre. “I watch a lot of ‘80s fantasy movies. I find them very inspiring. I find all the colours and creatures super cool.” Betts’ works are also inspired by the 1950s and ‘60s – artists such as Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko – and his travels around the globe.
Moncton visual artist Jared Betts. Photo: Submitted
His paintings are included in collections in Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Paris, China, Australia and Iceland. He’s taken part in artist residencies in Iceland, Ireland and Costa Rica and is currently exhibiting at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. Betts is set to participate in residencies in Newfoundland and Taipei, Taiwan later this year. “I feel like I’ve been very fortunate – I don’t think my path has been anything of the norm. Right after graduating [from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design] in 2010, I was accepted to be in an artist residency in Iceland, and since then I’ve been travelling the world and exhibiting me work,” Betts said. “Every show is a domino effect. Each show has left to another show. It’s been really amazing the different shows I’ve been able to do.”
Betts credits his former high school art teacher, Anna Whalen at Moncton High School, for setting him on the road to becoming a professional artist. “She was so amazing. She was so supportive and encouraging. I really didn’t like school to be honest, but I always looked forward to that class. My favourite classes were art, lunch and recess,” Betts said. “Once I found art, it was a way to say what I was feeling without words. I’ve always been quite quiet, so for me spending all day ever day painting is wonderful.”
Paintings by Jared Betts documented in his studio at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre. Photo: Mathieu Leger
He believes the events of the last few weeks force people to take stock of their work – and lives – and could be an influence in future art work. “It makes you really take steps and realize what is really important. I think if anything, this time is allowing for people to really focus on what it is they want to be making or how they want to be living their lives,” Betts said. “The abstract expressionism of the ‘50s and ‘60s come out of reaction from war that was happening then, and I find right now is a pretty crazy and wild time that has never really happened, where the whole entire world is working together. It will be interesting to see what kind of art comes out of this because this is a pretty significant point in time.”
Moncton artist Emily Phillips had an exhibition with two other artists at Moncton's Galerie Sans Nom postponed last month. Photo: Submitted
Fellow Moncton artist Emily Phillips had an exhibition opening with two other artists at Moncton’s Galerie Sans Nom postponed last month. The gallery is working on putting together an online video tour of the exhibition. Unlike Betts, Phillips has a full-time day job at a landscaping, architecture and urban planning company and works on her art during evenings and weekends. “You apply pretty far in advance when you’re going to have an exhibition, and usually once you apply, depending on the venue, it can be anywhere from a year to two years when they schedule you in,” said Phillips, who does landscape painting and oil paint art. “I generally show one good size show every two years. My next major show isn’t scheduled until 2022. If it doesn’t end up being shown to the public – I’ll apply to show it elsewhere – it can have a bit of an impact and interruption in that way.”
A painting by Moncton artist Emily Phillips. Photo: Submitted
Phillips said the global pandemic isn’t going to stop her from viewing her favourite subject – landscapes. “One of the nice things, I guess, about this outbreak is that it doesn’t really impact your ability to go outdoors,” she said. “For me, I’m still getting to go outside, trails are safe spaces for us to go, so I’m not worried about my ability to visit these places.”
