Kay Wolstenholme, a selection of works by former Queen’s Fine Art student and Kingston artist
October 24 - November 18, 2008

Self-Portrait, encaustic over oil on wood, 2007

“In my work I am trying to illuminate the ephemeral and fleeting imagery, ideas and chimera that exist in the shadowy broth of the unconscious. My challenge therefore is to make visible and tangible the glimpses, notions and ideas that can only ever really be seen out of the corner of the mind’s eye.” - Kay Wolstenholme, 2002

Kay Wolstenholme worked as an artist from 1988 until 2008. She emigrated to Kingston from the U.K. in 1995 where she established an art practice and became actively involved in the Kingston arts community. In 2007 Wolstenholme started a Fine Art Degree at Queen’s University.

Sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer early in the academic year and was unable to continue this part of her artistic career. She passed away in the spring of 2008. cer early in the academic year and was unable to continue this part of her artistic career. She passed away in the spring of 2008. Wolstenholme’s art practice included painting, drawing, encaustics, ceramics and textile works. The exhibition at the Union Galley is a small selection of these works along with a video that includes images from the artist’s sketchbooks from 1993 to 2008. Throughout her work, she juxtaposes similar and dissimilar ingredients of visual vocabulary to evoke new meanings, languages and questions that have resulted in highly textured and intricate artworks that offer a glimpse into the artist’s psyche.

Jocelyn Purdie, Director

A bursary in Kay Wolstenholme’s name is being established through the Ban Righ Centre. Please contact Barbara Schlafer or schlafeb@queensu.ca or Faye Ransom ransomf@queensu.ca. for details.