At the January luncheon, Linda Jenetti was presented with the fifth Reed T. Cooper Bursary in Visual Arts.
This award of $3,000 is made annually to a local professional artist who displays a unique talent and potential for excellence. As Gary Vipond, Past President of the Arts Council, and Chair of the Selection Committee, pointed out at the presentation, it is made possible through generous donations to the Bursary Fund by members of DAC.
Gary introduced the winning artist and spoke about her active involvement with the local art scene, which included the Kame & Kettle Artists (Past President and former Secretary) and the Orangeville Art Group (former Secretary). Linda
was one of the original members of the Dufferin (then Shelburne) Arts Council (former Secretary), has
participated in the Hills of Mulmur Studio Tour, North of 89 Studio Tour, Headwaters Studio Tour and the Headwaters Arts
Festival and other local art shows. She is also one of the artists/teachers with DAC’s Artists in the Schools
program. Farther afield she has shown with the Colour and Form Society, the Society of Canadian Artists, and Visual Arts
Mississauga.
Linda has been accepted into many juried shows over the
years and received several awards. In 2011 she received the Jurors’ Choice Award at the Headwaters Arts Festival
held at the SGI Centre near Alton.
Educated at the Ontario College of Art, the Vancouver
School of Art and the Artists’ Workshop (Toronto), Linda has also attended workshops and studied with other artists,
including Harold Klunder and Peter Kolisnyk. Last spring (2012) she attended the International School of Art, in
Monte Castello di Vibo, Umbria (Italy).
After the award presentation, Linda spoke briefly about
her upcoming project. She intends to return to Umbria next May, using her award money for tuition at the
International School. Last year she was struck by the similarities and differences between the landscapes of Umbria and Mulmur.
She wants to continue her research and develop a body of work that will demonstrate those comparisons and
contrasts. She has a commitment to mount a solo show at the Bartlett Gallery in Alton in May, 2014.
Jane Cooper, whose husband Reed was a fellow Kame &
Kettle member, and had participated with Linda in many local exhibitions and studio tours, presented the award
to Linda and wished her much success.
Jane Cooper