Petroff Gallery is pleased to present the second edition of our annual Artwork for the Outdoors exhibition. All works on display are suitable for display indoors or outdoors and are sure to accentuate any space.

Treat your patio, balcony, deck, or yard to artwork that looks great all year round!

Featuring eight multi-talented artists including:

Mark Birksted metal artist - "My background is in graphic design, I was formally trained and spent years in this field. While I initially chose graphic design as an outlet for my creativity, it left me feeling frustrated. My hand-bent metal sculptures are a direct response to my frustration of using a computer as a creative tool. I bend the metal at room temperature, using an anvil. The response from this industrial material is immediate. No bend can be undone; there is no ‘undo’ key."

Floyd Elzinga metal artist - “I am drawn to the distinction between polar opposites. Subsequently, duality is an underlying theme in my work. I employ natural and non-traditional sculpting materials to create conceptual sculptures, but more than a decade of steel fabrication has made metals my dominant choice of materials. I was initially drawn to using steel as a material because of its plastic nature. It is a common, fast working material that is very forgiving allowing me to sketch my thoughts in line-drawing style panels and persuasively formed sculptures.”

Rudy Kehkla wire sculptor -Each of Rudy's wire sculptures begins with a sketch. Placing the sketch on the wall and using bright lights to cast a strong shadow, Rudy begins bending wire to match the shadow lines, carefully rendering his two dimensional line drawing into a three dimensional sculpture. Rudy’s sculptures are often inspired by movement, whether he is depicting athletes in mid stride, or musicians in mid note. Many of his sculptures have kinetic elements as well: a violinist bows, a guitarist plucks, and a tree bends and weaves in the wind.

Francis Muscat glass & wood artist - Studies at Humber College, Georgian College, the Three Schools of Art and Ontario College of Art exposed Francis to a varied spectrum of media. Glass, however, made the strongest impression, and the medium most utilized in his work. Working in a variation of cast glass and recycled media, he sees possibilities where there once were none. Francis has had his work shown throughout Canada and the United States.

Sue Rankin glass artist - Sue examines how glass has been used historically and transitions form and style with a contemporary feel. "We are all constantly surrounded by something. The landscape that surrounds us shapes us and influences us as we function within it. When I think of gardens I think of something larger than life. They are a physically manipulated, living space that can, not only surround you, but also overpower you."

Ron Simmer metal sculptor- Ron Simmer is a Vancouver-based sculptor, a prolific artist who works primarily with found materials. Organic materials – plant matter, stone and wood – serve as effective media to express concerns about the fragility of our environment. Ron also recycles materials from our consumer culture – skis, snowboards, fire extinguishers, car parts, musical instruments, fishing floats, driftwood and scrap metal – to create fanciful commentary on modern society.

Richard Sturgeon metal sculptor - Influenced by the structural contrasts between the natural and urban worlds, Richard Sturgeon creates interpretive sculpture and functional work in metal. His sculptures incorporate elements of suggested motion and spatial relation presented in scale from hand held studies to monumental works. Steel and stainless steel are accented with copper, stone, bronze, clay, wood and glass.

Robert Wehkamp mixed media artist - As a mixed-media artist, Robert is inspired through two life-long passions: nature and technology. Through sculpting, he draws his inspiration from nature. With his pieces, he aims to harmonize nature and abstraction. The basis of the sculpture is the reduction of the essential expression. With few components, the pieces should make a lasting impression, connecting with their environment. They are conceptualized with a distinct surrounding in mind. On the other hand, Robert's paintings are motivated by technology, portrayed through the bright colours, sharp angles, and geometrical concepts.