JANELAS DA ALMA
SONHOS DE PORTUGAL
Windows to the Soul
Dreams of Portugal

Works by Joao De Brito and Maria Miranda Lawrence

May 29 – June 27

The gallery closes its 2007-08 season with an exhibition of paintings by João De Brito and Maria Miranda Lawrence. Originally from Sao Miguel in the Azores, De Brito now lives in California while Lawrence resides in British Columbia. Their works reflect their Azorean roots, their embrace of homeland.

João De Brito emigrated as a young man to New England with his family and from there moved to California, attracted to the splendor of its coast. He studied art in the States and Europe, and today travels extensively to paint en plein air. He has collaborated with internationally known artists, but most of all he welcomes the opportunity to interact with diverse people and cultures, to partake in what he calls “the discovery of the everyday.” In 2005, De Brito traveled from city to city to paint with Maori artists in New Zealand, and he became a weeklong guest of the Portuguese government who engaged De Brito to paint images of the country for their cultural art publication. De Brito has exhibited extensively solo and in group shows in the U.S. and elsewhere and his work resides in private collections and museums in North America and Europe.

Maria Miranda Lawrence calls Sao Miguel “the island of my dreams” enchanted by its natural beauty and her childhood memories. At an early age she moved with her family to British Columbia, Canada and has lived there ever since. She has shown her works in numerous group and solo exhibitions both in B.C. and around the world. Her works reflect her love and longing for her homeland. On May 6, 2006 she was awarded the Portuguese-Canadian COPA award for outstanding achievement in the Arts and Culture. Lawrence is a signature member of the Canadian Portrait Artists, an executive member of the Island Illustrators Society, a Luso-Artist, an active member of the Canadian Federation of Artists, and is a founding member of the Vancouver Island Arts & Cultural Accord.