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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for MERA
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260802T140000
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SUMMARY:Meet the Artist - Michael Flahault
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to have Kingston artist\, Michael Flahault\, kick off our “Soaring Through Summer” event. Enjoy an array of unique portraits\, landscapes and\, yes\, some works related to planes. \nMichael has kindly offered MERA a wonderful painting to be raffled on August 8 at 6 pm \, the evening of our one-day festival Soaring Through Summer. \nAbout the Artist \nGrowing up in Paris and London\, Michael was immersed in world-class art\, receiving instruction from accomplished school art teachers and additional training through extracurricular classes arranged by his parents. While his early career was rooted in traditional realism\, his work has since expanded to explore contemporary figurative and conceptual themes\, drawing on psychology\, relationships\, symbolism\, and the search for meaning.  \nAs a member of the American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA)\, he studied under artists including Keith Ferris\, whose work is held by the Smithsonian Institution\, and received multiple ASAA awards. In the early 2000s\, the ASAA secured him gallery representation through Art for Life in New Jersey and New York\, where limited-edition giclée prints of his watercolours were exhibited and sold.  \nIn 2003 and 2004\, the Canada Aviation Museum commissioned four watercolours for its aircraft displays. Under the patronage of General Maurice Baril\, then Chief of the Defence Staff\, Michael authored the proposal that became the Canadian Forces Artists Program (CFAP/Operation Apollo)\, through which artists are sponsored to document the Canadian Armed Forces worldwide. He later served as the artist representative on the program’s Selection Advisory Committee alongside representatives from the National Gallery of Canada\, the Canadian War Museum\, the Canada Council for the Arts\, Library and Archives Canada\, the Canadian Armed Forces\, and the Senate.  \nHis work has been commissioned or collected by the Canada Aviation Museum\, the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence\, Bell Helicopter\, Execair (Innotech)\, SimuFlite\, CAE\, the Canadian Business Aircraft Association\, the O’Keefe family\, Guy Lafleur\, and private collectors as far away as Australia.  \nAlongside his painting practice\, Michael has spent many years as a software developer specializing in historically accurate flight simulation. Michael holds degrees in International Relations from Concordia and McGill Universities and also studied at Carleton and Kuwait Universities. His academic background continues to inform an artistic practice that seeks to unite technical craftsmanship with the exploration of ideas\, inviting viewers to discover meaning through observation rather than explanation.  \nArtist’s Statement  \nMy paintings explore the concept between what is seen and what is understood. Working primarily in oils\, I use the visual language of traditional realism to examine contemporary questions of identity\, relationships\, memory\, faith\, absence\, and the quiet psychological moments that often shape our lives more profoundly than dramatic events. Rather than illustrating narratives\, I’m trying to create images that invite sustained observation. Symbolic elements are often present but rarely announced. A gesture\, the direction of light\, an overlooked object\, or the relationship between figures may suggest multiple interpretations without insisting upon a single conclusion.  \nI believe a painting is most rewarding when it continues to reveal itself over time. My practice draws upon both historical painting and contemporary conceptual art. I admire the technical discipline and visual poetry of the great realist traditions while embracing the idea that a painting can communicate through ambiguity as much as certainty. Beauty\, craftsmanship\, and intellectual curiosity are not opposing values but complementary ones. Ultimately\, I hope my work encourages viewers to slow down\, look carefully\, and bring their own experiences to the painting. If a work raises questions rather than answers them\, or reveals something new on a second or third viewing\, then it has achieved what I set out to accomplish.
URL:https://meraschoolhouse.org/event/meet-the-artist-michael-flahault/
LOCATION:MERA Schoolhouse\,  McDonald’s Corners\, 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A\, McDonalds Corners\, Ontario\, K0G 1M0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Art exhibits,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://meraschoolhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/A-Suburban-Fall-scaled.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260808T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260808T220000
DTSTAMP:20260706T185029Z
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UID:10002201-1786186800-1786226400@meraschoolhouse.org
SUMMARY:Soaring Through Summer Festival
DESCRIPTION:Get ready for a day filled with music\, creativity\, and endless fun at our special event Soaring Through Summer. The event takes place at two locations in McDonalds Corners\, MERA Schoolhouse and the McDonalds Corners Agricultural Society (the AgHall). This exciting family-friendly event is designed to bring joy and excitement to children of all ages. \nPART 1\nIt starts at the AgHall (194 Cameron’s Road) from 11 am to 4 pm with everything related to FLIGHT \nFrom arts and crafts to hands-on games and activities and live music. The day is filled with demonstrations of drones and presentations on birds. Children of all ages can immerse themselves in games\, build kites\, birdhouses\, airplanes in arts and crafts zone\, explore award winning film shorts on flight\, dance along to lively tunes in the music area. Face painting and bubble play will add to the magic\, making the festival an unforgettable experience for kids and parents alike. \nIn addition to all the fun-filled activities\, numerous community organizations\, and vendors will be onsite at the Ag Hall. And of course\, no festival is complete without delicious food—there will be plenty of options available to keep everyone fueled for the day’s adventures! \nPART 2\nIt continues at MERA Schoolhouse (974 Dalhousie Concession 9A) with art\, music and pizza from 4 pm to 10 pm \nTake in the artworks of Michael Flahault\, and discover a wide array of works from aviation to landscapes and portraits\, a must see! We will raffle off one of his paintings. The draw takes place at 6 pm. \nEnjoy refreshments from MERA Café and Pizza from MERA’s famous Pizza Oven.\nAt 6:30 pm we have a special concert from our favourite musical family\, TriPOD\, featuring award-winning singer-songwriter\, Terry Tufts with Kathryn Briggs and Beth Tufts. They will offer a mix of original music (some works dedicated to flight) and cover tunes presented with passion\, fun\, and a love of music!  \nBring the whole family to the Soaring Through Summer Festival for a day of fun\, imagination\, and community spirit! Special thanks to our volunteers and to Perth and District Community Foundation who help make this happen. For more information follow us on Facebook\, Instagram and go to our website — meraschoolhouse.org
URL:https://meraschoolhouse.org/event/soaring-through-summer-festival/
LOCATION:McDonalds Corners Ag Hall\, 194 Cameron Road\, McDonalds Corners\, ON\, K0G 1M0\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community
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