Canadian artist gains recognition DAMMAM, April 29, 1988 Canadian artist Sharlene McLearon has managed to gain recognition at a restaurant that some would say is the Kingdom's most international. This is the Al-Jisr Restaurant, on the King Fahd Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The restaurant, located in a tall panoramic glass tower, offers diners a chance to eat snacks or full meals from a vantage point that permits viewing of both the Kingdom and the island state of Bahrain. Those who eat in the restaurant have half of their causeway toll refunded. McLearon told Arab News that the restaurant purchased several of her paintings for display. The paintings reflect Saudi themes, based upon her long stay in the Kingdom. McLearon has been painting for several years, and has sold her works to many private individuals and companies. Several of her works are hung in the Arab National Bank headquarters in Riyadh.
Mclearon's Works enthral art critics By RODOLFO C.ESTIMO,JR. Riyadh Daily Staff November 30, 1996 Canadian artist and journalist Sharlene McLearon's exhibition of 72 works at the Al-Khozama center in Riyadh started with a bang and ended with a smashing success. The show, which started on November 18, with ambassador Daniel Edwards Hobson opening it, ran until Nov.28. Gallery hoppers and art critics noted on the opening night that the exhibition draws popularity from the fact that the UNICEF has chosen one of the works in acrylic. "Sun Flowers", as design for it's nation popular cards. It may also be said that the show further drew popularity from the fact that Ms.Mclearon an accomplished artist, is well-known. Like the American artist Maris Shephered who was currently in the Saudi capital and is slated to hold her second one-women exhibit at the Sharqia Creative arts at the Diplomatic Quarter on December 3, McLearon studied art and is an art teacher. She has taught private art lessons both in Canada, Riyadh and Al-Khobar. "This is a fact. Ms McLearon knows and does what she teaches," said a Saudi artist who saw her exhibit. Aside from the 'Sun Flower' , which irresistibly attracted attention because of its vibrant and graphic yellow and green colors, the works - Unity No. 3, Mykonos Man,Unity No. 1, Adha Baskets - bear the stamp of a professional artist which McLearon is. Her figures are dreamlike, inviting instead of turning the viewers with their deft combination of colors as well as objects seemingly familiar and yet are not, for they stand for something else, which only the artist knows. In the Unity series, the viewer is given the impression that tears are shedding from the eye and yet on second thought, the artist could mean something else. The work seems abstract, which belongs to the great Picasso's turf, and yet it may not. "The works in the series is the artist's concept of what unity is and nobody could dispute her about it. Ambiguity is her poetic license," said an art enthusiast. Of course, McLearon - who studied nursing but ending up being an artist and journalist after studies in art in Paris, Italy and Canada - has come up with like Adha Baskets which do not challenge the mind into a leisurable activity. This just shows that she could be quite abstruse in her works but at the same time, she comes up with works that are figurative, if one may say so. But whether she's merely painting a plain flower or an artwork that , like e.e. Cummings in an poetry, baffles the mind, the works on display reflected McLearon's travel through life - from being a small girl in her native Canada to being a nursing student and public speaking scholar to Chautauqua, New York to art student in Canada , Paris and Florence in Italy. It's because of art, or works of art, is - Whether the artist wants to accept it or not - reflected the artist's personality: her experiences, her work, her upbringing, among others. If the work exhibited were an indication, one could say that McLearon, who has participated in many art shows here and in Canada, has covered a lot both as an individual and as an artist. One can ever say that she has lived a full life, if one has to look at her works. For in these, she shows an element of immensity, an exuberance - a plenitude in living. |
Portrait of a multi- faceted personality by Paul Rivas March 9, 1996 It is with respect and love the the artist creates a work of art. Combine respect and love with dedication and a sense of purpose and the result of the formula is personal and proffessioal success. Respect means respect for not only everyone, but for everything as well - and in equal amounts, A "standing back" to reflect and to absorb, if you will. Love means a caring. Avery special type of caring that has dimension and that has depth. An awareness of a feeling over which the artist has no control. The rich and diversified career of Canadian born artist, Sharlene McLearon is and continues to be a guide for the flexible possibilities of the creative spirit. McLearon is well known in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to her numerous culture and artistic activities. Her imprint in the Kingdom has been a positive and rewarding one, not only for the Saudi community but for her personal diversified career as well. The National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington DC,. opened a file for her work in their archives in 1993 and they have been adding regularly as her acoccomplishments. During the Gulf crisis she travelled to the front lines to interview Saudi troops and recorded important events. Sharlene McLearon has been in the public eye because of her frequent and significant appearances on national television. She created, wrote and presented the programme "Spotlight" for Saudi Arabian Television. From 1988 to 1995, on channel 2, she presented over 35 programmes for "Women's World" and 150 weekly "Zoom-In" programmes. Readers have enjoyed her writing in the Saudi Gazette as well as in the Riyadh Daily. Writing is an important part of here career and she is a knowledgeable source on a variety of topics, both cultural and to do with women's activities in the Kingdom and around the world. Her highly personal poetry portrays myriad feelings and emotions that she feels inwardly and that are the written or put on canvas. As a teacher and docent for museums in her native country, she known for her ability to communicate and encourage others. She serves a beacon shedding light on her students and others who have a thirst for learning. Her courses in the art history, drawing, life drawing. Canadian putting up new art form By Doug Graham RIYADH, March 28 , 1985 - A Canadian artist will introduce a new art form to the Kingdom at 7 p.m., on April 1, when she sets up a "installation" at the International Gallery for Fine Arts here. Anne Sharlene McLearon, who has illustrated the book on animal stories, Arabian Precious Gold, complied by Heather Colyer Ross, said the installation was an attempt to portray Saudi Arabia in one event. Unlike the paintings, the installation is three dimensional and includes sounds as well as texture. The installation will be erected in a 8 meter by 6 meter space, with three walls depicting different regions of the Kingdom. Two walls will represent the coasts and the center the Najd region. The last wall will be a window open to the street. The installation will contain a living palm tree, stones, sand and other objects. McLearon will write her poems on the wall in both English and Arabic. A music system will play Arabic sounds. Unlike a normal painting, entrance into an "installation" surrounds the viewer with impressions orchestrated by the artist to convey maximum impact. "I am aiming for total immersion." she told Arab News In addition to the installation, McLearon will be displaying 60 of her works. She decribed her art style as both impressionistic and realistic, admitting that Riyadh buyers tend to prefer realistic and slightly romantic paintings of Arabic scences. She has found success with her artwork and has pieces hanging in the homes of important businessmen and art partons. McLearon studied art in Canada at the Algonquin College, Carelton University, and Ottawa School of Art. She also studied in Paris at the Paris American Academy. Since arriving in the Kingdom she has taught art courses. Out of her works, her installation is the most ambitious. " This is not an easy thing to do. But I want it to be about the beauty of the country in its natural forms." she said. |
Additional Articles
Striking a fine balance - Saudi Gazette - January 9, 1994
