Norman Barney is a multi-media artist who currently works at his studios in Petrolia and on Manitoulin Island. His themes are based on cultural stereotypes, kitsch, nostalgia, and tourism. His work consists of wall hung and free-standing assemblages and paintings. His recent acrylic paintings utilize the odd interactions of bright colour, texture, pattern, collaged fabrics, found objects and shine by the addition of mirror paint, glitter, and bling. Continuing with his theme of cultural stereotypes, he also has been working with installation using found objects, kitsch, memorabilia, and furniture.

Laurie Langford is a thought-provoking Canadian assemblage artist based in Chatham, Ontario.

Langford inserts subversive humour into her installations to prick debate on contemporary gender expectations. Her mixed-media shadow boxes, collage, photography, and printmaking overwrite the conventions of sexuality, domesticity, family, history and the body. Inspired by artists Barbara Kruger, Elizabeth ‘Bloodbath’ McGrath, Joseph Cornell, and Norman Barney, as well as poet e.e. cummings and writer Edward Gorey, Langford’s work narrates “pop culture innocence gone horribly wrong” (Vanderwall, 2011) .

Langford uses a detailed, mixed-media overlay method to bring forth the dissenting story in each found piece, thereby disturbing the viewer’s comfortable seat in the world.