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Timmins artist opens first solo exhibit

Exhibit features art that makes you think

Richard Lamarche has always been creative. For a long time it was a side of himself that he neglected, though.

The Timmins artist’s creativity is flowing more freely these days and his first solo art exhibit is up at Newbie Media Marketing and Design downtown Timmins.

The Traces of a Prior Vision art exhibit features Lamarche’s work from 2014 to 2017. The self-taught artist’s portfolio ranges from wood sculpture to acrylic canvases and photography, and includes the street art on the open laneway on Pine Street South between Second and Third Avenue.

Rosalia Rivera, Newbie Media creative director, commissioned Lamarche to create the public mural. She and her husband own the building and wanted to paint the wall. Inspired by social media and seeing how other cities have created a cultural display in similar spaces, she reached out to Lamarche.

“I loved (his) use of colour, so that was something that really spoke to me, and also there was a lot of freedom in his work in terms of the energy and the abstract figurative energy that came through the work. I thought that’s exactly what we need downtown is that kind of energy,” she said.

As Lamarche and Rivera got to know each other, the art exhibit evolved.

Instead of having a wall with a logo when you walk into the Newbie office, Lamarche created an interactive wall that encourages people to think.

“I love that kind of art. I love art that makes you think; it’s not just pretty, it’s not just beautiful, but it actually gets you thinking,” she said.

Four rooms in the space also feature Lamarche’s work right now.

Most of the work is for sale, although there is an installment designed to make you think that you can’t take it home.

Everything about that room is intentional.

With messages everywhere, ultimately it represents the war artists fight to get noticed.

“Art needs to be supported in order for us to move forward, in order for us to evolve, in order for us to grow, in order us to find ourselves as an artist,” he said.

While he admits that he neglected his creativity for a long time, the artist inside has always been there.

Grabbing a nearby paint brush, he starts painting a mannequin as he talks.

“My process is basically, like this: you take the paint and you don’t even think about it and now maybe I see something, maybe I don’t, maybe I take another colour, and I just let it evolve,” he explained.

Lamarche would like to see more ways for youth to exercise their artistic side, and encourages people to support local artists.

In town, he’d like to see a laneway opened up for people to express themselves.

“When art is supported, you have no idea where’s it’s going to go,” he said.

With the opening night of his first solo show under his belt, he’s already looking to the future.

“It’s a practice run for whatever gallery wants me to come over and play,” said Lamarche.

Rivera agrees that the world will be hearing more about Lamarche as an artist.  

“He’s a true artist it’s almost like he needs that to breathe, he needs to be creating,” she said.

To schedule a viewing of the artwork at Newbie Media, contact Lamarche on Facebook, his page is The Canadian Artist Richard Lamarche. The exhibit will be on display until Nov. 30.