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Maurice Vellekoop Creates Art for StoryCorps Animation

Commissioned by Richard O’Connor of Ace & Son Moving Picture Co., a Brooklyn, New York animation studio, Maurice developed master illustrations for a short film for the American non-profit public radio initiative, StoryCorps.

“My Aunties” is written by Stefan Lynch and Beth Teper. Stefan Lynch was raised by gay parents in the early eighties. He was cared for and loved by a group of adults, largely gay men, who he called his “aunties.” Stefan remembers the succession of AIDS-related illnesses in his family, including the death of his father in ‘91. Even in the face of terrible sickness and loss, his aunties showed him how to survive and care for one another.

Listen to Stefan and Beth’s original StoryCorps interview.

The animation is available on YouTube.

June 18, 2020

Maurice Vellekoop at the Toronto Ferry Terminal

Maurice’s art commissioned by the Lake Effect Collective is currently on outdoor display at the Island Ferry Terminal.


January 4, 2019

Merry Christmas Past

From 1986 to 1992 Reactor’s artists and designers provided Bata Shoes with retail consultation, seasonal brand positioning, tactical advertising, promotions, in-store P.O.P. and magazine advertising for 500 stores across Canada. These are four of the Holiday display posters from over the years. Louis Fishauf is the art director. The art is by Jamie Bennett, Blair Drawson, Jeff Jackson and Maurice Vellekoop.

Illustration by Jamie Bennett


Illustration by Blair Drawson


Illustration by Jeff Jackson


Illustration by Maurice Vellekoop

December 4, 2018

Feeling Queer / Queer Feeling Poster by Maurice Vellekoop

Maurice Vellekoop was commissioned by U of T’s Department of French to create this poster for the Feeling Queer / Queer Feeling International Conference. The conference opens today at the University of Toronto and runs from May 24th – May 26th.

More information can be found here.

Feeling Queer / Queer Feeling
100 St. Joseph Street, Father Madden Hall
Time: May 24th, 8:30 am End: May 26th, 5:30 pm

May 24, 2017

Commissioned Art by Maurice Vellekoop

We hope everyone had a safe and happy long weekend. Here’s a new piece of commissioned art by Maurice Vellekoop.

May 23, 2017

Select Works With A Twist Exhibition

SELECT WORKS WITH A TWIST
January 16 – February 5, 2017

Idea Exchange Art + Design | Design at Riverside Gallery
7 Melville Street S.
Cambridge, ON
519.621.0460

Selected from the Idea Exchange Permanent Collection, nine limited edition tapestries commissioned in the 1960’s and ‘70’s by French arts impresario Marie Cuttoli by famous artists of the time. They were manufactured by the renowned weavers of Aubusson, and sold in art galleries around the world. Idea Exchange acquired them through donation and has never before exhibited them as a group.

Accompanying this collection of tapestries are 17 rugs by artists and illustrators represented by the studio, Reactor Art and Design. Starting in 1987, Reactor began creating one-of-a-kind and few-of-a-kind rugs for homes owners, architects and interior designers in Canada and the United States. The goal of Reactor’s rugs was to bring art off the walls and bring it to the “fifth wall” by exploring the visual opportunities that looking down offers. Sometimes the rugs were the result of commissions, others were the result of a personal vision. Most of the rugs were one-of-a-kind and others were done in small numbers. Jamie Bennett, Federico Botana, Steven Guarnaccia, Barbara Klunder, Jeff Jackson, James Marsh, Maurice Vellekoop, Tracey Wood, and Rene Zamic were the Reactor artists who designed Reactor rugs from 1987 to 2001.

SELECT WORKS WITH A TWIST features the work of Fernand Léger, Max Ernst, Jean (Hans) Arp, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely, Andy Warhol, Barbara Klunder, Rene Zamic, Jeff Jackson, Maurice Vellekoop, Jamie Bennett, James Marsh, and Steven Guarnaccia.

Curated by Esther E. Shipman.

Mon – Fri 12:00 – 5:00pm
Sat 10:00am – 12:30pm, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Sun 1:00 – 5:00pm

Admission is free and all are welcome.

For more information, visit ideaexchange.org/art, call 519.621.0460 or follow on Twitter @IdeaXchngART.Idea

Exchange Art + Design presents contemporary art, architecture and design from three galleries in the City of Cambridge: Design at Riverside, Preston, and Queen’s Square.
 
















January 20, 2017

Idea Exchange Collection Exhibition – Select Works with a Twist

‘Select Works with a Twist’ opens today at the Idea Exchange in Cambridge. The collection exhibition features 17 rugs by artists and illustrators represented by Reactor Art and Design, as well as nine limited edition tapestries designed by famous 20th century artists.

Featuring the work of Fernand Léger, Max Ernst, Jean (Hans) Arp, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely, Andy Warhol, Barbara Klunder, Rene Zamic, Jeff Jackson, Maurice Vellekoop, Jamie Bennett, James Marsh, and Steven Guarnaccia.

Curated by Esther E. Shipman.

January 16 – February 5, 2017
Idea Exchange Art + Design | Design at Riverside Gallery
7 Melville Street S., Cambridge, ON
Opening Reception: Wednesday, January 18, 7:00pm

For more information, visit http://ideaexchange.org/art/exhibition/select-works-twist.


  





January 16, 2017

Maurice Vellekoop’s 2016 Holiday Cards

Maurice Vellekoop painted this striking set of gouache Christmas cards for the 2016 holiday season.

 




 

December 20, 2016

Cleaning Up Christmas

Just in time for Christmas! Maurice Vellekoop recently created this illustration for the The Walrus‘ article about the history of Saint Nicholas.
 
mv_cleaningupchristmas_thewalrus

December 2, 2016

12 Ways to Look Your Worst

Men’s Health magazine comissioned Maurice Vellekoop to illustrate ’12 Ways to Look Your Worst.’ Check out these clothes, accessories, and grooming trends that have since faded out.
MauriceVellekoop_MensHealth_Reactor

August 26, 2016