Shaika Café on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal was a hopping place on Wednesday night, with an art vernissage and live music. The event was hosted by renowned artist Susan Shulman, with the help of her musical friends from the Montreal music community.
Shulman studied at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal and the Saidye Bronfman Centre. She received a BFA with Distinction from Concordia University in Film Animation. Her work combines both traditional and non-traditional art forms. Her inspiration flows from her childhood, her daughter, and, most notably, blues music.
When Shulman was a child, her family was very involved in fishing, and she draws much of her inspiration and imagery from those memories. Fish are predominant in many of her paintings. As she described it to me, “Fishing and family are synonymous with life.”
She loves using vibrant colours that jump out from the canvas. You can feel the happiness in her work, and that same feeling comes through when you speak with her. Shulman clearly loves her art and what it brings to both her and the people who view it.
Shulman is also a lover of the blues and used to frequent the New Penelope, a legendary coffeehouse and underground concert venue in Montreal. She was fortunate enough to see acts such as Paul Butterfield and Muddy Waters. That love of the blues inspired her to paint many pieces showcasing blues musicians and their craft.
She has a series called Blues Bunny, featuring human bunnies in the nude. The pieces depict them playing instruments or interacting with other musicians, with the music becoming secondary to the visual story of the bunnies themselves. She also created Blues Bunny Poetry from 2011 to 2016, which was presented at 100 Thousand Poets for Change and Nuit Blanche.
Shulman has also created some amazing artwork featuring both herself and her daughter, always incorporating fish. Once again, fish represent life and family. Her use of vibrant colours immediately grabs your attention and draws you into the works.
While the full house at Shaika Café admired her artwork, live music was being performed on the back stage. It was a who’s who of the local music scene, featuring Frank Sharpe’s Dragged Over Coals with their New Orleans vibe, Raquel Hoekman and Howard Cossitt and the amazing Donna Martirano “Donna Rae”.
Throughout the evening, I ran into many other local musicians who came out to support the music and art community. Local artists supporting local artists — that’s what being a Montrealer is all about. We are all here to keep the arts alive.
Shaika Café owner Alex Fernandes believes strongly in the arts and in the need to showcase them in Montreal, whether it’s live music, comedy, or visual art. Shaika is more than just a coffee shop; it is a place where the community can come together, enjoy great food, listen to music, appreciate art, and enjoy the finer things in life.
Shulman’s work has been displayed on the walls of Shaika Café, located at 5526 Sherbrooke street West, for the past two months and will remain there for another month.
To find out more about Susan Shulman and her artwork, follow her on Instagram: @susanshulmanartist
For information about Shaika Café and upcoming events, visit their Facebook page: Shaika Café
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