Artist Eileen Menzel with a piece of her artwork at her show at the Neilson Park Creative Centre that runs until January 27. Photo supplied.
By Sabrina Soosaimuthu
Local artist Eileen Menzel’s family commemorates her years as an artist through a retrospective exhibition held at Neilson Park Creative Centre (NPCC).
The retrospective exhibition is a timeline of Menzel’s artwork spanning her career.
The exhibition began in early January and will continue until January 27.
The pieces were selected by her husband George Menzel and her daughter Ursula Menzel.
Eileen Menzel was a member of the Ontario Society of Artists, the Etobicoke Art Group and a former art teacher.
Menzel said he picked 20 pieces that highlight the beauty of his wife’s work and the pieces that have won prizes.
“It essentially took us a day to go through most of the paintings,” he said.
Notable pieces from the exhibition are the Emblem, which was her first painting that got her into Durham University in England, and Broken Windows, which was the last artwork she created before her dementia progressed.
On January 14 a reception was held at NPCC, with over 20 attendees to honour Menzel’s legacy.
One of Eileen Menzel’s pieces of art, which she loves doing and always carries a sketchbook.
Menzel was a member of the Ontario Society of Artists, the Etobicoke Art Group (EAG) and was an art teacher and the head of the art department at Humberside Collegiate Institute.
Through her contributions, Menzel left a notable impression in the Etobicoke art community, according to Helen McCusker, EAG Publicity Chair.
She said it has been three years since Menzel left her position as Exhibitions Chair and they have yet to fill the position.
Another selection of work by Eileen Menzel, whose show runs until January 27.
“Everybody’s afraid to fill her shoes, she was a highly respected member,” she said.
Menzel said his wife loved art, it was her life, anywhere she went she had her sketchbook with her and would sketch the people and places she saw.
He said even after she retired, she spent most of her days at the NPCC.
“I’d look into her studio, and she was gone, there would be a note saying she would be back. This was like her full-time occupation, she loved it,” he said.