ABOUT THE ARTIST Kathleen Tonnesen "If I can’t paint the faces of people, I can paint the faces of flowers." By Quentin Wright, August, 2024.

Kathleen was born in Cape Town, South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1998. She is a graduate of Thompson Rivers University, BC. She has carved a professional career as a working artist since 1990 and earned a reputation as an artist dedicated to the enhancement of public spaces with meaningful, thought-provoking art. This is an exhibition of large floral works. Kathleen has very limited vision and she explained how this new exhibit was inspired by her healing journey, and the gardens and the gardeners at Mole Hill. “When I came to live at Mole Hill in 2019 the only vision I had was out the lower quadrant of my right eye. I was preparing myself for going completely blind because that is what the Ophthalmologist told me was happening. I tried to keep creating art but as I lost more and more sight and then I thought that was the end of painting for me.” However, Kathleen was persuaded to submit a painting for Mole Hill’s post-covid Community Art exhibit “16x16” in 2022. Although she was no longer able to paint what she wanted to paint – detailed portraits - she could still create more impressionistic work. “A neighbour found that the painting was very suitable for him. He purchased it and found it to be helpful in his life. It made me realise that even though I couldn’t paint the way I used to paint, my work could still connect with an audience.” “By this time I had had eye surgery and regained sight in half of my right eye. Practicing martial arts trained me to be able to see out of the left half.” Another major inspiration for Kathleen was the gardens, and the gardeners at Mole Hill. “The importance of the Mole Hill gardens cannot be over-stated. In regaining my sight, the flowers at Mole Hill were very important to me because I had been at a point where I couldn’t see flowers or even colours. The flowers around Mole Hill gave me something to look forward to every day as my sight improved. I then thought I will just paint very large flowers. If I can’t paint the faces of people, I can paint the faces of flowers.” “I want to demonstrate deep gratitude to all the gardeners at Mole Hill, who nurture and keep the community looking so beautiful. And also gratitude to the essential beauty of the flowers which have helped me to heal.”