http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/30/michael-slotwinski-will-show-his-work-at-budweiser-gardens-for-the-new-years-day-game-between-the-london-knights-and-sarnia-sting
EXHIBIT
Michael Slotwinski will show his work at Budweiser Gardens for the New Year’s Day game between the London Knights and Sarnia Sting
By Joe Belanger, The London Free Press
Sarnia artist Michael Slotwinski works on a painting of Montreal goaltending great Ken Dryden, part of his study of goalie masks worn by NHL goaltenders titled Hockey’s Masked Men on exhibition at London’s Budweiser Gardens New Year’s Day for the game between the London Knights and Sarnia Sting.
What started as an art school project evolved into an exhibition for hockey fans and art lovers alike.
And Sarnia artist Michael Slotwinski is bringing his Hockey’s Masked Men to London’s Budweiser Gardens New Year’s Day.
The 23-year-old University of Guelph and Western University’s Althouse College graduate is bringing 12 of his 14 paintings of famous goalie masks to the exhibition for a one-night show.
“It all began when I was doing a university project based on the theme of something old and something new and I painted Gerry Cheevers and Detroit’s Dominik Hasek,” said Slotwinski.
Slotwinski is referring to the Boston Bruin Hockey Hall of Famer who won two Stanley Cups and The Dominator who backstopped the Wings to a Stanley Cup and led the Czech national team to gold at the ’98 Olympics.
“I really wanted to explore the masks because over the last 50 years they’ve changed so much,” said Slotwinski.
“They are artistic in design and players skating toward the goalie would recognize the goalie up against the mask.”
The tiles of his works include: Awesome (Pat Ridley, Vancouver Canucks); Tony O (Tony Esposito, Chicago); Guardian (Bernie Parent, Philadelphia); The Lost Years (Mike Palmateer, Toronto); Mind Games (Ken Dryden, Montreal) Scar Face and Stitches (two of Gerry Cheevers, Boston); Tortured Soul (Terry Sawchuck, Detroit/Toronto); Game Changer (Martin Brodeur, New Jersey); Fuhry (The Storm), (Grant Fuhr, Edmonton); On The Prowl, (Felix Potvin, Toronto); The NY Kid (Mike Richter, New York Rangers); Dominator (Dominik Hasek, Detroit); and King (Patrick Roy, Montreal/Colorado).
IF YOU GO
What: Hockey’s Masked Men, an exhibition of paintings of famous hockey masks and their owners by Sarnia artist Michael Slotwinski.
Where: Budweiser Gardens, 99 Dundas St.
When: Jan. 1, before, during and after London Knights’ game versus Sarnia Sting, which starts at 7 p.m.
Information: For more information about the artist, his work or how to contact him, visit the website www.slotsartstudio.com