by Dan Evans
The main event of the CHCA Heritage Celebration on May 4 is “100 Storeys”, an exhibit of 100 paintings of character homes in Crescent Heights by local artist Jackie Ramsay.
Jackie has been a resident of Crescent Heights for over 35 years and has been painting for most of her life, having received her first set of paints and pastels at the age of 12. Early on she decided that making a living might be easier if she took the commercial art route. After graduating from Dawson College in 1975, Jackie’s first job was as a fashion illustrator and assistant art director at a Montreal magazine. She then worked in the layout department of MacLeans Magazine for a few years before taking a job as an illustrator for the Montreal Star.
Eventually, Jackie decided to head out west, working at an advertising agency for a few years, and then settling into a graphic design role at CFAC Channel 2 Television. There she worked on all types of design projects over the years which included everything from set painting and courtroom sketching to billboards and image campaigns. But Jackie’s first love has always been painting.
During Covid Jackie challenged herself to paint 100 of the character homes in Crescent Heights. She’s always loved the neighbourhood, and over the years while walking her dogs, took great pleasure in seeing how people landscaped their yards and painted or remodelled their homes. The “100 Storeys” project brings the beauty and charm of inner city living to life, and nods to the fact that this century old community has many stories to tell.
She’s excited to be exhibiting “100 Storeys” for the very first time at the Heritage Celebration event and is looking forward to a great afternoon sharing her work with community residents.
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