Artist Marion Pennell to display at Galerie Ouest

Everyone remembers September 11. Artist Marion Pennell has good reason to remember October 12 as well. In the summer and fall of 2001, during Montreal's Biker Wars, more than 20 fire bombings occurred in and around St. Henri and the neighbourhoods of the Sud-Ouest.  On October 12, one of those fire bombs was ignited in the stairwell under the apartment where Pennell was living. The fire trucks arrived at the scene still bearing American flags in support of those lost in the Twin Tower tragedy.

These parallel events - the public tragedy of NYC and her own personal crisis - fuelled an outrage in Pennell which manifested in a series of paintings sympathetic to the citizens of both New York City and Afghanistan. You can view some of these painting from September 9 to 11 as Galerie Ouest in Ste. Anne de Bellevue puts on an exhibition called 9-11 Ten years later.

Pennell grew up in Valois and now resides in Montreal. Her lifelong passion for animals is evident in her wildlife paintings and pet portraits, also on display during this exhibition.

Galerie Ouest is located at 37 St. Thomas Street. Gallery hours are Thurs. 12-6 p.m.; Fri. 12-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Mon.-Tues. 12-6 p.m. For more information call 514-457-1485, or visit www.galerieouest.ca