Opening Reception: "Anyflatsurface" ftr. Joyce Effinger

Art Beyond the Canvas: Anyflatsurface Opens May 9

The Alex Dufresne Gallery is pleased to present Anyflatsurface, a solo exhibition by Northern Ontario visual artist Joyce Effinger, opening on May 9, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Anyflatsurface showcases Effinger’s distinctive practice of painting on both traditional and unconventional materials. In addition to canvas, the exhibition features works created on paddles, saws, rocks, cloth, and found objects—surfaces rich with history and use. These everyday objects are transformed into vivid celebrations of colour, form, and place, creating a dialogue between image and object that invites close looking and reflection.

Effinger came to painting later in life and has since developed a daily, self directed studio practice rooted in curiosity, joy, and experimentation. Deeply inspired by the landscapes, heritage, and spirit of Northern Ontario, her work often draws from poetry, personal reflection, and the stories embedded in the materials themselves. Some pieces respond directly to the function or past life of the object, while others emerge from whimsy and intuitive mark making.

The exhibition encourages viewers to slow down and reconsider the familiar. By presenting art on surfaces that once moved through lakes, shaped forests, or served everyday purposes, Anyflatsurface highlights the beauty and meaning found in ordinary things, offering multiple points of connection—visual, tactile, and emotional.

Joyce Effinger is a self taught visual artist based in Corbeil, Ontario. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Northern Ontario, including the Alex Dufresne Gallery, WKP Kennedy Gallery, and the North Bay Museum. She is a selected participant in the Northern Ontario Juried Art Exhibition (2025–26 provincial tour) and a director of the North Bay Art Association. Effinger is also an active contributor to community and charitable arts initiatives throughout the region.

The opening reception for Anyflatsurface is free and open to the public. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the artist and experience the exhibition firsthand, as well the museum will have free admission and there will be light refreshments.