Flora-Lee Wagner thinks most artwork, which often ends up in the buyers' homes, doesn't necessarily benefit from being exposed in a gallery setting, so last week she opened her

Claremont Avenue home to the public to display her own and her friends' artwork in an intimate setting during a four-day "art a home" show.

"If you walk in an art gallery, it's not in home setting," said Wagner. "[The home] is where you see what it looks like."

Wagner, whose work includes paintings and decorative arts, was joined by friends and fellow artists Sheila Caplan, Maxine Cuttler, Renée Lévesque, Susan Mott and Mahin Shafei. Each one specializes in a different type of medium, from pottery to watercolours, collage art and jewellery.

This was Wagner's third "art at home" show, but the first one that was open to the public. The artists made the leap in order to attract a wider public and broaden their potential, Wagner said.

"I was a little nervous at the beginning," Wagner said with a laugh. "I did clean up a lot."

Displaying their work in a more intimate setting also allows the artists to have a closer connexion to the buyers.

"Talking about your artwork is so satisfying," said Wagner.

Encouraged by a great turnout, she is planning on renewing the experience next year.

Photo: Flavie Halais