Category: Visual Arts

art exhibits, visual artists, art workshops

Save the Wild Salmon – What Can We Do to Help?

by Tamiko Suzuki

Above: Spawning wild salmon

The Environment Team is proud to sponsor an evening of education and fundraising  where we will hear from Indigenous leaders working to remove open-net fish farms from their waters. Julia McIntyre-Smith and Chiefs Ernest Alfred and Willie Moon will speak of the relationship between the wild salmon, the environment and their Indigenous communities. Dr. David Suzuki will talk of the science linking fish farms to the decrease in wild stocks.

This will be a powerful, moving evening and you will come away with new appreciation for the imperiled wild salmon and the Peoples whose cultures they are so entwined with.

The talk will be held in the Sanctuary, followed by refreshments and a silent auction in Hewett Hall.

There you will also find tables set aside to brain storm ways to further help the wild salmon defenders.

We will post here decisions made to carry on this initiative.

Julia McIntyre-Smith’s Youtube Channel

Entry by donation (suggested $20)

Doors open to the Sanctuary at 6:30pm. Feb. 16, 2018

Canadian Colours Art Show with Judy Villett

On Wednesday, November 29th, Mary Bennett from UCV is organizing a guided tour with Judy Villett. To start, meet at Judy’s studio at 100 Braid Street at 1:00 pm. The tour will continue at Place Des Arts at 2:00 pm. The tour will conclude with refreshments at a local café. Please join us!

Canadian Colours Textile Art Show

Judy Villett, Unitarian

Being born in Canada has always felt like a great blessing. I want to share my passion for this country through my textile art. I was 15 when the Union Jack flag was changed to the Maple Leaf. The clean, simple, graphic lines of the Canadian flag have become my framework forthe changing seasons, landscapes, politics and demographics of Canada.
I use very basic piecing techniques with a complex design process, assembling commercially printed fabrics, often cutting them to 2” squares and placing them on a design wall where I can study the value, colour and line before sewing them together. I use a domestic sewing machine to quilt three layers, adding texture and cohesion to the fabric design. One piece has words quilted into the free-motion design that emphasis my positive feelings about Canada, especially strong after living and travelling abroad.
Another, darker flag expresses my fears of government secrecy, repression, and isolation.
With gratitude for those who welcomed us here and helped us survive, and a hand open to welcome newcomers, my hope is to warm your heart with my love of this land. Help me celebrate the last 150 years of growth of this giant young country.

Judy Villet

The Canadian Colours exhibit runs until December 22nd in Place Des Arts community centre at 1120 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1G2. Due to classes and activities the hours are erratic: Monday,Wednesday, Thursday 9–2:30; Tuesday 12:30–2:30; Friday 9–9; Saturday 3:30–5; and Sunday 1–5.
Photo: Jane Shoemaker (left) visited Judy Villet’s art show, “Canadian Colours” on opening night. Michael Scales and Judy Villet at right.

 

John Voth’s Art Show at Enigma Restaurant – Artist Statement

John Voth’s

Exposed:  The Inner Beauty of Wood

now on exhibit at Enigma Restaurant

Around eight years old, in Northern Saskatchewan, came my earliest inspirations:  wind-carved snow sculptures were endlessly fascinating, and Jack Frost painted ever-changing scenes that kept building on our windows.  I had no concept of anything called “art.”  Spring brought further delights, and my imagination had a field day with the myriad forms leaves suggested.  Seasonal changes of clouds and northern lights completed the picture. When I was twelve, we moved from the northern hinterland to the “metropolis” of Lethbridge, Alberta.  I was blown away.  There I saw my first movie:  wow!

World War II, work, and survival took over.  Then an exploration trip to Vancouver resulted in my marriage with Lesia:  we have celebrated our 67th anniversary.  By the mid-60s, after I finished my degree in Education, I finally had some time for artistic endeavours.

One of my first sculptures, Beginnings, sits outside the south end of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver.  “How did the human species evolve?” was my question.  Tools!  Opposing digits were key to manipulating tools, hence my stylized homage to the opposable thumb.  Three-dimensional art-forms intrigue me.

I retired early from teaching, and quickly moved on to other projects:  while ripping out old cabinets during remodelling – yet another passion – I saw the beauty within the ruptured plywood.  In 1988, I developed a new technique of sculpting plywood:  I made 6-inch wide chisels from discarded whole-log chipper knives, which I use to expose the interior layers of 7-ply plywood.  I use acrylics to stain and further enhance the wood’s organic beauty.  Never before has the inner beauty of wood been exposed like this!

Approximately fifteen years ago, my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease:  I did not have time to continue with art.  However, now I have much help, so am free to allow my creative juices to flow once again!

Enigma Restaurant presents

Exposed: The Inner Beauty of Wood

by John Voth

now on exhibit through September

reservations:  604-222-6881         4397 West 10th Avenue
info@enigmavancouver.com                    Vancouver, B.C.

Mon – Thurs: 11 AM – 10 PM
Fri:  11 AM – Late
Sat:  10AM – Late
Sun: 10AM – 10PM

Art Exhibits – May, June, July 2017

May 14 – July 5  – Water, Water, Everywhere

Vancouver Sketch Club

We have chosen the theme to reflect on how precious this resource is. Water slakes thirst, nurtures, replenishes. Water can be churned into a storm, harnessed for energy or allowed to float placidly. Flora and fauna need water for survival and enhancement. Water can also be destroyed by careless action. We have a varied selection of paintings which represent this life force.

Paintings are for sale

If you see a painting you would like to purchase, please contact the artist directly or at the following email: vansketchclub@gmail.com

For more information about the club, visit our website at www.myartclub.com/the.vancouver.sketch.club

July 5 – 31 –  Through My Eyes

Derek Lamarque

Digital art prints and lino cuts inspired by figures, faces, colour and the environment.

Mary Bennett

When I jokingly made a new year’s resolution to become spiritually developed and have matching towels, I had no idea where that would lead.

This church was one of three religious groups I checked out back in 1989–and with all of its (and my) warts and all, this is what stuck. I joined in 1991 after “just browsing” for two years.

In 2017 Mary was awarded the Lifetime Member Award.

Mary joined the congregation in 1991 after “just browsing” for two years and has been an active member ever since. She was the Executive Director of the Canadian Unitarian Council from 2000-2008. In 2017, she was given the award of lifetime member.

You’ll find her gardening the labyrinth, at circle dance events as well as most Sunday mornings.

Mary usually offers at least one worship service each year, sometimes including the annual Fire Communion in late December.


She enjoys sacred circle dancing at the church and elsewhere. She’s a graduate of  Paganism 101 course and is dreaming up a circle dance cum pagan ritual for the coming year.

As chair of the Connect and Engage Membership subcommittee, she loves helping new members get connected with the community.

As well as the Unitarian church, she’s an active volunteer in her Kitsilano neighbourhood and at arts and culture events in Vancouver including the Fringe Festival, DOXA Documentary Film Festival and the Firehall Arts Centre Theatre.

A friend once commented that Mary was more likely to attend events where food was involved. That’s very true.

Mary’s a visual artist and often shows her work at the church. You can view her art on her website.