Maarten Schaddelee is the feature artist at The Avenue Gallery Aug. 12 to 19.
Schaddelee is a sculptor who expresses his deep passion for life through his art. His enthusiasm bursts through his work, which depicts the beauty of our West Coast environment and our coexistence with nature.
Born in Soest, Holland, in 1947, Schaddelee emigrated with his family to Victoria in 1955 where the family opened The Dutch Bakery and Coffee Shop Ltd.. Maarten trained as a master cake decorator and baker and worked with the family for 28 years.
After spending several years carving in his spare time, in 1991 Schaddelee made the difficult decision to leave the family business to focus full-time on his art. He developed a series of lyrical works that captured the joy of the birds and animals on the west coast. Maarten became known for his whales, eagles, dolphins and seals and worldwide interest in his work began to grow.
His early works were part of the Royal B.C. Museum’s “Whales, The Enduring Legacy” exhibit, 1997 – 1998. Two of these sculptures ‘Heartless and Delicate Balance’ are now showcased in ‘The Bob Wright Centre For Ocean, Earth And Atmospheric Sciences’ at The University Of Victoria.
The study of Michelangelo’s life and work and a pilgrimage to Italy 1997 expanded his artistic work to include his story telling and dialogue in stone with the Great Masters of art, spirit and mythology. He has created busts of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, St. Francis, St. Clare, Mary, Goddesses and others.
In 1999, Schaddelee’s work was featured in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s exhibit “Form and Spirit.” Later that year Maarten was selected to join sculptors from across Canada in a one month sculpting symposium in Iqaluit, Nunavut titled “Our Life In Stone.”
He has been honoured by People’s Choice Awards and continues to receive local and international attention for the freedom and fluidity his work imparts. His sculptures have been chosen for Sister Cities Suzhou, China, Morioka, Japan and Khabarovsk, Russia.
Maarten lives and works from Maarnada, his oceanfront home and sculpture garden overlooking Haro Strait.
Brenda Roy takes the spotlight at The Avenue Gallery Aug. 20 to 27. A full time studio designer and goldsmith, Roy has won many awards for her meticulously crafted original jewelry. She is one of the few metal artists in Canada who extensively uses stone inlay in her work. Incorporating precious and semi-precious stones in sterling silver; her designs are sure to delight.
Visit the gallery at 2184 Oak Bay Ave. or online at theavenuegallery.com.
The Eyes of Society runs through Sept. 30 at The Robert Bateman Centre in Victoria.
A new summer exhibit honouring Haida Gwaii is opening alongside the Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival this June at the Robert Bateman Centre. Eyes of Society: Art, Traditional Knowledge, and the Watchmen of Haida Gwaii will be opening to the public on June 15 with a panel discussion and talk by 10 indigenous and non-indigenous artists featured in the exhibit. Coming from different regional and cultural backgrounds, these artists explore their ‘sense of place’ on the islands of Haida Gwaii through their own artistic traditions. Through art, language and beliefs, they investigate the notion that artists, traditionally, have been the “eyes of society”.
The Eyes of Society exhibit opening will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 15. At 6 p.m. there is a special presentation as the artists talk about the vision behind their work. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Both members and non-members must reserve tickets. Cost: $10.00 for non-members, free for members.
Eyes of Society features the artwork of April White, Anja Karisik, Sophie Lavoie, Jim Hart, Gwaai Edenshaw, Jaalen Edenshaw, Gary Landon, Andrew Sookrah, W. David Ward, and Robert Bateman. The exhibit also features the documentary Eyes of Society by Joe Crawford and Allison Smith of Braid Films.
Visit the centre at 470 Belleville St. or online at batemancentre.org.
Colours of Summer: IX is currently running until Aug. 23 at Madrona Gallery. Colours of Summer IX, is the gallery’s yearly group exhibition of selections from their contemporary and historic collection. Included are new works by contemporary artists such as Rick Bond, Meghan Hildebrand, John Lennard, Halin de Repetigny, Nicholas Bott, Itee Pootoogook, Ningiukulu Teevee, and many more. These works are complemented by historic works by artists such as E.J. Hughes,Takao Tanabe, Ted Harrison, Joseph Plaskett and Jack Shadbolt.
KIN: Group Exhibition comes to the Madrona Gallery next from Aug. 24 - Sept 2 . KIN is a group exhibition of works by contemporary Canadian female artists. The show is presented in conjunction with Integrate Arts Festival 2018. Included are works by artists Megan Dietrich, Morgana Wallace, Samantha Dickie, Tamara Bond, Ningiukulu Teevee, Nicotye Samayualie, Meghan Hildebrand, Diana Thorneycroft, and Caitlin McDonagh. Across their respective media, these seven artists engage with themes of craft, narrative, gender, and sexuality, each with a critical awareness of the legacy forged by female contemporary artists before them. From Diana Thorneycroft’s photographic homage to Cindy Sherman, to Megan Dietrich’s fluid abstracts in the style of Helen Frankenthaler and Ningiukulu Teevee’s depictions of women in folklore and contemporary Inuit culture, each of these artists engages with the conversation of gender in fine art from a unique perspective. We hope you will join us for our annual Integrate Showcase, and experience the work of these artists firsthand.
The work of Madeleine Wood takes centre stage at Madrona Gallery from Sept. 8 to 22. Madeleine Wood’s paintings evoke a sense of intimacy. She chooses to include the viewer in private moments that could be snapshots of memories or fantasies. She captures the play of tension and release in her figurative works, while in her landscapes focuses on tiny details such as the curl of Arbutus bark.
Born in BC, Madeline Wood studied Fine Arts at Emily Carr Institute of Art and earned a Masters in Fine Arts from Concordia University in 1996. Her work has been collected extensively in Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and Europe.
The opening reception is on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 1 - 4 pm at the gallery, 606 View St. Visit madronagallery.squarespace.com for more.
New paintings by Edmonton based artist Irene Klar have arrived at the West End Gallery in preparation for her fifth solo exhibition opening in September. Inspired by water, whether it be the sea or rivers near and far, Irene focuses on the people who rely on it, those who make it a timeless source of life, travel and trade. Throughout the collection she uses bright colours, paints intricate textile prints and simplifies shapes down to their basic forms. Recognized throughout North America, Irene has painted commissions for: Amnesty International Canada, Amnesty International USA and the Trans-Canada Trail. She is also widely represented in both public and corporate collections.
Visit: www.westendgalleryltd.com for more.
