This month, West End Gallery features new arrivals by B.C. artists Naomi Cairns, Dana Irving, Greta Guzek, Steven Armstrong and introduces sculptor Paul Reimer.
Each artist, inspired by the landscapes of British Columbia, presents their unique take on the West Coast. Cortes Island based artist Naomi Cairns captures the soft and subtle beauty of coastal landscapes. Time spent on the water has influenced her most recent body of work in which she explores the interactions of the sea’s edge in large-scale canvases. Vancouver based artist Dana Irving captures the dramatic imagery of the province and captivates viewers’ attention by using a bright palette and whimsical style described as “Emily Carr meets Dr. Seuss”. Gibson’s based artist Greta Guzek is known for her bold, contrasting colours, distinctive brushwork and distorted perspectives that lend themselves to her more playful expression of coastal life. Victoria based artist Steven Armstrong portrays the vibrant landscapes of Vancouver Island. Familiar places, adored by both locals and visitors alike, Steven’s paintings evoke the best parts of being surrounded by the natural elements. There are also new paintings from Grant Leier, Annabelle Marquis and many more.
Reimer grew up surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Kootenay region’s mountains and lakes instilled in him a love of nature that inspires much of his art to this day. Whether it’s forged iron trees sitting atop polished stones or a forged iron fish swimming over the polished rock, Reimer’s sculptures emanate lasting beauty with their deceptive simplicity and strength.
West End Gallery at 1203 Broad St. is open daily.
The Avenue Gallery features Abstract by Blu Smith to Aug. 9
“Painting provided a creatively freeing and deeply personal, therapeutic release for me. For a young man who had a hard time communicating, this “non-literal” medium was a perfect fit. My voice as an artist was found, and it was during this period I knew I wanted to be an artist.”
Plan ahead for their fall lineup: Kimberly Keil, Impasto (Sept. 21 to Oct. 2), Blu Smith, The Path of Least Resistance (Oct. 26 to Nov. 6), Bi Yuan Cheng, Coastal Reflections (Nov. 16 to 27 and the popular All That Glitters returns pre-Christmas Dec. 1 to 24. Find The Avenue Gallery at 2184 Oak Bay Ave.
The Robert Bateman Centre offers a walk in Junior NatureSketch Club, an outdoor nature program for kids ages 5-12 that focuses on sketching and observing wildlife around the inner harbour with a sketch artist.
The Junior NatureSketch Club is an outdoor nature program for kids that focuses on sketching and observing wildlife habitats in unique ecosystems. Guided by a sketch artist and a naturalist, this program encourages children to connect to natural environments in their local community using a pencil and a sketchbook.
NatureSketch walk-in runs Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Robert Bateman Centre. Children are free with a maximum two children per paid adult. The weekly club is run on a first come first served basis with a max of 15 attendees (which includes parents and children). Register at the Robert Bateman Centre front desk.
Each participant will receive a mini nature sketch book and pencil. Larger sketch books are available for $8.
Madrona Gallery celebrates the colours of summer to Aug. 23.
The eighth annual Colours of Summer group exhibition features a range of historic and contemporary works by the Madrona stable of artists and will include painting, drawing and sculpture. The show will continue to evolve throughout the summer as new works are hung, each embodying the spirit of the season.
Included in this exhibition are a world class collection of Carvings from throughout the Arctic. They can be viewed here
Another Highlight of this exhibition is a special collection of Drawings from Cape Dorset by leading artists including Itee Pootoogook, Shuvinai Ashoona, Kananginak Pootoogook, Jutai Toonoo, Ningiukulu Teevee, Qavavau Manumie and Tim Pitsiulak.
Madrona Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday and Monday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gage Gallery Arts Collective presents Alter, an exhibition by Barry Herring. The word alter implies substitution and splitting away from sameness in some respect, without suggesting loss of identity.
In Alter, Herring looks at current events through photomontage and installation. Do photographs need to be an authentic record? These images break away from photography’s historic attempts at exact documentation and become altered glimpses.
Alter runs from to Aug. 26 with a reception on Aug. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. at 2031 Oak Bay Ave.
Alcheringa Gallery celebrates the (R)evolving Whorl(d) this month with art by Chris Paul, Dylan Thomas and LessLIE. The ambitious exhibition that plans to deconstruct our understanding of the classic Coast Salish spindle whorl. With three unique voices and artistic angles, the heritage and evolution of the circular design is thrown into discourse. Where does Coast Salish contemporary art go from here? In what ways can the classic icon be reinterpreted, reimagined, yet still hold its essential symbology. The exhibition features paintings, prints, wooden panels, metal and glass works.
Opening reception is Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. and an artists roundtable Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. at the gallery, 621 Fort St.
