More amazing art that will be up for auction tomorrow! This piece, by Vernon’s own Michelle Loughery, is inspired by the global issues of hunger and thirst that are increasingly affecting those closer to home.

Michelle explains her inspiration….

The artist's duty to himself is a combination of immense
responsibility and immense irresponsibility.

I never planned to be a Muralist. It is not something that was on the Grade
12 what you can be when you grow up list. But he last 20 years of doing just
that has defined my career, but not my art. Artists act upon the tastes of
the public. The audience is a field where the fruits of this work ripen. I am
commissioned to paint the tastes of communities. My splash of red combined
with the varied strokes of the intricacies of our lives. Yet it is in the space
between the wall and the viewer that most of my art is created. The space of
meeting the faces, witnessing the stories and the collecting the splashes of
color. These stories trail home to my studio where the faces fill my mind.

To say the work of a mural artist bears fruit when an audience appreciates it
is not to say that the artist is the servile puppet of the public. I don’t create
for the sake of applause. Appreciation of the skill of course is welcome, but
the language and the view of the community to the wall is something I feel
called to say whether the public wants to hear it or not. Art has an effect
on your community. But your community has an effect on the art. Or so it
does mine. The space between a wall and the public is sense of place that
allows art to invent emotion. Youth searching for love; seniors yearning to
be heard: criminals looking for confessionals. Life happens on the wall. And
that haunts the days spent in front of a blank canvas.

The lives met living on the streets during my career are knocking on
my window in my head asking to be created. People hurt at all levels in
communities globally. I see my paintings I am working on now as windows…I
look out and the ones I have met look back. I feel small when I paint a
mural...waiting for the lives that cross my path while painting. A constant
for me is young people. Short on grocery money. Usually asking for 5 bucks
for a meal. So I hire them for an hour or so. And I hear on the radio of the
woman and children starving in Rwanda and the two combine. The splash
of red in my painting is hunger. The blue is thirst. The thirst for hunger is a
splash of red on our planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artists, Lynne Hossay, has offered her piece, ‘Footprints’ for the Splash of Red auction tomorrow!

In her own words, Lynne explains her inspiration for the event,

“A Splash of Red” reminds me of those brief memorable moments in time, when something happens and you get a feeling of exhilaration and your spirit soars.  Like your very first passionate kiss……the first time you feel your newborn baby in your arms.

As of last night, A Splash of Red was officially sold out! We look forward to seeing you all there as we celebrate art in the Okanangan!

 

 

Red Faced In Coldstream

Bob Kingsmill began making ceramic objects in Winnipeg under the tutelage of Muriel Guest. In 1967 he moved to Kelowna and in the Okanagan Mission opened his first studio where he produced stoneware and raku-fired pieces. He initiated the “Mission Hall Sale” which in 2007 celebrated 40 years in existence, helping Okanagan potters gain recognition for their fine work. In the 70′s Bob moved to the coast and set up a studio on Bowen Island, where he put together his first book,  A Catalogue of B.C. Potters. In 1979 Bob opened the studio on Granville Island in Vancouver, which he continues to maintain while making his home and keeping a studio in the Okanagan again, in Coldstream, near Vernon. Teaching for Capilano College, Malaspina College, and for the Outreach Program of Emily Carr College of Art and Design, and giving workshops, Bob has travelled extensively through the province and encouraged many people to engage in creative process with clay. Bob produces an extravagant variety of stoneware and raku-fired pieces. His masks are widely collected and his wall murals hang in homes and public buildings in many countries of the world. A teaching college in Japan, the Vancouver Childrens’ Hospital, St. Andrew’s Theological College at the University of British Columbia, a professor’s retreat in Cambridge, England, two public buildings in Victoria, Kelowna’s Community Theatre, Vernon’s Hospice House, and private collections in Canada, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Korea, and Africa are but a few of the places they are appreciated.   Kingsmill Studio Pottery VERNON:  8405 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream B.C. V1B 2L9 Phone:   250-549-4615 VANCOUVER: 1620 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver B.C.  V6H 3S2      Phone: 604-682-6575 Website: www.kingsmillpottery.com

 

 

Gale Woodhouse is formally trained as a teacher of Art and Design. An apprenticeship

as a production potter led to Gale establishing a sculpture and pottery studio in the

heart of the English countryside.

Now living in Vernon Gale has built a new studio, Woodhouse Arts, where she builds

small and large scale clay and metal sculptures, throws pots and indulges in painting a

printmaking adventures.

Abandoned Craft

Along every lake or river, by the ocean and the sea, in all the countries of the world,

there are abandoned boats.

The boat series works to capture the story of these boats. Many times painted, often

repaired and no longer sea worthy the boats still contain the cellular memory of

their past voyages and adventures. Now abandoned on the land the boats become

imagination spaces and play places for children and shelters for wildlife and nature.

Flora and fauna envelop the boats as the elements naturally colour and texture the

decaying hulls.

Last call for tickets!!!

Have you got your ticket for next weeks event? If not, there are a precious few remaining at The Bean Scene in downtown Vernon. Tickets are $100.00, which will buy you an amazing Italian, family style dinner, several glasses of wine, great seats for some first class Okanagan entertainment, and of course an opportunity to purchase original art in the auction! Please hurry, seats are limited and selling out fast!

For those of you already attending the evening… we are pleased to announce that several draw prizes have been added to the roster. Original works of art have been donated by:  Hanna Griffin, James Postill, Mireille Gourlay, Tricia Dixon, and Susan Richards. We will also have a massage from Diana April, a copy of the ‘Recapitulation’ (Sveva’s art and story) donated by Heidi Thompson, a Four Pillars of Destiny Chinese astrological reading by Teresa Hwang, a flower arrangement from Gail Short and a collection of amazing clay tiles by Carolina Sanches de Bustamante.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Donated by Mireille Gourlay

Donated by James Postill

Donated by Susan Richards

Donated by Tricia Dixon

Neil Erickson's, Kelowna Fires

Neil Erickson, an Alberta native and Emily Carr graduate, has contributed the above piece, ‘Kelowna Fires,’ to A Splash of Red.

The piece will be available for purchase in the auction portion of the evening. Prior to the auction, attendees will be treated to a first class Italian dinner, served family style. Many of the participating artists will be on hand to promote their work and share in our art community! Come and join us for a splash of red, some amazing food, and inspiring company!

One of David Montpetit's amazing creations

David Montpetit has been called a pioneer in the art industry for his visionary work with glass as a contemporary medium. He began his career as a silver smith and metals sculpturist, but began transitioning into glass work in the early 1990′s.

David worked primarily out of the Lower Mainland, honing his skills in various studios, and with the help of the Experimental Glass Group, (EGG.)  He and his family have since relocated to the Selkirk Mountains, where David has found inspiration and opportunities for collaboration with members of First Nations communities. The work being produced has garnered attention globally, with a wide following of private collections across North America, Europe and the Far East.

In his own words:

“I find glass to be among the most difficult of materials. Demanding and technically limiting, this material once mastered yields results that are satisfying almost magical. I think it is the interplay of light and object which most fascinates. Whereas traditional sculptures tend to’steal’ the light captivating it to their own ends- with glass the boundary between the object and its illumination source is much less defined”

David's beautiful family

Christine Kashuba's, Touch of Teracotta

 

Christine Kashuba will be participating in, A Splash of Red, August 25th! In her own words, she describes her inspiration and life as an artist…

“My work reveals a personal and collective history and creates a dialogue

between the past and the present. As a child growing up I often listened to my

grandparents stories of their experiences in a variety of places and imagined in

my mind what those experiences would look like. For me recalling the memories

made their history come alive and relate to my life. The specific stories of people

and places and how the combination of these things creates memory that can be

recalled and re-examined is the basis of my work.

Photography has always fascinated me and from an early age I began to capture images

of the world around me beginning with a Polaroid, a Super 8 Movie Camera and my

trusty Canon AE-1. When I’m capturing images I often begin with something that

challenges my curiosity and makes me ask what the story is-this is one of those images.

Craning my neck I was inspired by the expanse of frescos, tapestries, canvas’ and paneIs

in the Vatican collection and then I looked down. The artwork under my feet was every

bit as intricate as the work on the walls and ceilings, but was largely unnoticed by the

myriads of people passing over it. In creating this image I wanted to pay tribute to

the workmanship of the unnamed artist or artists who laboured to create this intricate

imagery.”

Echo Lake, by Michael Jell, will be up for grabs in the auction at A Splash of Red

 

The North Okanagan chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists is

recognizing one of its members who has just won a prestigious title.

Vernon’s Michael Jell has been named the Artist of the Year 2012 by

the B.C. Wildlife Federation for his Great Grey Owl painting.

The painting was chosen from 30 entries submitted to the annual

competition. A jury selected three finalists based on composition,

creativity, originality, technical proficiency and overall appeal.

The artwork was displayed at the BCWF’s 55th annual general meeting

and convention April 12 to 16 in Surrey, and the 175 delegates who

attended the meeting chose the winner.

Jell was born in Maidstone, England, but spent most of his childhood in

Zimbabwe, Africa. In 1969, his family moved to Eastern Canada.

He attended Sheridan College of Art in Ontario and received positive

feedback that allowed him to continue and develop on this own. He

has worked in a number of different mediums but has settled on oils

and acrylics.

After a few business trips to the Okanagan, Jell was so impressed with

the ecological diversity of the area that he decided to move here, and

has since developed his artistic expression towards his love of nature.

“The majority of my work is inspired by my surroundings. There is

something very special about the Okanagan. I am very thankful to live

here,” said Jell.

Jell has entered a number of national and regional juried shows, where

he has won People’s Choice and Best of Show among other awards.

His giclée print of his painting, Red Tail Hawk, hangs in the House of

Commons in Ottawa.

His work has also been on the cover of both Art Avenue, a magazine

published by the Federation of Canadian Artists, and Beef in B.C.,

published by the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

BCWF’s Artist of the Year program was developed in 1992 with the

goal of honouring an artist whose work celebrates the beauty of B.C.’s

fish, wildlife and habitats.

The sale of the artists’ limited edition art prints fund BCWF

conservation projects throughout the province while also recognizing

the talent of B.C. artists. Signed, limited edition prints of Jell’s winning

entry will be on sale in early 2012.

Michael Jell in his childhood home, South Africa

 

Crow Watching Me Watching Her, an original work by Colleen Couves, will be available for purchase in the auction at, A Splash of Red, on August 25th.

In her own words, Colleen explains her art and inspiration.

“Crow visitors appear in some of the pieces – spirits of playfulness, cheekiness, forthrightness – spirit visitors from the past – a remembering of friends or family members. In mythology and folklore as a whole, crows tend to be symbolic of the spiritual aspect of death, or the transition of the spirit into the afterlife.

 

These explorations express a distillation of what captures my interest in ordinary events, an ordering of these elements, and the pleasure taken in small delights in the midst of chaos or tedium.

 

I was born in Regina Saskatchewan and travelled quite extensively as a child with my family, receiving most of my education in Edmonton Alberta following which I taught Art in elementary schools in Alberta for several years. I have lived in Vernon British Columbia since 1981, working at Okanagan University College in the library as well as helping to establish the Galloping Goose Artists’ Co-operative. More recently I have helped to found the North Okanagan Artists Alternative and Gallery Vertigo in Vernon BC.

 

I received a BFA from the University of Alberta in Edmonton as well as a Professional Diploma in Education. More recently I obtained a certificate in desktop publishing from Okanagan 
University College.

 

My work has been exhibited in two solo shows, one at the Vernon Art Gallery, as well as many group and juried shows.