Mixed-media artist Candace Parker has worked in abstracts and textures with oils, acrylics, photographs and sometimes ceramics, to create colourful paintings and collage for more than 30 years.
Her exhibition, titled Recent Work: Life is a Garden, is inspired by her own garden, nature and inner life living on the northern Sunshine Coast, and can be seen at Powell River Public Library (PRPL) until September 5. Parker will give an artist talk on Friday, May 30, at 7 pm, also at the library.
Candace grew up in northern California, but has enjoyed life on the coast since 2018. A series of oil paintings Parker started in 2023: Sand, Loam and Clay, are currently on display at PRPL and will be discussed at the talk.
Parker said painting in oils is a departure from her work of the past 30 years, which was primarily acrylic.
"I was inspired by sand, a feeling of what sand feels like, rather than being representational," said Parker. "Then the feeling of clay and loam, just being so luscious and sensual."
In addition to being a visual artist, Parker likes to keep learning new things, such as taking up the piano and guitar. She's also an avid gardener.
"Hügelkultur, meaning 'mound culture' in German, is a traditional gardening technique where raised beds are constructed from decaying wood debris and other organic materials," said Parker. "This type of gardening doesn't need a lot of water and is good for a changing climate."
Parker said her art has always been a type of play and fun for her.
"It's not useful, like carpentry, but when I do make something, I really enjoy it and get into it," said Parker. "Hopefully, some pieces might give you pleasure, or might make you think."
Her work titled China Babies, Jiangjing and Xiao-Huan, are personal stories about adopting two daughters from China.
"They are a little bit different, because they are all collage, representational and getting at the story of when we adopted two babies," said Parker. "They are both going to be at the artist talk."
Somewhere Above the Salish Sea: Pre-Contact, plays on Parker's interest in exploring various points of view in her work.
"The viewer is flying above the Salish Sea, maybe an eagle, observing the heavy vegetation covering the area occupied by First Nations of qathet," said Parker. "I grew up in northern California, in an area that was a lot like Powell River, with mountains and logging; that was the main industry, except where I grew up was inland."
Parker likes to get inspired by walking the local trails in qathet, or doing yoga or practicing her other hobbies.
"The garden can be a metaphor for life," said Parker. "It's there over time, and thrives at times, changes with the seasons; I like the idea of its continuity."
For more information, go to candaceparkerarts.com.
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