They are Number One and proud of it. Husband and wife artistic team Jan and Liz de Beer cannot wait for the Arts Crawl to get underway. Liz’s Klaywerk Studio in Langdale is venue Number One on the Art Crawl map – the essential guide for those embarking on this year’s roving visits to Sunshine Coast studios and galleries over three days, Oct. 20 to 22.
This year has special significance for Liz as she is a cancer survivor after the discovery of a malignant lump in her right breast at the end of last year. She had just been juried for a solo exhibit (Rain Queen of Africa) at the Ferry Building Gallery in West Vancouver two weeks before. She decided to focus on her art and to put all available energy towards creating new work for this exhibit, thereby retaining her positive outlook on life. Her pottery has a distinct African flavour with a fusion of West Coast artistic sensibility.
Husband Jan de Beer, who has a background in conceptual art, creates large canvasses using recycled paint. He will be exhibiting at the Doris Crowston Gallery (Arts Centre, venue 95) in Sechelt during the Arts Crawl along with Jeff Barringer. The Arts Centre will be busy during Art Crawl weekend with de Beer and Barringer in the gallery, visual artists Leif Kristian Freed and Kristjana Gunnars in the studio.
Another busy venue will be the Roberts Creek Community Hall where visitors from Powell River will be on display. For the third year the artists have brought their art to us. The Malaspina Artists, Powell River Art Ambassadors (MAPR), represent the vital artistic community of Powell River. This group will be showing paintings, original hand-pulled prints, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, fine art prints, natural body products, clothing and textile arts. Their venue is No. 64 on the map and they will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At a meeting of Art Crawl participants at Strait Coffee on Sept. 22, Coast Cultural Alliance organizer Linda Williams echoed the excitement of the artists.
“With 144 venues this year and 51 new ones, we’ve really stepped up.” She noted that there were more venues than before in Halfmoon Bay, new ones in Middlepoint and a few added to the Earls Cove area. Susan Egerman of Halfmoon Bay was keen to show her pottery (117) and just down the street (118) Brenda Silvey will show her jewelry along with Tracy Wiseman. The Halfmoon Bay Apple Festival, usually on the same dates as the Art Crawl, will be part of it this year. Look for venue 124 at Coopers Green where the Festival will show varied media and music along with apple butter sales.
At Earls Cove the Geopia Gallery and Garden (141) will show Pia Sillem’s pottery and George Connell’s paintings. Cindy Cantelon and Marshall Mar will be showing their work at the Geopia Gallery, too. Donna Goulette is new to the Crawl and she will show her miniature needle felted dog sculptures (142).
Williams also encouraged artists to talk to one another, especially if their studios are in the same area. “We don’t look at each other as competition,” she said.
In Gibsons three artists hold court on Sargent Road: Paula O’Brien (33), Coralie Swaney (32) and the Scott-Wood Gallery (31). It’s one-stop parking. Most of the venues will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and those who are hosting special celebrations on Friday evenings will stay open longer. The Kube Studios (34), now at its new location at 875 Gibsons Way, and WOW Art Gallery (35) at Sunnycrest Mall, Gibsons, will both be open for Friday evening events.
This is only a smattering of the many artists and their work. Get yourself a printed map guide, available at many businesses and galleries, or see the website at www.sunshinecoastartcrawl.com for a PDF downloadable guide or map for your mobile.
