Got your running shoes on for this year’s Sunshine Coast Art Crawl? First, pick up a copy of the map guide and be dazzled by the selection, then set out with a friend on the first day, Friday, Oct. 16, and head for the clusters. The Art Crawl offers open houses at 125 studios, galleries or exhibitions located between Langdale and Earls Cove, and they are showing painting, pottery, jewelry, fibre art, glass, woodworking and metalsmithing. Some of the venues are clustered in the same general area, making it easier to visit a neighbourhood.
You have three days this year: Oct. 16, 17 and 18 from 10 to 5 each day.
For a slower pace, choose an artist that you’ve always wanted to talk to, visit and have a chat. The artists will be on site with many of them giving demonstrations at specific times. Many of their items will be for sale, though there’s no obligation to buy.
Linda Williams, one of a dedicated group of Crawl co-ordinators, finds that each year more people are coming up with creative ideas to make the Crawl a goal for their special projects. She points to, for example, No. 37 on the map guide, The Imagination Network at Christenson Village that involves story creation and installations from the residents. The Roberts Creek Gym as a venue (No. 76 on the map guide) is the result of a mural project by Dean Schutz.
“The artists on the Sunshine Coast have taken ownership of the Crawl,” Williams said, “and realize the value and excitement of getting their work out there for people to view and create sales.” The Coast Cultural Alliance, founders and organizers of the Crawl, manages to help harness all this creative energy in one event.
No. 1 on the Art Crawl map (Langdale) and very proud of it, is the Klaywerk Studio of Liz deBeer showing her pottery with an African flair. The Persephone Brewing Company (No. 15) is turning into a temporary artists’ gallery for the weekend. The Edges group (No. 31) is back this year showing the work of 11 local artists. Margaret Adams (No. 33) is new to the Crawl and she will show her encaustic paintings from her studio on the bluff in Gibsons – she’s among a cluster of three in that area.
In Roberts Creek, Kelly Backs (No. 56) returns to the Art Crawl with his popular demonstrations of how to turn iron into sculptures using fire, hammer and anvil. Helene Baril (No. 70) shows her functional and flattering fashion designs at the same venue as children’s entertainer Graham Walker with his kids’ books and CDs.
The Sechelt Arts Festival coincides with the Art Crawl so the tems swiya museum (No. 92) and the shíshálh First Nations Longhouse (No. 91) will be open to the public. At No.100 in Sechelt, the Pink Pony collective shows an eclectic selection of works including three-dimensional portraiture, printed scarves and custom woodwork.
In Halfmoon Bay watercolourist Hiroshi Shimazaki displays his excellent work (No. 107) and at No. 111 sheepskin artisan Jeanne McHeffey will find you a pair of cosy slippers.
The new Harbour Spirit Centre (No. 115) at Madeira Park features local handcrafted furniture, art and artisan items. With two restaurants and an ice cream shop on site you can stop there for lunch. At the Historic Seaside Sundowner Inn and Gallery in Garden Bay (No. 122) view 200 works by local artists including the landscapes of Barbara DeMott. On your way to the Sundowner, stop at Jack Gibson’s fine art sculptures (No. 120) and Motoko’s Gallery and Studio (No. 121). The last on the list (No. 125) is in Earls Cove – Laughing Hummingbird Arts, photography and manipulated silver prints by Troch Burgoyne.
Several of the artists will be open on Friday evening as well, though most close at 5. Pat Forst’s pottery in Gibsons (No. 12) will have live music from the Duttons Friday evening only.
At the Arts Building in Gibsons (No. 28) Random Acts of Art Re-vision project will show work on Friday evening. Jeff Barringer (No. 57) invites you to his display of abstract expressionism and the Eco-Freako Gallery (No.73) on Roberts Creek Road is open that evening for viewing of their planet-friendly art.
You can find out more at www.sunshinecoastartcrawl.com or pick up your map guide at galleries, visitor centres, libraries, restaurants and many other public places.
