This year marked the 20th anniversary of the hand-painted banners in Gibsons. In 1997, the Gibsons Arts Society (GAS) started the banner painting project, but after only a couple of years of doing this, GAS wanted to change their focus and the banner project was going to be lost.
Connie Johnston, who painted some banners under GAS, offered her assistance to keep the project going, and much to her surprise, was handed the entire project with absolutely no funding and no people. Single-handedly, Johnston got a grant from the Town, got donations, and even cleaned up all the old banners the Town had kept in storage and sold every single one.
Enough money was raised to buy a projector, blank banners and paint. So in 2000, the project was off and running under her leadership and guidance. In 2002, she had to move away, and Terri Hanson, one of her banner artists, accepted the task and kept the project going for a number of years. Then it was taken over by Trish Thompson. In the latter time frame, the project came under the umbrella of the Town of Gibsons.
Fast forward to 2009, when Johnston, who was still living in Edmonton, was approached and asked if she would take over coordinating the banner project once more. It was floundering and was once again going to die without solid direction. Johnston accepted the challenge and managed that year’s banner painting while still living away. She made the move back to Gibsons shortly thereafter, and has been responsible for organizing the hand-painted banners ever since.
This will be Johnston’s last year volunteering her time to the banners. An increasing sensitivity to the paints and the difficulty getting volunteer assistance has caused her to give up this project, one of her biggest passions. With a heavy heart, as she puts away her painting apron for the last time, Johnston fondly recalls the many happy hours in the painting venue with her “banner family.” Seasoned artists worked beside budding first-timers and that room was alive with laughter, colour, great conversations, budding friendships, singing and many hugs!
Johnston wishes to thank each and every artist who, with their amazing art work and the time they volunteered painting their banners, helped beautify the Town of Gibsons year after colourful year.
This will not be the end of banners for the Town, but will be the end of our beloved hand-painted ones. With Johnston’s retirement, the Town feels this would be a good time to try something new. A banner design contest will be held, and the top three or four designs selected will then be silk screened, eliminating a huge amount of time spent in the creation of the hand- painted ones.
Johnston still plans to hold a silent auction in January, to sell off any remaining banners (artists always have first dibs at keeping their own), as well as all the Canada 150 banners. This may be your last opportunity to secure a hand-painted banner and a wonderful chance to own your very own Canada 150 keepsake.
For a colourful treat, go on Facebook to Town of Gibsons Banner Project, click on photos and enjoy a pictorial journey of the creation of the banners over the past few years.
– Submitted
