Handcrafted journals and albums embellished with bark and wood are on display at The Landing Gallery in Lower Gibsons, a co-operative venture of approximately 24 active artists.
The paper books with wood bindings are the work of this month's feature artist, Stephen Murphy of Roberts Creek, who will be demonstrating his art this Saturday, July 27, at the gallery from noon to 4 p.m.
A photographer and mixed media artist, Murphy also works with Polaroid film that he has manipulated to create unique image transfers, and these are also on display.
Murphy is a member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild; it's a little known field that he hopes to promote.
His hand-stitched, hand-bound books might employ many other materials, such as birch bark curls on the cover and leatherette or various interestingly-grained woods for a binding. Sometimes the yarn used for stitching becomes the decoration. The books with their hand-made, soft, creamy, acid-free paper can be used for journals, scrapbooks, albums or as notebooks to record important thoughts.
"I enjoy being part of the Landing Gallery community ofartists," he said. "It also provides me with agood opportunity to showcase my work, rub shoulders with other artists and promote the book as art."
This month the picturesque gallery venue on the water side of Marine Drive is also featuring a display of Sunshine Coast landscapes.
A beach scene of windswept bathers by Yzabelle Delisle Milton is delightful. (Milton currently has another of her paintings reproduced on the label of a Calona Wines Chardonnay.)
Ken Walters employs his distinctive style in a marine painting. Judy Heyer captures the joy of a youngster on the beach, and Jan Poynter depicts familiar landmarks.
On the gallery walls, Coralie Swaney's paintings are entertaining, Ed Hill's work makes the viewer see the world anew, Barry Haynes' photos are rich in colour and detail, and Shannon Woode paints what she cares about, the wilderness forest.
Murphy's Make and Take Soft Cover Journal demonstration of the fine art of hand-crafted book binding will see the first 20 participants make and take home a soft cover journal. The project will introduce you to the very basic techniques of paper selection, collating and folding, and sewing using the three-hole pamphlet stitch. There is a $5 fee to cover the cost of materials and tools, and these will be provided. Just show up, Murphy said. There's no need to register, but if you need to contact the gallery, the phone number is 604-886-0099.
Drop in when you visit the Sea Cavalcade events this Saturday, and while you are there, enter the free drawfor a hand-bound album with an aspen wood cover by the artist valued at $165. See www.landinggallery.ca for more details.
