It could have been the new paint job or the spirit of having survived the winter's worst, but when the annual Friends of the Gallery (FOG) art show opened last week in Sechelt, it revealed a fresher, newer Sunshine Coast Arts Centre.
The overall number of works, about 50, in this inclusive show was down over previous years, possibly because the weather kept many contributing artists in their homes. Many of the pieces have been painted or sculpted by those who also spend time in keeping their arts centre open. For example, Sheila Page, a long-time volunteer who has spent many afternoons greeting visitors or organizing the Young People's Own Art Show, hung her latest painting and expressed her satisfaction with the path the arts organization was taking.
The Sunshine Coast Arts Council (SCAC) that operates the centre and the Doris Crowston Gallery also hosts other events. The biggest and most public are the two juried craft fairs held in August and December and the art auction held every two years. Not coincidentally, they are also the biggest fundraisers. Other events have a consistent following. The Literary Committee, for example, with funding from the Canada Council, organizes author readings. Local writer Andreas Schroeder and poet Patrick Lane filled the centre during their presentations.
And there's been a concerted effort to work with other arts groups in tandem, not competitively. Last summer, artist and volunteer Joan Payne pushed to keep the building open during the Sechelt Arts Festival so visitors to the Hackett Park events could drop in. In some cases, the public who took that walk from the park to the Arts Centre were entering the building for the first time.The SCAC's vice president, Tracy Wright, said in her report to the annual general meeting: "If I were to choose one theme word for this year, it would be change."
In 2008 there were significant changes in staffing. Frances Wasserlein was hired to replace the council's first ever executive director, Sheryl Latimer. Wasserlein has years of experience. She was executive producer of the Vancouver Folk Festival for seven years and has ties with the B.C. Arts Council, one of SCAC's major funding sources. In the coming year, Wasserlein said she hopes to pay serious attention to their responsibility as an arts centre to be a networker, to get information out, and to extend, deepen and develop relationships. When three major craft fairs held their events on the same Saturday in 2008, they decided to co-operate.
"Working together was good for all of us," said Wasserlein. "We'll continue to do that."
New staff over the past two years has helped the organization through this time of change. Currently, two administrators and building managers, Yanira Cuellar and Sandy Beresford, are sharing the position. Beresford was on hand at the FOG opening reception to show her own work, a mosaic panel.
One of the positions that had not been refilled was that of curator, a trained professional who specifically works with exhibitions. There were rumbles of concern from the membership for this perceived lack.
"The gallery committee thought it likely that the artists themselves would be the best judges of their own shows," said Wasserlein. During the past year, the artists have, indeed, taken control of the shows, judging by how many volunteers help hang the work.
"They were extraordinarily pleased to do so," Wasserlein said, noting that the process is not as easy as it looks, and it definitely involved a learning curve. The surrounding garden also received a fresh look last year after pruning, planting and adding an arbour circle. In fact, it looked so good that one romantic couple opted to hold their wedding on the spot.
The new board elected at last November's AGM under president Dave Allen has yet to determine their goals for the year, but an exciting slate of shows for the gallery is already planned.
After FOG closes, eclectic and creative Gibsons artist Nadina Tandy takes her turn. Other highlights include the second annual National Aboriginal Day exhibition in the summer and a show from distinguished Sechelt artist R. Barry Wainwright, RCA, in the fall.
The FOG show continues until Feb. 1. Winter hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
