The creative talent that runs the popular Power of Paint show in Sechelt every year call themselves the Eleven Equal Artists. On a shimmering hot morning in August three/elevenths of the group are gathered at the studio of Greta Guzek to talk with Coast Reporter about their collaboration. Guzek hosts – her latest colourful landscape on its easel dominates the room – while the articulate Nadina Tandy and the elegantly professional Marleen Vermeulen air ideas about their role in the community.
“We connect as individuals in the group, and we share ourselves with our community,” Vermeulen says. This is not an elitist group, hiding in an artist’s ivory tower. This is about connection, and it is a conversation that would be best explored over a glass of wine far into the evening. But now there is work to do, paint to be applied and a group show to organize.
The Eleven know how to do that. It’s their sixth year and Power of Paint opens on Friday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. and runs through Saturday and Sunday. In that time, thousands of visitors will pour through the Seaside Centre in Sechelt, and some viewers will almost come to blows as they vie to purchase a favourite work. Such is the power of this show.
“We don’t just turn up as artists,” Guzek says. “We organize the space, the music, food. When the people arrive, it becomes more than just a show.”
Tandy agrees: “It as if we are putting on a big dinner party and when the dinner guests arrive, they turn it into something amazing.”
Artist Ginny Vail assists the Eleven with her ability to mobilize eager volunteers for the big weekend. The public is attracted to the group’s collaborative piece – a series of 12 by 12 squares with each artist contributing. As a teaser the group showed part of their collaborative piece at a recent Gibsons Public Art Gallery show. This year abstract painter Morley Baker set the pattern with initial splashes of black paint on the squares and each artist took a few to work on, letting the pattern inspire them.
“I wouldn’t usually start with blobs on canvas,” Guzek said, “but we work within our genre. It’s playful.” The creative aspect is like going down a rabbit hole, Guzek said, “but it’s damned exciting!”
When the 60 collaborative squares are sold at the show for $200 each, the money goes towards four bursaries for local art students.
What each of the artists will come up with this year is always a surprise. The Eleven offer each other support and critical feedback.
“Cindy (Riach) was very conventional at first,” Guzek says. “Now she’s pushing her medium.” Tandy is working with oil paint this year, though she admits she knew nothing about the challenging medium. Ian MacLeod has been busy curating a show at the Arts Centre, 50 Canadian Things, and he will show his own work that now tells a deeper story. The group originated at Morley Baker’s Westwind Gallery back in the last decade, and Baker will be showing work that is new and contemporary. Others in the group are Kim LaFave, Todd Clark, Josefa Fritz Barham, Elizabeth Evans and Carol LaFave.
The opening reception is on Friday, Aug. 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. with live music by Joe Stanton and Simon Paradis. The show continues Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Demonstrations and talks take place on Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. with Cindy Riach and continuing that day with Guzek, Tandy and MacLeod. Vermeulen and Clark give demos on Sunday. The artists are on site all three days, usually tired but happy.
