Sept–October 2007 - Preview

Shannon Belkin: Second NatureSeptember 6-22, 2007Opening reception Thursday, September 6, 6-8 pmDr. Lynn Ruscheinsky curates a new series of paintings byVancouver artist Shannon Belkin at Diane Farris Gallery.In Second Nature, Belkin continues her exploration of theintricate relationship between humans and nature. The newwork examines the rupture between the real and the virtualin our encounters with animals. Animals offer humans acompanionship which, being between two species, is differentfrom any offered by human exchange.Belkin’s new works are concerned with the ways our visuallysaturated, urban environment marginalizes our contactwith nature and especially our children’s understanding ofanimals. Focusing on the children’s toy industry – particularlyironic given the current recalls on toxic toys – herseries explores our increasing alienation from the naturalworld and its creatures, with which we were once deeplyand interdependently connected.Kirkuk, 2007, oil on canvas, 48 x 68 inches (top);Toy Horses Grazing, 2007, oil on canvas, 30 x 40inches (bottom left); Toy Clydesdales, 2007, oil oncanvas, 30 x 40 inches (bottom right)Shannon Belkin graduated in 1992 from Emily Carr College (now Institute) of Artand Design, and began exhibiting with Diane Farris Gallery in 1998. Her previousmajor body of work, "When Horses Were Gods" (2004) was inspired by equinemythologies from around the globe – from the Arabian, Etruscan and Babylonian toFinnish and Chinese. Her work has won international acclaim and is included innumerous collections.ADVERTISEMENTThe Fort Gallery9048 Glover Rd ✆604-888-7411www.fort gallery.cawed-sun 12-5pm Sep 5-23 LindaSiemens and Kaaizer Sethna, newwork; Sep 26-Oct 14 Susan Falk andKate Bradford****, new paintingsand stone sculptures; Oct 17-Nov 4Doris Auxier, new work.GABRIOLA ISLANDGabriola Arts CouncilGabriola Island ✆(250) 247-7409(250) 247-9882www.gabriolaartscouncil.orgfri-mon 10am-4pm, free admission.Oct 5-8 Thanksgiving weekend, free,self-guided tour of 60 studios featuring93 artists. In its 11th year, the tourclearly demonstrates why Gabrioladeserves its unique reputation as the“Isle of the Arts”. Meet the artisansand see a showcase of fine literary andvisual art, oil, acrylic and watercolourpaintings, Giclées, mixed media, photography,one of a kind fashions,leatherwork, semi-precious silver andbeaded jewellery, pottery, stonework,24 PREVIEWwood carvings, sculpture, glasswork,and unique items for home and garden,including driftwood furniture,intarsia wood art, folk art, textile artand tapestries, hand-dyed yarns,blacksmithing and stained glass. A25-page, full-colour brochure withmap is available on-line or in print.Gabriola Artworks#9-575 North Rd2ND LOCATION: on the Bay, 3415 SouthRd, Gabriola Island (250)247-7432✆(250)247-7412www.gabriolaartworks.common-sat 9am-5pm sun 11am-5pm Oct6-8 11th Annual Thanksgiving WeekendStudio Tour; plan your free, selfdirectedtour of the 60 studios and over90 artists at Artwork’s in-house coffeebar and and view samples of work fromeach studio on the tour; Thru SepClaire Watson, “Colours of Cuba”, oilpastels on paper that are bold, vibrantand devoted to the power and passionof the Cuban experience; Oct 4-26“Burnished Earth”, Corry Lunn, ceramic,raku and burnished clay, works executedwith integrity, passion and grace;Darryl Nygaard, sun-bleached driftwood,weathered steel and foundbeach object sculpture.GALIANO ISLANDGaliano Art GalleryNew location: 2540 Sturdies Bay Rd,Galiano Island ✆(250)539-3539www.galianoartgallery.comfri, sat, sun 11am-4pm Gallery artistsA.J. Bell, Stewart Brands, WillemBreddels, Shao-Fang Ching, FlorenceDebeugny, Kenna Fair, LarryFoden, Lisa Gardner, Ken Mounsey,David Opheim, Dorrie Ratzlaff, KitShing, Garry J. Todd, John Whincup,Johnson Wu and Michael Zoll.GRAND FORKSGrand Forks Art Gallery7340 5th St ✆(250)442-2211www.galleries.bc.ca/grandforkstues-sat 10am-4pm Aug 4–Oct 14Grand Forks Erotic Art Show; Oct15–Dec 15 Drawing on Identity: TheInkameep Day School and Art Collectionexhibition.