A Christmas Marketplace created with you in mind

(Click here to read the article and see the slide show in your browser.)

• Who?  You!
• What?  Blackberry Artist’s Society's 17th Annual Christmas Marketplace
• Where?  Port Moody Arts Centre, 2425 St Johns St., Port Moody, BC
• When?  Open daily through Dec. 23rd — Mon.-Fri.: 10 am - 6 pm, Sat. : 10 am - 5 pm, Sun.: 12 pm - 4 pm
• Why? Shop local; buy handmade…. 

It was a frosty day…one of our first. Glittering ice crystals everywhere…on the sidewalk, edging the leaves, on the tall grass. It was the perfect day for me to head to Port Moody City Hall to take photographs of a Blackberry Artist's Society display highlighting our 17th Annual Christmas Marketplace. The slide show above gives you a glimpse of what’s in store for you at the full exhibition and in our gift shop at the Port Moody Arts Centre. The centre is housed in a beautiful example of classic Arts and Crafts-style architecture, a bungalow writ large. High ceilings and much ambient light make it the perfect setting for a Christmas Marketplace. Every piece glows, no matter the time of day, whether you are gazing at warp and weft, brush stroke, vitrified glaze, polished stone, wood, paper, rendering, precious metal, glass, or captured image. A sensory extravaganza! Next to it is the centre’s Christmas tree, full of handmade ornaments at very reasonable prices. In fact, each piece being shown at City Hall or in the centre’s 3-D gallery or Blackberry Gift Shop is conceived of and created by talented artisans. They not only love what they do, they are active members in their art co-op, each assuming roles needed to make the society and gift shop run. And a member will warmly greet you the moment you step inside the shop…. So, whether you’re breezing by the display at City Hall, or at the centre to see the tree or exhibitions, make sure you take the time to linger in our Christmas Marketplace and gift shop, which are filled with marvelous goodies. Not only will you see paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, but also weavings, stained glass, paper and fiber art, intarsia, and carved wood and stone. Every medium. Brighten your day and fill your heart with the loveliness of it all!

City Hall featured artist: Del Holbrook

This month Blackberry artist Del Holbrook is featured in the City Hall display case (on the stairs to the first level of municipal offices).

Del, who 'retired' recently as president of the artists' cooperative, uses wood as his medium of choice and specialises in the most incredibly intricate pieces of intarsia. From a distance his work appears as a painting - it's not until you get much closer that you appreciate the clever and fluid interlocking nature of each composition.
Nature and animals seem to be strong influences - currently there is a cute puppy, a penguin mother and chick and a fine lion on display (gift shop and City Hall).A more complete portfolio is available on his website.
My personal fave though is the rather handsome carved moose seen at the start of this post. Please do go visit and say 'howdy' before he is snapped up by a fan!

All pieces on display are available for sale thru the gift shop. Please ask for details.

external display: Myrta Hayes

The Blackberry Artists are not just confined to the gift shop at the Arts Centre, they can also be seen out and about in Port Moody.

One of the external display areas is found on the staircase to the upper level at the City Hall Galleria. Last month it was ceramic artist (and Blackberry Artist's Society web designer) Myrta Hayes whose beautiful work was featured.

One of her favourite materials is pure white, high fire porcelain which she decorates with the subtlest of glazes like watercolour brush strokes, or with textural designs which alter the translucency of the vessel. Her work looks incredible (in my opinion) on a window ledge with the sun streaming in thru its walls, similar to the effect seen in the City Hall display cases.

So next time you're visiting the library take an side trip up the stairs to the council offices to check out the display - you'll never be disappointed.


NB: pieces on display are also for sale thru the gift shop.