Wordless Wednesday: A new bear in town

carved bear by Tom Reid, $165

Arts Centre Gallery Opening Thursday 23rd August

please click to enlarge evite

You are cordially invited to the opening night of the new exhibition at Port Moody Arts Centre on Thursday, August 23rd (6 - 8pm). Refreshments will be served (cash bar) and artists are at hand to discuss their work.

The Blackberry Artist's Society Gift Shop is open for the evening.

See you there :)

Wordless Wednesday: Bikini Body?

curvy vase by Pauline Doyle, $65

Summertime ...

photography print magnets by Sarah Ronald

 ..... and the living, allegedly, is easy.

Sometimes it is so, especially when the living is in a holiday cottage or vacation rental, or even cutting everything loose to stay under canvas in a wooded glade (though maybe not so much with the recent thunder storm). Cue endless days, tempo rubato living.

Suddenly it's packing up day, deciding which special rock or twig to keep in the kid's suitcase and how many new sandbuckets is too many. Will the tinned cookies survive the trip and did we remember a gift for the house-sitting neighbour? Hitting the road unconsciously in early morning to make the flight, sliding a key under the doormat, spending a listless day doing nothing much, waiting for a late departure time ... whatever; parting is (allegedly) such sweet sorrow.

But memories refuse to be left under the doormat. Unconsciously un-packed, they travel with us as shells or photographs or ticket stubs. From each and every holiday, re-emerging to light up a drab workday moment or never-ending laundry list back in the mundane humdrum reality.

Memory as souvenir, sweet sweet souvenirs.

Wordless Wednesday: At City Hall

Work by Yolanda Cheung on display.

As usual, all work is for sale through the gift shop (604 931 2008) to make arrangements).

Happy BC Day

detail from watercolour collage by Elizabeth Wallace

August's Featured Artist: Alina Markiewicz

This month's featured artist is photographer, Alina Markiewicz. Alina has been a Blackberry member for a few years now and is responsible for the beautiful shop displays you see when visiting us.

Alina kindly answered some questions about her art for the blog.

• How long have you been an artist? — I've been a photographer for a little over thirty years.

• Where did you train? — Photographic association in Warsaw, Poland.
• Do you work in a studio or at home? — The world is my studio, usually outdoors.
• Do you work as an artist full-time, part-time, or do you squeeze in the creating as a hobby? — Mostly as a hobby, as a form of expression.
• Describe how a piece progresses, from first inspiration to finished object in the gift shop. — First as a photographer I look for inspiration connecting to the beauty that I see around me. Then it takes time to physically produce a silver print.
• What's your favourite piece to make? — Natural and city landscapes, people and their environments.
• Who inspires you, and why? — Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Fred Herzog and many other painters and photographers alike.

Please visit the gift shop to see Alina's marvellous display, including some pinhole camera work in limited edition prints.

Wordless Wednesday: Orcas and dinosaurs, oh my!

stegosaurus pod vase by Pauline Doyle, $65: orca by Cathy Rycroft, $15