Western Canada's art magazine since 2002
16 July 2019 Vol 4 No 15 ISSN 2561-3316 © 2019
From the Editor
Portia Priegert
I love serendipity. I think most creative people do. Perhaps everyone does.
I visited Vancouver recently and friends took me out bicycling to Pitt Meadows, a place I’d never seen. I pushed my bike onto the SkyTrain, only dimly aware of where we were headed.
When we got off at the end of the Millennium line in Coquitlam, I saw the Art Gallery at Evergreen. And here's the serendipity: Only a day before, I had edited Mark Mushet’s story about Sean Alward, who is part of a group show with a geological theme, Mantle, which opens there this week. While editing that story, I spent time researching the area's history and learned that the gallery sits next to an artificial lake in a former quarry.
There was no time to look for the lake as my friends were anxious to get out on the trail. As we rode through Coquitlam’s parks, I spotted a bear poking its head over a bush a few dozen yards from the trail. It reminded me of a painting by Les Thomas and its bright eyes suggested it might just have its paw in a honey pot. We sped up and quickly outdistanced it.
A little further along, passing by fields near the Pitt River, I suddenly felt like I was cycling through a painting by Jacob van Ruisdael. Then one of my companions mentioned the area had been settled by Dutch immigrants.
I cycled about 60 kilometres that day, although my companions, all much fitter, went further, all the way to Pitt Lake. Heading back, I got lost, and ended up circling around the far side of the Evergreen. And there was Lafarge Lake, the former gravel pit!
The weekend was full of such surprises. A new friend pointed out the house of one of my favourite Vancouver artists, Gathie Falk. Out sailing the following day, I thought of Falk's water paintings.
I love how seeing through the eyes of artists enriches our experience of place. One of my dreams is travel across Canada in a camper van, visiting artist studios along the way. I’d like to write stories and take photos, so I can turn the adventure, a sort of linked chain of artists referring me on down the road, into a book.
It’s sort of what I do as editor of Galleries West – minus the camper van. Sadly, most of the art I see these days is on my computer screen. And conversations are usually short affairs by email or phone. I yearn to immerse myself in the real.
In the meantime, our latest issue is now posted online. Along with Mark’s story about Sean Alward, you can check out articles about American artist Nick Cave, Yellowknife photographer Pat Kane, ceramic artist Susannah Montague, Vancouver painter Lyse Lemieux, and the Western Canadian artists who participated in a once-in-a-lifetime 150th birthday voyage along Canada’s three coasts.
Looking ahead, expect stories about Vikky Alexander's show at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and Alberta’s first provincial artist-in-residence, Lauren Crazybull. We’re also working on a special two-part feature that looks at how to judge the success of public art galleries in Western Canada.
Until next time,
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Dick Averns, Beverly Cramp, Agnieszka Matejko, Mark Mushet, Sarah Swan