Freedom from suffering, kindness, understanding, intrinsic empathy and just plain caring all describe compassion 鈥� but talk is cheap. Compassion is shown through actions.
The new exhibit this month at the Foyer Art Gallery features 35 female artists鈥� interpretations of compassion. Debuting in honour of International Women鈥檚 Day, the show aims to honour and celebrate women鈥檚 expression in both visual and written form. The artwork, accompanied by a written piece, is individual, creative and each artists鈥� interpretation on the theme of compassion.
One of the exhibit鈥檚 artists, Martina Jean Page, is a self-described stereotypical moody artist with an insatiable need to create. Art had been a life-long obsession until four years ago, when she had her first child and everything changed. Page had planned to continue creating and working full-time as an executive while nursing her son. But as life became more strenuous, panic and anxiety set in. Her life began falling apart around her with the onslaught of serious post-partum health issues. Months later, Page was finally diagnosed and with help she was able to start the slow healing process.
鈥淢y piece is about me and all of the other superwomen out there that are trying so hard to unrealistically be everything,鈥� says Page. 鈥淭hey get it stuck in their minds what they are supposed to be, instead of slowing down to enjoy the experience, taking care of themselves and actually being strong and telling the right people that they do need help.鈥�
Her powerful piece is a painting that has erupted into sculpture with hands literally reaching out of the canvas to make an offering of compassion.
Artist Esmeralda Reiner has always enjoyed drawing and painting but only within the last few years, with some urging from her family, has she started to take art more seriously. Her creative process usually starts from a photograph and then she adds her own touch, but in her piece in this show titled 鈥淐rows,鈥� she only used reference images to get the correct details of the birds.
鈥漌e recently watched a documentary titled A Murder of Crows, which shows their intelligence and speaks about their family dynamics. I wanted to depict compassion as they mourn a family member returning to the earth,鈥� Reiner says.
Bold abstract painter Marlise Witschi grew up in Switzerland and has sporadically created art throughout her life, and her latest intense painting phase started in 2006; she believes it will never end.
During her process, Witschi puts herself into a kind of meditative state, and using a limited palette, she has a dialogue with the emerging painting. She stops and starts, responding with strokes, but uses discipline so as not to let the painting鈥檚 movement run away on itself.
Witschi describes her spiritual inspiration: 鈥淭his piece is expressing the light that we all are, that shines in each individual鈥μ� Recently I saw a video where they showed that quantum physics discovered that what is holding all quanta, all particles in the universe together, is light. So light is source, it鈥檚 the truth and it鈥檚 what animates all of us.鈥�
The Squamish women鈥檚 project, which had mentorship and support of an Orillia, Ontario group in the beginning stages, took on a life its own under the coordination of Pat Robinson and Melissa Jackson. Robinson says it was inspired by the International Women鈥檚 Day Art Show in Orillia, where she had exhibited her work before moving to 小蓝视频
The exhibit provides an opportunity for artists to share their inspirations as well as create new friendships and nurture old ones. The spirit of the exhibit is intended to be one of collaboration and co-operation. Supporters in many forms have assisted in bringing the show to life, and proceeds and donations from this year鈥檚 show will be presented to the Howe Sound Women鈥檚 Centre in Squamish.
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Toby Jaxon is the curator of the Foyer Gallery, located within the Squamish Public Library at 37907 Second Avenue.
