Foyer Gallery visitors can enjoy the wisdom of the ages from two very different worlds at the public library until June 7.
Keith F. Broad shares his Original People collection of graphite drawings while Laleh Nafarieh and Nader Balafkan display clay relief and sculpture creations in Ancient Puzzles.
You don't need a close inspection of Broad's drawings to realize that he is inspired by portrait comprehension.
"Wrinkles, creases and folds in the face; kindness, wisdom and understanding in the eyes; joy or sorrow in the posture," he said in describing his work.
Broad's creative stimulation for this particular series of detailed graphite drawings started with a man named Paul George, one of the featured portraits in this exhibition.
"I first met him in a small coffee shop in North Vancouver," said Broad. "He was clearing tables and often he would stop to rest his heavy tub full of dirty dishes on one of the tables. Coincidentally it would be a table at which one or two pretty girls were sitting.
"In the absence of pretty girls, he would rest his tub on my table. He told me about his life and I was hooked."
Read about Paul George (in a condensed version) in Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and 小蓝视频, published by Royal 小蓝视频 Museum.
Broad has always loved drawing. His first piece put on public display while he was in Grade 4 was a drawing of a First Nation member locked in combat with a settler. His teacher hung it in the place of honour on the class bulletin board. Broad said he was embarrassed by the praise but also loved it.
Broad said drawing eventually led him to carving in low relief.
"I love carving black slate to see if I can create visual depth within the thinness of the medium."
His other passions are photography and writing - he is writing a fiction novel and film screenplays.
For more information go to www.keithbroad.com.
Laleh Nafarieh has been practicing the creation of ceramics since 1995 while living in Iran.
Then owning her own studio, she participated in several group shows and solo exhibitions amongst which include the Iranian Contemporary Ceramics Biennials.
"This biennial is a big and important competition for Iranians who do pottery and just a few artists are selected to be in this contest," she said. "I was in the biennial four times and twice I received a bronze award."
Nafarieh recently participated in seven group exhibitions in Vancouver. Tiles, wall hangings, rustic handmade dishes and puzzle-like reliefs are her specialties, but also on display are her intricate and delicately formed clay flower arrangements.
Nafarieh's husband Nader Balafkan began making mixed media mirror frames in 2006. Since then he has developed frames for flat weave tapestry kilims and carpets.
His embellished frames are crafted in an antique style, which adds to the traditional beauty of Iranian carpets and mirrors.
Balafkan is also a 2002 Canadian world champion in kickboxing and presently works as a kickboxing trainer at Totem Hall and Club Flex.
Contact them at [email protected].
