What do art and loggers sports have in common? They are both of part of Squamish culture and will be thriving at Squamish Days Logger s Sports this year.
Artists inspired by the natural forest world and Squamish's logging heritage are invited to submit their creative work to the Squamish Arts Council (SAC) for an upcoming exhibit, Into The Woods showcased at Squamish Days Loggers Sports for the first time.
"We need to maintain authentic connections to our heritage and our landscape," said SAC president Kristina Egyed, "and doing that through art is an ideal way to preserve our industrial heritage."
The exhibit will be on display from July 29 to Oct. 31 at SAC building on Cleveland Avenue, the SAC Artisan Galleries and on the Loggers Sports grounds.
The "Opening Soiree" takes place Thursday, July 29 at the SAC building and exhibition duration varies with each venue.
Loggers Sports and art may not appear the most compatible combination, but this new partnership between SAC and the Squamish Days Loggers Sports represents a collaboration Egyed has been contemplating for years.
"I've been wanting to collaborate with the loggers sports for years and it's only now that I can do it time-wise," said Egyed. "We're always open to collaborating and partnering with other groups here in Squamish because all those partnerships are positive."
The SDLS festival has the honourable distinction of celebrating over 50 years of international calibre logger's sports taking place in Squamish. It attracts competitors and visitors from around the world, and is one of the largest events in the corridor.
"It's about building audiences both ways," said Egyed. "People that normally wouldn't come to an art exhibit but are interested in the loggers event discover the art and vice versa."
Local woodwork icon Martin Thorne will be showcasing his work and Egyed hopes new entrepreneurs such as woodcarver Alex Macleod from Britannia Beach will bring some pieces as well.
There will be some pieces for sale and some pieces just on exhibit.
Into The Woods is meant to embrace the natural world that has been celebrated by artists and scholars through visual art, the written word and preserving pieces of nature. It celebrates local history, arts, sport and heritage and aims to create new synergies and build audiences for both the arts and the sport.
Submissions for Into The Woods should be inspired by either our surrounding forest or the spirit of logging and the Squamish Days Loggers Sports and reveal the creativity of our unique artistic community.
All mediums are welcome including dimensional work, textile, film, video, paintings, photography and the written word. Photography can include forest inspired images, past loggers sports events or historical images.
To submit artwork, contact Kristina Egyed at [email protected] or 604-892-9838.
