As the area's breathtaking beauty inspires locals and visitors to wander into the great outdoors, so too does it inspire individuals to commune with Mother Nature through art.
From July 6 to Aug. 2, the Foyer Gallery in the Squamish Public Library presents creations inspired by our natural surroundings.
Rich Wheater's coastal rock, black and white photo journey represents a vision inspired by shapes, textures, raw emotion and the outdoor challenges, both mental and physical, routinely overcome by sports athletes.
This creator of standalone action sports imagery is intent on exciting people to engage in mountain sports. A professional photographer of 15 years, Wheater investigates the unique and often fleeting light that bounces around the forest and cliffs, and with the evolution of digital imagery, he relishes the ability to blast off numerous frames.
"I found that with the highly saturated imagery dominating action sports these days, I wanted to explore the more muted black and white medium, and strip my pictures down to images with much impact, even without colour. I think it inadvertently forces you to notice the finer details of visual design and get absorbed in the action, without being overwhelmed by excessive colour."
Wheater, often places human subjects in his compositions to emphasize contrast.
"I try to use the outdoor canvas for pleasing patterns, shapes and forms, as well as interesting light, then place my primary subject, the athlete, in there somewhere. Where's Waldo sort of theme."
Wheater's other passions intertwine with a full life of music, dogs, mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running and he affirms, "The natural world is an immense and very rewarding playground, and it's important for us humans to establish and maintain a relationship with nature and understand the need to preserve and protect it."
For more information contact him at www.richwheater.com.
"Sticks and Stones," as it is entitled, may be the inspiration for Susan Remnant's jewellery exhibition may be the but the work on display is a myriad of spiralling metal and patterned enamel pendants, brooches, sculptural pieces and large rings with gemstones.
"My broadest inspiration comes from simple forms combined with patterns and textures. I often look to the natural world and find an endless source of ideas to work into the jewellery that I make. I am also very attracted to architectural forms and structures."
In art school she studied ceramics and print making and has included these skills into her jewellery making. Remnant uses enamel, a coloured glass that is fused onto a metal surface in a similar way that a clay pot is glazed.
Working with the printing plates was an inspiration for the possibilities that metal offers.
"I am continuing my exploration of natural forms. I like to create forms that are familiar yet with a quality that is also a bit mysterious. I find many of the structures and surfaces of natural forms to be almost like surreal landscapes. This is what I try to evoke."
Remnant unites form, colour and texture in an experimental approach towards materials and processes. She combines metals and other materials in her work, sometimes with clear intent but often making design decisions along the way.
Remnant's contemporary jewellery designs represent a variety of construction methods and many different techniques. She likes the process and the challenge of this very technical craft.
For more information go to www.susanremnant.com.
Maciek Walentowicz's fascination with multiples and the expressive quality of figurative objects create a dramatic display with theatrical atmosphere. But is this exaggeration in similarity actually suggesting subtle differences?
You be the judge when observing his miniature sculptures.
Walentowicz was born into a creative environment and has naturally been interested in art for as long as he can remember. He went to art school in Poland, worked in the film industry and has been teaching art history, design and jewellery techniques for many years. His current artistic focus is on small sculpture, combining patinated metals with exotic hardwoods.
Birds are a common theme in Walentowicz's work, playfully aligned in anonymity and mystery.
"I am exploring the subtleties and differences of repeated figures. At first it is the similarities that are apparent but the differences and unique qualities of each are revealed on further observation. Repetition expresses evolution. When something is reproduced it changes and new forms evolve," he says.
Walentowicz uses procedures similar to jewellery making to create his small sculptures, producing families of work that either compliment or contrast each other.
"I like to create groupings of objects, the juxtapositions can imply tension or dialogue."
For more information go to [email protected].
