This month's Foyer Gallery exhibits invite locals to embrace the fall season and reminisce over life in the Sea to Sky.
On Tuesday (Oct. 6) from 7 to 8:30 p.m., art lovers are invited to the gallery in the public library foyer for a reception of photographer Susan Carmody's "Fleeting Moments" display.
Whenever I ask artists how long they have been doing art, this is the prevailing answer, "Hmmm, ever since I can remember!" which is exactly what passionate, contemporary photographer Susan Carmody told me.
On the walls in the Foyer Gallery, this tranquil yet motivated Sea to Sky country lifestyle photographer shows her enthusiasm for life experiences, travels and the people she meets.
Carmody has mastered the use of a shallow depth of field -making the subject stand out by rendering the background and foreground out of focus - for the gentle style that her photographs are known for.
Carmody is easily inspired by her heartwarming relationship with her two young children, but she is well aware that they are changing and growing up fast.
"Through this connection I have realized that there are truly more fleeting moments than I like to admit, that I know I will miss in years to come, however I take comfort in knowing that I was able to capture some of them through my photography."
Carmody carries this inspiration with her into photo sessions to be able to capture moments in the lives of children, families and individuals.
"I feel more and more compelled to tell a story of relationships between people, as well as the relationships of individuals and their surrounding environments and/or passions."
Keeping in mind the long term health of our planet and the impact it will have on our children, Carmody is ardent about a holistic approach to life. She is all about creating a balance of family time, good eating, exercise, respect for the environment, as well as an understanding of each person's responsibility to take control of our health and that of the world we live. These ideals are evidently reflected in her photographic images, which, unlike the moment that they represent, will be everlasting.
For more information contact her at www.susancarmody.com.
In the Foyer Gallery cases this month is Lisa Elbertsen's pottery display, "Fall Harvest."
Elbertsen, a transplant to Squamish from North Vancouver in 2003, became inspired to do more art, specifically with pottery and recently crochet.
Her clay work has taken a journey away from the potter's wheel to a pure love of individual hand-built pieces for reasons of control and time.
"Hand-building allows me to complete one entire piece at a time instead of coming back to something days later to trim and add handles," she said.
Elbertsen enjoys making these uniquely shaped works, completing them with finishing or coloured glazes. She pushes the clay to see what it can do, using wooden dowels, leaves and glass bottles to develop texture and patterns. And her sometimes quirky crochet pieces are created in the colours of nature.
This exhibit represents Elbertsen's fondness of fall and cozy fires, the smell of burning leaves, pies baking in the oven and pulling out the wooly sweaters.
"I love getting together with good friends and having hand-made pottery to serve good food," she said. "I also love Halloween, pumpkins and all the wonderful fare associated with the fall harvest - the last gasp from a great growing season before the Earth hunkers down for another winter with the anticipation of the next season."
Elbertsen says her artist hobbies bring her great personal satisfaction and pleasure with both her pottery and crochet evolving, influenced by what is going on at that time.
"Each piece I make is planned out and executed until I have exactly what I want or it doesn't even make it to the kiln. Simple. Made with love."
For more information contactwww.LisaElbertsen.com or 604-815-4238.
