For artists, making art is their passion, their raison d’etre. When other involvements get in the way, the art takes the back seat. For the Stinking Fish Studio Tour artists, weather, time and other commitments often meant a scarcity of art for the twice yearly studio tours. While they were popular, no one could count on fair weather or sales. After 12 years a new idea was needed, so they put their creative heads together and came up with a new format for the artist-driven show. The show has morphed from tour to gallery.
This fall the Stinking Fish artists of East Sooke and Metchosin are going to park the cars in favor of a Fine Art and Fine Craft show “AT THE MAG.” It’s a first time opportunity to experience a comprehensive exhibition from this diverse group.
“We’re going to try it out and see how it goes,” said artist Bonnie Coulter.
The artists ‘names are familiar to those who have travelled the backroads of East Sooke, Metchosin and Sooke seeking out the studios. Many of the artists involved will be giving talks on their work in an informal, visual-presentation style.
Coulter said many of the people who made the MAG happen were the same people who were on the Stinking Fish Studio Tour. So the answer was obvious, hold a show in a central place. The choice was Metchosin.
Bev Petow, one of the artists in the show, has some new work which follows on her organic “decaying” or deconstruction series of metal sculptures.
“I try to create that sense of being around for 100 years,” said Petow.
Her skelatal leaves are a metamorphasis, a passage of time. Her sculptural “bowls” are a balance between what is there and what isn’t.
Hailey Finnigan has done an amazing job pulling together the works of potters, painters, furniture makers; a blacksmith, a wood turner, a weaver, a stone carver and jewelers; not to mention mixed media mosaics and pictures quilted as art. The Metchosin Art Gallery (MAG) is a wonderful new facility located in the ground floor of the historic Metchosin School House at 4495 Happy Valley Road.
The opening reception is on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 2 - 5 p.m. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. There is also a gift shop on the upper level of the art centre.
This beautiful coastal area of Vancouver Island near Victoria is inspirational to all who live and work here. The Stinking Fish artists create some of the best in fine art and fine craft on the southern Island.
Come visit the gallery, meet the artists, see their work and take some home with you. Admission is free. All are welcome. Artworks are for sale. Touring an artist’s studio and seeing how and where they work is not completely finished. There will be a list of artists with studios open for those who may want to see more of the artists’ work.
A new feature for the Stinking Fish artists is the series of talks. Petow said it was Judy Dyelle’s idea and it is a great way to augument the fall show.
For more information on the artists go to www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com and for the gallery go to www.metchosinartgallery.com
Free evening lectures
7 - 9 p.m. Metchosin Community House
4430 Happy Valley Rd.Metchosin
Nov. 8
Hailey Finnigan - Purchasing and Collecting Art
Kay Lovett - Pushing Paint Around: Making It Up As I Go Along
Robin Hopper - It Came From Outer Space.
Nov. 16
Doug McBeath - The Evolution of Woodturning
Bev Petow - Malleability of Metal
Jacquetta Nisbet - The Web of Life - From One Fibre Artist’s Perspective.
Nov. 23
Lesley Forman - The Secrets of the Stone
Nicole Valentine-Rimmer - Making Glass Beads
Chiarina Loggia - Portraits in Prints.