Off-the-wall: sing and dance your way through this month-long Nova Scotia-inspired art show

THE SEA & THE WOODS & A COMET: Artist Clancy Dennehy will light up Townsite this July with his wood and Christmas light bulb sculptures.

BY CLANCY DENNEHY

I call this July art exhibit ‘Wood + Paint = Art’, because that is the simplest, most direct way to describe it. I start with an idea – cut shapes out of wood, paint them and stick them together.

Artist Clancy Dennehy

During my time at the Nova Scotia College of Art (1980’s), I focused on photography, film and audio work, which is what I did for a living in Vancouver up until the pandemic hit. My digital media career involved lots of screen time and I wanted to do something tactile with my hands. I began creating art reminiscent of the rural folk art I had seen in Nova Scotia.

Very simple artworks that had an honesty and directness.

My initial subject matter were the ships and tugboats common to the Halifax and Vancouver harbours. Soon I began making scenes including the coastline, docks, industry and forested hills behind. My interest in this natural world of the West Coast, its Indigenous and industrial presence may be why my wife and I moved up to Powell River!

Original piece by artist Clancy Dennehy

My main tool is the bandsaw and I find art supplies at Rona or Valley, but I use scrap wood and leftover paint whenever I can. Recently scanning the PR Facebook buy + sell, I bought some vintage Christmas lights to put up – but I came home with far more than I needed – so to use up these beautiful vintage bulbs I made light sculptures to hang in the window facing outside, so even for those who’ll never enter an art gallery… there will be a Las Vegas lightshow for ya’ll to see across the street from the Townsite Brewing patio – or 24/7, from the safety of your truck.

All the art on display (and earlier works), can be seen on my website (art.clancydennehy.com) – but because it’s so three dimensional, it’s a lot more fun to experience it up close. A few pieces will be for sale – but come August most of this retrospective will be going back on the walls of our own house.

Since we have the gallery for the whole month of July – each Friday night we are going to present a short modern dance performance by my wife Caro – (a dancer), followed by a dance party – and each Saturday night – there will be a feature solo artist musical performance followed by a sing-a-long. No admission fee – Townsite beer available at cost. Drop by and say hello – stay and have some fun!

Original piece by artist Clancy Dennehy

WOOD + PAINT = ART

When:

July 1 to 30, Thursday to Sunday 3 to 7 pm or call for appointment 604-251-6327. Plus events (see below).

Where:

Crucible Gallery in Townsite Market, across Ash Ave. from Townsite Brewing.

What:

Clancy Dennehy’s art and event show, featuring guest musicians and dancers (including butoh), and plenty of opportunity to join in the fun.

Friday, July 1:

8 pm –opening party – Butoh Dance performance with Metal Dog followed by Dance Party

Saturdays, July 2 to 30:

8 pm – Clancy’s singalongs. Clancy and Caro have a live band and lyric sheets so you can sing along to classic songs by the Beatles, Neil Young, Cat Stevens etc…

Fridays, July 8 to 29:

8 pm – dance performance followed by dance party. Choreography suggestion: write your name in the air with your butt – to the beat – repeat! Our playlist includes rock, funk, soul and some EDM – flexible – depending on the mood.