ARTS SCENE: The Joy of Art

COURTESY ADELE CAMPBELL GALLERY

ABOVE: ARTIST DANA IRVING. TOP: HALLOWAY FALLS BY DANA IRVING, OIL ON CANVAS, 36" X 48", FROM ADELE CAMPBELL GALLERY.

THE JOY OF ART

USING COLOUR AND FORM TO EVOKE WONDER AND CHEER

There is a happy consequence that comes about when artist Dana Irving animates her trees and clouds, giving them a decidedly unique personality.

Often, that free-spirited feeling of whimsy and playfulness transcends the canvas; that, she says, is a magical thing for an artist.

“It’s a happy consequence that I never imagined,” says Irving. “It really is a bonus effect.”

Artists, she says, often come from a selfcentred place. To have your art affect others is “the greatest gift.” All the more so in these trying times as the world struggles still with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic; art often offers a temporary respite from our current global trials and tribulations.

It helps, of course, that the Sea to Sky area provides such inspiration for local artists. “Doesn’t it just blow your mind that this much beauty is right here where we live?” says Irving, as she gets ready to add her signature to her latest piece “Holloway Falls,” an oil on canvas piece that is scheduled to be a part of the Art of Winter show at the Adele Campbell Gallery, which kicks off the 2021-’22 winter season and runs throughout December.

“Dana’s animated scenes have a whimsical quality to them which resonates with many people, and their vivid colour palette, deep greens, gem tones and turquoise literally draws people into the gallery,” says Charlotte Webber, Adele Campbell Gallery assistant director.

STORY BY ALISON TAYLOR

COURTESY DAVE PETKO

FROM TOP: DAVE PETKO’S MURAL “QUARTZ-CHROMATIC” AT WHISTLER OLYMPIC PLAZA; “ BRANDYWINE RISING,” ONE OF THE PAINTINGS YOU’LL SEE AT PETKO’S SOLO SHOW, “STARRY NIGHTS,” OPENING AT THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE; PETKO WORKING AT HIS STUDIO.

“Upon closer inspection you notice the exquisite smooth finish and remarkable depth of colour in her paintings; you feel as though you are being drawn into the scene. Stemming from her background in figurative painting, the trees often have a human-like quality to them, depicting a couple, family, friends or siblings. These paintings are full of life and energy and we are always excited to see what is next on Dana’s easel!”

Irving’s work is described as “Emily Carr meets Dr. Seuss.” She loves the two analogies as they perfectly encompass her art.

As a teenager, Irving was infatuated with artist Lawren Harris, founding member of Canada’s renowned Group of Seven. He too, like Irving, was passionate about capturing the majestic Canadian landscape in his work.

Emily Carr, she says, is the West Coast version of Harris, her teenage hero.

As for Dr. Seuss’s work: “I can’t think of anyone who can design a page better than Dr. Seuss.”

The combination of the two at Irving’s brush has a magical effect.

Take the latest piece “Holloway Falls.” The work was born of a summertime hike to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park about an hour north of Whistler which features three stunning turquoise glacier-fed lakes in the climb to the alpine. The rushing waterfall called Holloway Falls is part of the journey along the way. Irving photographed the falls this summer, sketched the landscape in “her language” and brought it to life on canvas in the fall. The result is a bright and lively and wonderfully unique Canadian landscape with a nod to heroes of old. Check out adelecampbell.com.

PUBLIC ART

Like Irving, long-time Whistler artist Dave Petko, recently named Whistler’s Champion of Arts & Culture at the Whistler Excellence Awards, also takes inspiration from his surroundings, and with similar consequences. His work too evokes something within.

Take his recent public art installation—a large mural that covers the new washroom facility at Whistler Olympic Plaza in the heart of the Village. Petko took inspiration from quartz, a mineral widely found throughout the area. “If light is refracted from it or through it, it creates a rainbow. That brought about the colour spectrum,” he explains.

This is the background for “QuartzChromatic,” which moves from warmer red, yellow and orange tones to cooler blues and greens. >>

WHISTLER GALLERIES

AUDAIN ART MUSEUM 4350 Blackcomb Way 604-962-0413 audainartmuseum.com

ADELE CAMPBELL FINE ART GALLERY In the Westin Resort & Spa 604-938-0887 adelecampbell.com

ART JUNCTION GALLERY & FRAME STUDIO 1068 Millar Creek Road, Function Junction 604-938-9000 artjunction.ca

MOUNTAIN GALLERIES AT THE FAIRMONT In the Fairmont Chateau Whistler 604-935-1862 www.mountaingalleries.com

THE PLAZA GALLERIES 22-4314 Main Street 604-938-6233 plazagalleries.com

THE GALLERY AT MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE 4335 Blackcomb Way 604-935-8410 artswhistler.com

SQUAMISH LIL’WAT CULTURAL CENTRE 4584 Blackcomb Way 1-866-441-SLCC (7522) slcc.ca

VINCENT MASSEY STUDIO 604-905-8363 vincentmasseypottery.com

WHISTLER CONTEMPORARY GALLERY In the Hilton Resort 604-938-3001 (main) In the Four Seasons Resort 604-935-3999 whistlerart.com paintings sculpture jewellery

classic & contemporary canadian art since 1993

visit us at the westin, whistler

ADELECAMPBELL.COM

art@adelecampbell.com

604-938-0887

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “CURIOUS & CURIOUSER,” 60" X 60", ACRYLIC ON CANVAS WITH SAPPHIRES, TOURMALINES, TOPAZ, 24K GOLD AND DIAMOND DUST; “JUMP FOR JOY,” CURRENTLY OFFERED AS A PRINT; ARTIST SHANNON FORD IN HER STUDIO. the rainbow spectrum has the desired effect—a bright splash of cheeriness spanning the four-metre wall of an otherwise nondescript municipal facility.

Behind the rainbow, Petko paints the plants and animals of the region—the bold black bear, the delicate whiskey jack birds, the lupine flowers and the Douglas firs.

“It’s a quick intro to the things (people) can see in the natural world,” says Petko, of the place he has called home for more than 30 years. Petko, who is also the owner of Black Ohm Tattoos, Whistler’s original tattoo shop, has a solo art exhibit slated to open in Whistler in early 2022. Called “Starry Nights,” the exhibit will feature 29 new pieces at Maury Young Arts Centre. Check out artswhistler.com. COLOUR COMBINATIONS

Just as Dave Petko uses the rainbow to convey an idea and a feeling in “QuartzChromatic,” colours are also a critical part of Shannon Ford’s artwork. “I love colour,” she says from her studio. Having studied colour for a long time, Ford knows about the different wavelengths and vibrations colours can create.

Take one of her favourite colour combinations. “My heart lifts at pink, orange and yellow together,” she says. “I will insert them if I want to lift the vibration or wavelength.”

It’s like finding harmony in music. “I’m using colour as a language,” explains Ford.

Growing up on a farm and spending much of her life around animals, Ford often finds inspiration in horses, bears and other wildlife.

She amplifies the colour in her art further with her use of semi-precious and precious gemstones which comes from her background as an awardwinning jeweller. She also incorporates diamond dust and natural diamond crystals for sparkle and shimmer. Her bold brushstrokes capture the still calm of the grizzly bear and the majestic power of the horse.

Ford’s work can be found at Mountain Galleries in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. It’s interesting, she adds, to see what feelings are evoked from her work. Is it the same feeling, she wonders, that she was experiencing when she painted it?

She adds: “My biggest hope is that the painting is going to bring them (the owner) joy for years to come.”

Check out mountaingalleries.com. W