The nine artists featured in the Guild exhibit (Mar. 5-28) show a great variety craftsmanship and style. It’s refreshing to see another approach to art. Too long the Island has been in need of outside influence.
We live in an isolated place in regards to the visual arts. The loss of the School of Visual Arts and the co-operative print-making studio has been tragic to the cultural development of this province. This province is perhaps the only one in Canada without a provincial art gallery and likely has the only University that has no art gallery or effective art department. Yet the Island has inspired a good number of competent visual artists. Now we are attracting a number of outlanders from all points of the compass. These people will have had access to other cultures and ideas that can only enrich our local culture. They’ve known better art educational opportunities. Whether they will be able to tolerate the great indifference there is here to the visual arts remains to be seen.
The artists themselves bring a great splash of colour to the gallery. Painters like Tomoyo Suzuki who was an Artist in Residence there. She has a touch of humour and whimsy to her work. Many years ago I wrote an article for the Atlantic Advocate about the Teapot Houses in Halls Harbour, Nova Scotia, but she has invented a ’teapot’ lighthouse which is very imaginative!
I particularly admired the skilful work in water-colour by Sunae Park. She capture the Island lupines very skilfully.
I hope this becomes a regular event at the Guild each year.
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