www.markpenneygallery.com

   Sooke Fine Arts Society has an annual art show consisting of works by hundreds of area artists and is attended by more than 7000 visitors each year. This year the event runs from July 24th ’til August 2nd. Regionally, it’s a fairly high profile event.

It’s jurored by Jeffrey Spalding the President of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, John Luna a Painter, Writer, Curator, and instructor at Vancouver Island School of Art and UVic as well as Diane Farris a noted curator and owner of Diane Farris Gallery in Vancouver.

I’m pleased to report that Ucluelet’s own Marla Thirsk has been selected for the Juror’s Choice Award (sponsored by the Sooke Community Arts Council) for her recent portrait ‘Disconnect‘.

Marla’s works can be viewed here at Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet and also at Cedar Corner Gallery in Tofino.

Marla Thirsk Art, Cover of WineTrails Magazine

Wine Trails Magazine, Summer 2010 Issue features Marla Thirsk’s Art on it’s cover. Just inside the cover is explained the following:

Marla Thirsk was born in Vancouver, BC and showed an early aptitude for art by drawing in the cover pages of her father’s university books at the age of 2. Her Art career really started when she decided to change her life around by believing in herself and following her life-long dream of being a professional artist. Since then she has created award winning posters for the Whale Festival, Edge to Edge Marathon, Ukee Days and just finished one for the Tofino Food and Wine Festival. She has designed logos and costumes and done set design. She was president of the the Pacific Rim Arts Society for six years running. She has painted every mural in her town of Ucluelet but one and continues to be a major figure in the planning of local Art Events. She has worked in all mediums but oil. Her works have sold and gone worldwide. She proudly wears the title of “Towns’s Artist”.

The original acrylic paintings in the theme of the Tofino Food and Wine Poster on this issue’s cover are the newest venture for her. They are inspired by old photos ofher mother from the 30′s to early 60′s and old french postcards of the 1800′s and early 1900′s. with these new works she feels she has finally found her own unique style. for a more comprehensive look at her work, please visit her website (www.marlathirsk.com) or see her work at Cedar Corner Gallery in Tofino and Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet.

The magazine is widely circulated in BC and can be found at most BC Liquor and Beer & Wine Stores, the painting was created specifically for Tofino’s 8th annual Food and Wine Festival which ran June 4th-6th.

Lawren Harris’s Bylot Island I, an oil painting of a stylized arctic mountain range sold for $2.8 million The fourth-highest price ever for a Canadian painting sold at auction.

“An Arctic Lawren Harris is one of the rarest commodities in the Canadian art world,” said David Heffel, president of the Heffel auction house that kicked off spring sales of fine Canadian art.

“Most of those reside in public institutions today, so for one to turn up in a private collection and come back into the market is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for bidders.”

Bylot Island I wasn’t the only Harris artwork to break the million-dollar mark Wednesday. Arctic Sketch, an oil-on-board painted in 1930, sold for $1.521 million after the premium.

Harris’s Winter painting went for $731,250, Mountain Sketch LXX sold for $497,250 and Mount Temple, Mountain Sketch LII fetched $468,000.

Tuesday, April 26th, 2010, BC Legislature, Victoria, BC

Scott Fraser, MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim will address the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Artist Joan Larson will be present for Mr. Fraser’s speech and public endorsement of Larson’s RCMP Musical Ride Series.

When Mr. Fraser visited our Fish, Ships & Lost Art Treasures exhibit during Whale Festival he casually remarked that he was considering a public endorsement of Joan Larson’s Musical Ride Series; He agreed that they represent a significant contribution to Canadian Art and that they should be preserved as a collection on behalf of all Canadians. I have to say I was impressed with Mr.Fraser’s knowledge and awareness of the Art scene and the of the many Artists in his riding. His continued support of the Arts is very much appreciated.

Scott Fraser ‘s official website: www.scottfrasermla.com

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

CREEKSIDE STUDIO AND RCMP MUSICAL RIDE ARTWORK

Scott Fraser: There are times in our communities when greatness shows itself. I believe that what I am about to describe falls into that category.

Recently I was invited to Creekside Studio near Qualicum Beach, owned and operated by artist Joan Larson and her husband, Paul Smith, who are visiting us today. Joan is arguably the best equine artist in the world. A proud Canadian, Joan grew up in a small prairie town until moving to Vancouver Island as a child. She worked tirelessly at her craft, perfecting her art, and was awarded the designation of Premier Pastellist with the Pastel Society of Canada.

She is embarking on a series of paintings celebrating the RCMP Musical Ride. When I visited her gallery, I was quite frankly in awe. I recall seeing the musical ride when I was a child, and this brought it right back to me. The quality of this work is phenomenal.

Joan Larson’s depictions of this Canadian iconic event are simply magnificent. Her and Paul’s vision is to take this series on tour to any and all communities that are interested and that have never been able to have the opportunity to host or sponsor a series of paintings of this magnitude or the musical ride itself.

Joan’s ultimate quest is to showcase the series at the National Gallery in Ottawa and bring these marvellous paintings of this major part of Canadian history past, present and future to the Canadian public. I urge everyone to check out her work on the website www.canadarides.ca. The collection is destined to be known as a significant statement of Canadian heritage for generations to enjoy.
In 2007 Joan began the first of her planned series of 20 paintings depicting the life of the RCMP Musical Ride. Last summer Creekside Studio created a special poster commemorating the B.C. tour of the musical ride. Proceeds from the sale of this poster during the ride performances went to a charity helping fund local B.C. communities.

video archive
transcript of the speech

Kevin Drews of the westcoaster.ca interviewed Ken Kirkby regarding his recent series of paintings and his plans for raising money for Salmon Enhancement.
the original article is published here

Painting A future for Vancouver Island’s Fish-Bearing Streams

Published Date: 2010/3/19 17:27:31
Article ID : 7653
Version 1.00

Ken Kirkby shows off some of the paintings he’ll sell to raise money for the Nile Creek Enhancement Society. (Keven Drews Photo)

By Keven Drews

UCLUELET — One of Canada’s most celebrated painters has big plans to save the salmonids of eastern Vancouver Island’s fish-bearing streams.

Ken Kirkby – who unveiled a model of a massive 48.33-metre by 3.66-metre painting called Isumataq in Parliament in 1992 – plans to raise millions of dollars for the Nile Creek Enhancement Society (NCES) by selling prints based on about 40 original paintings.

Some of those paintings, part of The Fish of the Nile Creek Series, depict the creek’s salmonids and their international cousins, and are currently on display in Ucluelet’s Mark Penney Gallery.

“You asked me, why is the passion for this,” said Kirkby during a recent interview with the Westcoaster.ca. “Oh, it comes out of anger, disappointment, mystery, negatives.

“When I was first here as an 18-year-old in 1958, the sea was full of fish, and the river was full of fish, and the sea was full of kelp and everything was in great shape.”

Kirkby said he ventured to Canada’s Arctic, and when he returned to eastern Vancouver Island after the trip, the kelp beds and the fish were gone, and he became angry.

“I’m not going to let my species do this bullshit anymore,” he said.
The Nile Creek is located on the central, east coast of Vancouver Island.

Kirkby’s plan is simple but ambitious.

He’ll use the money from the sale of the about 40 original paintings – he’s already completed 16 – to raise funds for the prints.

Some of those originals are currently selling for $4,000.
Corporations and organizations will then host charity events by cutting the NCES a cheque.

Patrons will buy tickets for the charity events, during which they’ll receive a print in a lottery.

“There’s a lottery aspect to the order in which you get to select your print,” added Penney. “You know you’re going to get a print, but it’s a matter of chance, which one you get to select.”

Kirkby said he hopes to raise $4 million: $2 million during the first phase and $4 million during the second phase.

The task shouldn’t raise any eyebrows because charity and fundraising events are nothing new to the NCES.

According to media reports, the society has already pumped millions of dollars into the Nile Creek.

And in 1997, the organization won a Canadian Environment Gold Medal Award from Canadian Geographic and the federal government.

Besides, Penney said, Kirkby’s original paintings are a natural draw.
Visitors to Ucluelet are enamored by the area, he said, and want to capture something from the Island to take home.

He called Kirkby a “titan in the art world.”

Kirkby said his paintings will remain on display in the Mark Penney Gallery.

He currently resides in Bowser, B.C., which is located north of Qualicum Beach.

I managed to enter a few photos into the Winter Wave Photo Showdown
I’m really looking forward to seeing the other entries, I know a few people who’ve entered the contest.

I caught a glimpse of royal blue matte and metallic silver frames to be used when I dropped of my entry at The Info Centre at Whiskey Landing, the exhibit should look pretty sharp with an impressive line up of local photos.

Event Results: The event was fantastic, and attendance was very good.

Congratulations to Wayne Barnes, Jeremy Koreski and Marilyn McEwen, everyone was absolutely blown away by the photos.
I was surprised at how many of the photos were taken along the wild pacific trail as opposed to the classic beach wave shots taken in the Park. I’m also excited to see the addition of another great Whale Festival event in Ucluelet.