www.markpenneygallery.com

PRESS RELEASE

Fish, Ships, & Lost Treasures
Art Exhibition
March 6 – 16th, 2010

From Saturday, March 6th to Tuesday, March 16th, the Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet welcomes the whales with the Art Exhibition Fish, Ships, & Lost Art Treasures.
The gallery, located in Whiskey Landing, is “a place you discover by accident,” says owner, Mark Penney. “The gallery, like Ucluelet, is a real hidden gem.”
A gem of an art exhibition it will be with world renowned artists such as Canadian icon and National Gallery artist, Ken Kirkby, who was the first artist to have an unveiling in the House of Commons, Physicist and painter Rob Elphinstone, Charles Churchill Villiers and well known local artist, Marla Thirsk, are just a few of the acclaimed artists releasing new work.
Many know Marla’s work from her local mural work on the West Coast and as the creator of the ‘Art in the Gardens’ festival held each September at the Tofino Botanical Gardens, not to mention being a driving force behind ‘Artists-in-Action’ during the Whale Festival.
“I was really honored to be asked to showcase my new series at the Mark Penney Gallery,” says Thirsk. “This series, was inspired by old photographs from the 1930’s to 1960’s that my mother had. As my mum passed away 25 years ago, it will be quite a poignant moment for me.”
Modern artist Charles Churhill Villiers, son of famed inventor Amherst Villiers and relation to Lady Veronica Milner, regrets not being able to personally be at the show as he is beginning a gallery tour in England, “but my heart will be there.”
“The series that I will be showcasing at the gallery has not been seen before. I did the work, Mark printed it. I had the series framed, crated up and sent to England for an exhibition there, but it got lost in transit and traveled the high seas for awhile, before finally being returned to Vancouver Island, where they remained unopened and un-exhibited,” adds Villiers.
The irony of the exhibition’s name, Fish, Ships, & Lost Art Treasures, was not lost on Villiers.
“It seems appropriate,” says Charles. “I love Ucluelet and the West Coast…what a wonderful place to release my own lost treasure.”
Other artists include such famous names as Joan Larson, Peggy Burkosky, Bruce Muir, and more.
The Mark Penny Gallery will be open, 7 days per week, 10 am to 5 pm.
Free Admission. For more information, visit www.markpenneygallery.com for a full list/biography of artists, and a preview of some of the art.

www.canadarides.ca
Joan Larson has launched a new website featuring her RCMP musical Ride Series of Illustrations. The pastel illustrations are amazing, and like the illustrations themselves, the new website is nearly complete.

I’ve watched people reach out to touch the horses and applaud as the men and women of the Ride paraded before them. I have seen and felt the special sense of what it is to be Canadian when I watch the Musical Ride. These horses and riders are uniquely Canadian and it was my goal and passion to produce a series of paintings that celebrate their pageantry and Canadian Heritage

~ Joan Larson

Fish of Nile Creek Series by Ken Kirkby
24″x48″ Oils on canvas
$4000 each

Ken has been hard at work painting many of the fish represented in the Nile Creek, his goal is to share with you the wonderful diversity of fish, and just how beautiful they really are. These paintings as well as prints will serve to promote this awareness and to support the stream restoration work of the Nile Creek Salmon Enhancement Society.

Ladybug, Ladybug by Marla Thirsk (Marion Series #1)
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1500

Nostalgic family photos are referenced for the figures but each painting tells a story, …the pigeons are remarkable, but Marion’s tear filled eyes and the doll elude to a less than sweet memory… unlike the cheerful birds in the wallpaper.

Fortress by Marla Thirsk (Rita Series #5)
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1500

There is a great deal of detail in this painting, and emotion, the colors are fantastic, … I can almost smell the coffee.

Thursday’s Child by Marla Thirsk (Rita Series #1)
36″ x 40″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1900

I’m very pleased to be able to show this painting in the gallery, the first of this series of exciting portraits by Ucluelet’s artist; Marla Thirsk.

Yellowbelly Trout by Ken Kirbky
30″x40″ Oil on Canvas
$4000
Yellowbelly trout were once thought to be extinct in the Nile Creek. They have been making a resurgence in the island streams; thanks in part to the salmon restoration work of the Nile Creek Salmon Enhancement Society. The re-introduction of Pink Salmon and the stream rebuilding practices of this group have made an incredible impact on the level of fish of all species in the Nile Creek and surrounding areas.

Charles Villiers reviews the print making and exquisit framing of his digital self portrait series before shipping them to Europe.

In 2004 I was asked to print a series of work by artist, and personal friend of mine, Charles Villiers. He was exploring digital image making and output in projection, web, and print. We went to great lengths, proofed in numerous art and photographic papers to make an archival print with color characteristics that would do the brightly colored images justice. The final prints were meticulously framed; mounted on a floating full bleed placard inside of a brilliant white matte and classic black frame.

The series was crated up and shipped to Europe for exhibition but were lost in transit. Eventually they did resurface and were shipped back to Vancouver Island, Canada. Charles had already been to London and returned to L.A. by the time that the recovered series was returned and has been in storage ever since. Now 5 years later – I have the opportunity to show these and selected works by Charles Churhill Villiers in my gallery here in Ucluelet, the show is currently in the planning stage – I’ll be posting some dates and info as things progress. Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peak at the recently rediscovered treasures…

Wave Baby by Marla Thirsk
30″x36″ Acrylic on Canvas
sold (private collection)
I think this is Marla’s most compelling series to date. It shows a new level of detail and introspection for this well known local artist. The Bathing Beauty Series has been well received, their first appearance being at P.R.A.S Wave Art Show in Tofino. Marla is currently hard at work in the studio following up on this exciting series, based on 40’s retro photos.

www.marlathirsk.com Marla’s new website
http://marlathirsk.blogspot.com/ Marla’s blog

I always enjoy it when artists drop by the gallery;
Marla Thirsk let me know she’d revamped her online presence recently.

An updated website and an ongoing blog showcase her most recent and very exciting series of ‘beauties’ styled after 1940s and ’50s era post cards and old photos.

There’s a lot of self exploration in these pieces and a fresh approach to portraiture for Marla. Her experiences with fabrics, sculpture and multimedia have directly impacted her painting. Each painting observes and details patterns and textures, the way memories are built with each detail recorded with individual importance.

I hope to show some of these new series pieces in the gallery, here’s a sneak peek;

Sea Shore Series (4) – Ken Kirkby
20″x30″ Oil on Canvas
$1000

Sea Shore Series (2) – Ken Kirkby
20″x30″ Oil on Canvas
$1000

Sea Shore Series (1) – Ken Kirkby
20″x24″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)

Sea Shore Series (3) – Ken Kirkby
20″x24″ Oil on Canvas
$750

Photographic Prints – Nigel Brooks Peer

These fascinating images are created the hard way, in the darkroom with overlapping negatives, hand exposed on photographic paper. Nigel has traveled extensively to more than 50 countries, collecting candid portraits and culturally relevant images. He juxtaposes the images together in ways that sometimes result in harmonies and sometimes in tension. His early works have a bite to them, often provocative, and sometimes shocking, his later works are tempered with a sensitivity that took a decade to form. Recently he’s been shooting digitally and we’ve been adapting a series to contemporary giclee printing on  archival canvas.

Richard Hoedl is by all measure a talented west coast artist, who creates original hand-painted oil paintings inspired by Canadian landscapes. He uses exceedingly fine materials including walnut oil based paint.

Richard is both academically trained and self-taught through years of personal creativity and development. He is currently gallery represented on both coasts and has held solo and group exhibitions across Canada for the last 15 years. His works, highly prized by collectors, are held in personal and corporate collections around the world.

A signature series of impressionistic works were inspired by the Group of Seven and Emily Carr. Utilizing the old Renaissance master’s technique, the canvas is first painted with a warm orange ground (foundation). This brings soothing warmth to the entire completed painting. The images are filled with the feeling of movement and activity, yet are calm and dream-like to view. This work of art will be relaxing and enjoyable for years to come.

Richard Hoedl was born, raised, and educated in northern Alberta. He was drawn to BC by its beauty in 1991. It has been vitally important for Richard to have a constant connection to other artists to enhance and augment his own continuous artistic exploration. Through connecting with artists of all walks of life he has gained invaluable knowledge on a wide variety of art media, styles and techniques, including pastels, charcoal, acrylic, watercolour and oil paints, bronze casting, plaster, clay, wrought iron, graphic design, photography, video, silkscreening, printmaking and even returning to the simplicity of the pencil. The subject as well as the materials in which it was created inspires each piece of Richard’s art.

The importance of learning about art has, of course, translated into the importance of teaching art. Richard has spent considerable time instructing both art and the business of art and/or acting as mentor to numerous artists at all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals. He continues to paint and sell his work commercially across Canada. His work is in private and institutional collections across Canada and Europe.

12►

Education & Training History:

2002-2004 Nova Scotia Craft, Art & Design University
Bachalor of Fine Art
Major in Interdisciplinary Arts
Minor in Art History

1990-2001 Various Artist Workshops and Courses

1990-1992 New York Institute of Photography

1990-1991 Alberta College of Art

1988-1990 Grande Prairie Regional College
Visual and Performing Arts Diploma – Art Major
(Graduating First Overall)

Art Exhibition History:

2005 CIBC Art Centre, Nanaimo Art Rental Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Featured Artist Show & Artist Talk

2004 and 2005 Artsfest – Originals Only!, Nanaimo, BC
Outdoor Art sale & Exhibition

2004 The Destination Gallery, Parrsboro, NS
“Wayward Winds” – Featured Solo Artist

2004 Winds of Change, Halifax, NS
Featured Solo Artist – Do or Die Art Auction/Exhibition

2004 NSCAD University Graduation Exhibition, Halifax, NS
Selected Works – Group Exhibition

2003 NSCAD Student Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
Selected Works – Ongoing Exhibition

2003 The Destination Gallery, Parrsboro, NS
“When West Meets East” – Featured Solo Artist

2003 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
“Alphachalk 03″ – Group Show

2003 Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS
“Figuratively” – Group Show

2003 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
“ThreeXfour” – Group Show

2003 – 2004 The Kensington Fine Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
Selected works – Ongoing Exhibition

2003 – 2004 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
Selected works – Ongoing Exhibition

2002 – 2003 Honey – Gallery & Gifts, Vancouver, BC
“Figurative” – Featured Artist

2002 Ya Ya Gallaria, Halifax, NS
Selected pieces within Group Show

1999-2001 Nanaimo Art Gallery – Art Rental Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected pieces within various Group Shows and Competitions

1999 Bldg. 55, Multi-Discipline Art Show, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Selected Pieces

1999 The Old School House, Grand Prix d’Art, Qualicum Beach, BC
Group Exhibition/ Competition

1999 The ARTery, Gallery & Art Centre, Nanaimo, BC
Featured Solo Exhibition

1998 The Old School House, Grand Prix d’Art, Qualicum Beach, BC
Group Exhibition/ Competition

1998 The ARTery, Gallery & Art Centre, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1997 Nanaimo Arts Council, Paint In the Mall Competition, Nanaimo, BC
Juror’s Choice Award, (Piece Selected: Through the Forest Series “Camping”)

1997 Prime Arts Festival, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1995 The ARTery Artists Studio & Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1993 The Fringe Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1991 The Basement Gallery, Calgary, AB
Solo Exhibition

1991 Valleyview Art Gallery, Valleyview, AB
Solo Exhibition

1990 Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, AB
Group Exhibition

1988 Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, AB
Group Exhibition

Awards:

Grande Prairie Regional Scholarship

Euphemia McNaught Material Scholarship

Spectra Scholarship

Province of Alberta Prize

I know and respect each of the artists represented in the gallery, some I have worked with for many years, others have come to know me recently, through the gallery. I try not to limit the works to any specific genre, scale or medium despite my own personal biases.

It’s an absolute pleasure to admire, display, reproduce, sell artwork that I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.

Many visitors are amazed to learn how many artists are from Vancouver Island or who travel here to paint, study, vacation and sometimes to disappear for a while.

Charles Villiers seldom offers explanation of his work. He prefers to remain a bit of a mystery, leaving the viewer to form their own opinions of his art. Prolific painter, sculptor and more recently digital media artist, he’s made a transition that many artists struggle with; the process of making your art in different mediums without loosing your style. Somehow even highly technical compositions retain a bit of the innocence of his earlier figurative and nonobjective works. It’s not unlike the way you can still sometimes see the boy within a man.

Ken Kirkby is renowned at an internal level as a decisive canadian painter, he has a distinct graphic style formed by many bush miles. His paintings depict a minimal stillness not unlike other noted canadian realists. He’s a very passionate man who has a dedication to making an impact as an artist that goes well beyond painting.

Rob Elphinstone is a physicist whose area of expertise is the study of the northern lights. I find it fascinating that his work to quantify something ethereal is also reflected in his art, he’s an actualist painter and his paintings depict his experience, not technically what he saw.

Marla Thirsk – is known as Ucluelet’s artist, and I’d have to say she’s so much more. Almost every art event, function, group in the area has benefited directly from Marla’s help. The Whale Festival posters have been a calling card of hers for years. I’m pleased to have several exciting work of hers.

Jeff Edwards – a well known sculptor, and a well liked crab fisherman. Jeff chooses his stone from local area quarries, his works are highly prized. His enchanting bears, and marine mammals are well liked and collected, I’m happy to be showing several of Jeff’s figures, and shapes.

Joan Larson – renowned for her equine (horse) Illustrations, she works almost exclusively in pastels. We’re very pleased to showcase several of her local landscapes, and look forward her RCMP Musical Ride Series.

Peggy Burkosky – Known as a advanced watercolorist, Peggy is an capable painter in any medium. Her paintings have a sincerity about them, a true reflection of her island life. Sea scape scenes often include her daughter, family, or Bob’s fish boat, they are stunning paintings and portraiture. She teaches her secrets at the Old School House in Parksville.

Richard Hoedl – An accomplished painter, his bright whimsical style catches alot of attention. Richard paints in a walnut based oil on deep streched canvas.

Terry Jackson is a Metis artist working in carved wood, silver and cast porcelain. His contemporary use of materials lends a refreshingly clean look to his culturally based works. The porcelain is highly collectible, and the silver reflects an intrinsic value. Terry’s woodwork ranges from masks and wall panels to commissioned totem poles.

Jacqueline Windh, a Tofino based photographer, is well known for captivating seascapes and wildlife. Her work is frequently published and she regularly contributes to CBC Radio.

Nigel Brooks Peer is an art photographer of a different kind, he’s well travelled has worked in several genres, and is fascinated with reflections. He’s formed a style of his own in multiple image exposures, juxtaposing images, often on first blush they’re seemingly unrelated subjects, but subtle cultural refrences emerge to poke at your conceptions of art and photography.