www.markpenneygallery.com

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.

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

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.

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.

www.pacificrimwhalefestival.com
24th Annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival – March 6th-14th, 2010

The Whale Fest posters have started to appear … with great anticipation. This year
Angie Roussin ( of Pina ) is the featured poster artist. She grew up in a commercial fishing family and has opened her shop here in Ucluelet, having spent some fishing seasons here. I like her graphic inked design work, it’s playful, very finely rendered and I think quite a strong contemporary look. I’m also fond of her paintings.

Last year Shannon McWhinney, a long time local Art teacher designed the poster in a pencil crayon illustration.

Marla Thirsk was born in Vancouver, B.C. and showed an early apptitude for art by drawing in the cover pages of her father’s university books at the age of 2. She went on from there winning the “Art in the Parks” award at 11 and being displayed in the Vancouver Art Gallery. Although she has never had ‘formal’ art training, she has continuously taught herself from books.
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 Pacific Rim Arts Society for 6 years running.. She has painted every mural in her town of Ucluelet but 1 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 “Town’s Artist”.
The original acrylic paintings in the theme of the Tofino Food and Wine poster, are the newest venture for her. They are inspired by old photos of her 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 Penny Gallery in Ucluelet.
Originals can be viewed at Mark Penney Gallery, Ucluelet and at Cedar Corner Gallery in Tofino, as well.
www.marlathirsk.com Marla’s new website
http://marlathirsk.blogspot.com/ Marla’s blog

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Posts tagged Marla Thirsk