First Anniversary Issue - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Happenings
First Anniversary Issue
September 2014
Vol. 2 No. 1
Upcoming
September:
House Tour
10 am General Meeting
Saturna Island Studio Tour
10:30 am Art Walk
12:30 Lunch at Union Club
1:30 pm Book Club Launch
Photo credit: Joan Shimizu
7
12
23
25
29 October:
6
10
27
28
1:30 pm DVD Lecture
10 am General Meeting
1:30 pm Book Club
1:30 pm Curator-led tour of
Hiraki Sawa exhibition
Let’s Talk Design greeters and ticket takers: (standing) Yvonne
Mackenzie, Muriel Neale, Mary Davie, Aldyth Hunter; (seated)
Kinga Biro, Dorothy Wing.
Floral design by Rilla Ballantyne. Note Sold Out sign!
Story and more pictures on page 8.
Photo credit: Joan Shimizu
Inside this newsletter
Associates Executive 2014-15:
(Back row) Past President: Joan Huzar, President: Patti-Anne Kay,
Treasurer: Marci Shillington (Front row) Membership: Julia Lane,
Second Vice President: Angela Buckingham, Secretary: Pieta VanDyke, First Vice President: Cidnee Wind
From the President
As the new Executive makes plans for the coming year, I can think of
no better way to begin than by looking back. The Associates share a
rich history with the Gallery. Volunteers’ dedication and hard work for
over 60 years helped sustain the Gallery in lean years and provided
additional funds for purchases, programming, and helped enrich the
artistic community. Today, the Gallery is a real treasure, with the largest public collection in BC.
(cont. on page 2)
September Speaker ............................ 2
Art Walk - Victoria Public Art
From the President (from page 1)
AGM of the Gallery Associates ........... 3
From the Editor
AGM of the AGGV .............................. 4
Spectacular India & Sri Lanka ............ 4
Associate Profile: Helen Lantz ............ 5
House Tour: ....................................... 6
• Update
• ‘Meet the Artists’ Tea
Gallery Associates’ Book Club ........... 7
Associates at Work:
• Let’s Talk Design .......................... 8
• Moss Street Paint-In ...................... 9
Note from Mary-ellen Threadkell .. 10
From the Archives: Anniversaries ..... 10
AGGV Mural: Feast of Fools ..............11
Associates on the Road: Vienna ....... 12
September Speaker: Craig Arthur Benson
From the President (cont.from page 1)
Craig Benson’s work celebrates
and honours the creatures with
which we share this planet, and
his belief in the importance of
uncompromising craftsmanship brings lasting value to his
beautifully finished pieces.
After a career in wildlife management and habitat protection
that took him to many wild areas of North America, Craig’s
lifelong interests in art and nature called him to be a full-time carver in 1990.
In May 1995, the desire to live closer to the rugged natural beauty of the
coast brought him to Piers Island in the Gulf Islands north of Victoria.
Craig will be the speaker at our September 12 meeting. Just so you’ll know…
he enjoys a very interactive talk with his audience.
The Associates look forward to working to provide ongoing
support to the Gallery in a “Celebration of Art.”
The Associates have experienced numerous changes
over the years including name changes, a wide variety of
fundraising initiatives, and a host of art-related programs
for our members. The Associates began as a Women’s
Committee in 1952 to support the Gallery, which was then
the Art Centre of Victoria. In 1988, the name was changed
to The Volunteer Committee. In 2010, there were a number of noteworthy changes including a change of name
to “The Associates of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria”
and the adoption of a new constitution. Significantly, at this
time, the Associates were recognized as part of the Gallery, operating as a committee under the Board of AGGV.
Over the years, the Associates have initiated a wide variety of fundraisers in keeping with different circumstances
and times. Such initiatives include the original Art Rental
program, a Tea Room, Treasure Auction, Arts and Crafts
sales, Balls, Champagne Fete, Spring Fling with The Victoria Symphony, Cuisine Art, Let’s Wear Art, and Let’s Talk
Design. Last year, we added “What’s It Worth?” In 1993
the first Artist Studio tour was offered. Later tour destinations include Vancouver, Toronto, Portland and Seattle,
San Francisco and St. Petersburg. The Associates continue our long-standing relationship working at Government
House as well as holding the Annual House Tour.
The Associates extend a warm welcome to new members,
men and women who are long time residents as well as
newcomers to the area. With a common desire to support
the Gallery and a shared interest in art, strong friendships
are formed. These and the time shared in the members’
art-related programs cannot be underestimated. The Associates share a great deal of laughter along with a sense
of collegiality working together planning and working on
our numerous events, as well as the sense of achievement as funds are raised. Along with new members, we
welcome new ideas and initiatives.
I hope you enjoy reading about the Associates. Happenings gives you a snapshot of Associates “at work” in their
fundraising initiatives, “at play” as they celebrate and pursue their interest in art, as well as celebrating the “artists
among” our members. If you would like more information, you are invited to attend our monthly meeting as our
guest, contact one of our Membership Co-chairs listed in
the newsletter, or ask at the Guest Services at the Gallery
front desk.
Along with all Associates, the Executive looks forward to
contributing and building the Gallery’s promising future.
September Art Walk: Downtown
Significant Public Art
Photo credit: Joan Shimizu
September 25, 10:30 - 11:30 am.
Meet in Centennial Square by the central fountain, near City Hall, to join in a
fun walkabout to look at the artworks in the downtown area. A six block radius
is chock-a-block full of interesting artworks, part of the City of Victoria’s ‘Art
in Public Places.’
These artworks form an interesting and varied collection of different styles
and forms of expression, from mosaics to sculptures to murals. Some of the
sites we will visit will include: Chinatown murals that use trompe de l’oeil to
showcase heritage downtown streets, majestic First Nations poles, daring
dragons, metal trees with poems, and an aluminum canoe that is airborne
and 36 feet high.
Patti-Anne Kay
The tour should be informative and fun. It will take about an hour from start
to finish – please wear comfortable walking shoes! At 12:30 we wil go to the
This newsletter is produced by
Union Club for lunch.
the Gallery Associates.
The tour will be conducted by former Gallery Associates member Gail PriceAssociates’ Newsletter Team
Douglas, who, before her retirement three years ago, worked in the Parks,
Editor: Joan Shimizu
Recreation & Culture Department of the City of Victoria. There she was the
Layout and Circulation: Charlene Brown
Community Development Planner for Public Art. After reviewing ‘Best Practices’ of other municipalities, and extensive consultation with a community
Writers and Photographers:
arts advisory committee, Gail drafted the current Art in Public Places Policy,
Kinga Biro Angela Buckingham
which earmarks $150,000 annually for public art projects in the City of VicJoan Fraser
Angela Montanti Schreiber toria.
Judy Thompson
Pieta VanDyke
You don’t need to register for the Art Walk, but if you would like to join us for
Contributors to this issue:
Lunch at the Union Club, please phone Alma Alexander at 250-384-6838, or
Cameron Kidd
Mary-ellen Threadkell
sign up with Alma at the Associates’ monthly meeting September 12.
2
Happenings: Vol. 2 No.1
Annual General Meeting of the Gallery Associates
President Joan Huzar presenting cheque of $40,000.00 from the Associates to Janyce Ronson, AGGV Director of Advancement
Newly-elected President Patti-Anne Kay presenting gft to guest speaker, Vivian Smith at AGM
Associates AGM speaker
Photo credits: Joan Shimizu
Vivian Smith and her firm, Liberty Quest Enterprises
Inc., had been contracted by the Gallery to undertake
the first step of the capital campaign – the feasibility
study. She will provide a workshop for the Board of Directors to prepare them for their role during the campaign. Over the next year, the Gallery has retained
one the principals in the feasibility study, RaeAnne
Rose, to help with the next steps.
Ruth Sutherland Brown receiving long service award for 25 years of
volunteer work as a member of the Associates, from President
Joan Huzar at AGM
In her after lunch talk she spoke about philanthropy,
the love of humankind and fundraising. Development
is a core function that is long term, strategic and responsive to community needs. Vivian said that the
Fund Development Department (Advancement) is the
gateway to philanthropy.
She spoke about the Associates role as growing and
The oft asked question at the end of summer, when we get back to our regular building the philanthropic culture in the AGGV so that
activities is, “How was your summer, and what did you do?” I read and read and philanthropic relationships can survive and thrive.
it wasn’t the usual “summer reading.” The members of the steering committee of
the new Associates’ Book Club challenged ourselves to read all the books that Ms. Smith ended her talk with:
we wanted to put on the reading list to accompany the Gallery’s fall exhibition
schedule. After researching, reading and discussion, the three of us, Pat Katz, Conclusion: How could Associates be
Joan Fraser and I agreed to the list which you’ll find on page 7 of this newsletter. involved in a Capital Campaign?
Thank goodness for Google, the Public Library and all the wonderful book stores
in greater Victoria! We hope that those of you who have an interest in joining the • Individual gift
Book Club will start reading the two September suggestions as soon as possible
so you are prepared for a lively discussion at the meeting on September 29. • Carry on regular annual support for operating
costs
Reading these two books will give you additional knowledge and a greater understanding of the interesting Geisha and Kimono exhibits.
• Make a one-time significant leadership gift from
This issue marks the First anniversary of “Happenings.” The Newsletter team
the “Gallery Associates” as a group to the Gallery
looks forward to producing another successful year of Happenings. Our plan is to
(demonstration of support)
continue to keep you informed of Associates’ activities, our members and Gallery
updates in our present format.
(from Speaker’s notes) – Ed.
Joan Shimizu September 2014
3
From the Editor
Annual General Meeting of the AGGV
BY THE NUMBERS: From the Annual Report 2013-2014
• Visitors to the Gallery: 53,946
• Total members: 3,979
• New members: 624
• Volunteers: 471
• Children & youth creating art: 13,833
• Visitors welcomed free of charge: 11,067
• Adult participation in programs: 5,773
Programs & Events:
• Urbanite: 3
• Opening Receptions: 3
• Family Sundays: 7
• Gallery Associates Events raising $45,000 towards programs/exhibitions: 3
• TD Art Gallery Paint-In: 1
New works added to permanent collection: 293
Web and Media
• Unique visitors to AGGV Website: 94,795
• Sessions on AGGV.ca Website: 147,460
Director, Jon Tupper, Architect for AGGV renewal project, Tom Moore,
and Board Member Fran Willis at Gallery AGM
“Art galleries, once responsible for the preservation of heritage, culture and knowledge, are becoming community centres – places
for experiences and events” – Jon Tupper, Director
“The visionary gift from artist and patron Anthony Thorn allows us to move forward with confidence as we expand public space for
community engagement, increase state-of-the-art exhibit space and improve collection storage facilities.” – Ruth Wittenberg
Pat Katz was awarded an Honorary Life Membership at the Gallery’s AGM
on Monday, June 23. She was nominated by the Associates for 13 continuous years on the Executive in positions as Program Chair and Editor of the
Associates’ News.
Honorary Life Membership is conferred on members who have made a difference to the
Gallery through their volunteer efforts.
Other Associates who have been awarded Honorary Life
Membership in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Norma Fitzsimmons
Jennifer Hurley
Donna Jones
Helen Lantz
Yvonne Mackenzie
Patricia Maclean
ONLY A FEW SPACES REMAIN for the Gallery’s
tour to India & Sri Lanka January 26 - February
12, 2015. Join Barry Till for a once-in-lifetime
chance to see the beautiful world of Asian Arts
through his eyes. Includes 14 World Heritage
Sites. $6,700 p.p. covers international & domestic flights, accommodation, all meals, taxes and
gratuities. A $500 non-refundable deposit can
secure your reservation.
w
o
N
d
l
o
Nancy Newton
Diane Rickson
Joan Shimizu
June Sohuus
Ruth Sutherland Brown
Marie Wardell
t
u
O
S
Full details at www.aggv.ca/india-srilanka
or contact Tour Co-ordinator: [email protected]
4
Happenings: Vol. 2 No.1
Associate Profile by Joan Fraser
In January 2002 Helen Lantz retired as CEO of the
Capital Care Group, a publicly funded long term care
organization in Edmonton.1 Then she and her husband made their long planned move to Victoria, and
she soon joined the Gallery Associates.2 She could
not have forseen that within very few years she
would be asked to use her administrative skills for
the Board of Directors at a time critical to the future
of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
After Helen joined the Associates one thing led to
another. She was Vice President from 2004 to 2006
and President from 2006-2008. She says that being on the Executive, especially as President, is a
wonderful way to meet members. “Partly because of
phone calls from members who have questions or
suggestions or perhaps are raising a concern about
Helen Lantz receiving gift on her retirement from the Gallery Board of Directors,
something” she says with a smile. While she was
from Ruth Wittenberg, President AGGV Board
President of the Associates she was their representative on the Gallery’s Board of Directors. When her Gallery Associates’ term ended, she was invited to run for election as a member of
the Board. Elected in 2008, she retired last June after six years.
During this period the Board in consultation with staff made major decisions about the Gallery’s future. For years there have been various discussions and/or plans about relocating the Gallery or finding a satellite space downtown. Many options were investigated but
none of them materialized. Recently the Board reconsidered their own Moss Street property, and the possibility of a “renewal” there. An
engineering study was completed by Reid Jones Christoferson. A site survey and a comprehensive feasibility study was completed by a
local architectural firm, de Hoog & Kieruff architects. The study demonstrated that staying at Moss Street and renovating the building was
both doable and economical. A firm decision was made to stay.
A series of steps followed: calls for expressions of interest, requests for proposals, review of responses from 18 architectural firms,
interviews, and finally receipt of design concepts. The team of LWPAC Lang Wilson Practice in Architecture Culture Inc. and Moore Architecture Inc. Associated Architects was selected and engaged by the Gallery as architects for the renewal project. “It is very exciting to
work with a team of architects who have a vision for building on the AGGV role as a community gathering space.”
During this spring and summer, the architects have been working with Gallery staff to prepare a detailed functional program confirming
the type and amount of spaces required and acquiring costing information. Once the functional program is complete, schematic design
will begin. When the schematic design is complete, meetings will be held to get community input.
One of Helen’s special contributions to planning has been her work on the Facilities Committee, for which she was Chair from 2011 to
September 2013, and then Co-Chair until her retirement in June 2014.3 Part of the Gallery Board’s mandate is oversight, guidance and
support for Gallery Director Jon Tupper and his staff as they identify needs of the proposed renewal of the gallery. Apart from exhibition
and staff spaces, what other spaces are desirable? Meeting rooms? Storage facilities? Education space? A café? Washrooms? At what
costs? A final design “that everyone loves” must be affordable to build and affordable to run. She wants it to flourish. “We would like it to
be a jewel of an art gallery.”
Being involved with building planning is not new to Helen. With the Capital Care Group in Edmonton, she helped with the planning, design
and construction of several innovative care facilities for the elderly. Her next major building project was in Victoria, for Lutheran Church
of the Cross, where she was Chair of the Building Committee for a new Sanctuary. She is thrilled with the result and says it is a “beautiful
space.”
Community and volunteer projects, with special attention to long term care and health ethics, have always been important in Helen’s life.
She pursued these interests in Alberta and has continued to do so since moving here. She was a member and later chair of the Good Samaritan Society Board in Alberta, and she has served on various church boards and councils in both provinces. After moving to Victoria
she was president of the Victoria Newcomers Club as well as President of the Associates before joining the AGGV Board.
Brought up to be a wife and mother and to run a household at a time when higher education for girls was considered to be an extravagance, Helen wanted to be a journalist. Her parents were reticent to support Helen through a five-year journalism program but they
approved of nurses training partly because it would be free. She was accepted at nursing school but was so young that the Director of
Nursing suggested that she go to University for a year first, a plan to which her parents concurred. Helen completed a BSc in Nursing.
“The advanced course turned out to be pure gold,” she says. “I always found work.” She married, worked part time, and when her three
sons were old enough, Helen happily went back to her profession full time.
Her interest in education has never ended. She earned a Masters of Health Services Education in 1981, and took a two week course in
intensive bioethics in 1993.4 She has been on education committees for her Church. She has no formal training in art, but she says that
her knowledge has developed because of her involvement with galleries and museums, and she is learning to draw and to paint. She
enjoys walking and hiking, cooking, reading, and travelling. She has five young grandchildren, a special delight. About her life Helen says:
“It’s important to have a passion; you have to have that if you really want to do something to make a contribution.”
Photo credit: Joan Shimizu
Helen Lantz
1. At the time Helen was CEO, the Capital Care Group provided nursing care for 1400 residents at 11 Care Centres and day services for more than 200 people.
2. Then named the Volunteer Committee.
3. Although she is no longer a member of the Board, Helen has been asked to continue on this Committee.
4. This course is about the principles of ethical decision making; that is, how to make tough decisions by having people meet, describe a problem, and
work through to a solution.
September 2014
5
Associates at Work
House Tour 2014 Update
All photo credits this page: Joan Shimizu
by Pieta VanDyke
Laura Dempsey, Joan Fraser, Vicky
Turner, Donna Duffy, Bill Huzar,
Joan Huzar (House Captain Chair),
Pieta VanDyke (House Tour Co-Chair),
Dorothy Stanley, Marcia Shillington,
and Aldyth Hunter (Traffic Coordinator) prepare to view one of the
homes on House Tour 2014.
As I write this, the fabulous House
Tour team is hard at work pulling together the myriad details that need to
be attended to before the September 7
tour day. Speaking for both Scott Vannan, the other Co-Chair, and myself it
is gratifying to see the many years of
experience and dedication that go into
making it a success.
We are featuring five houses this year,
each unique in its own way. Eric Charman, Victoria’s “philanthropist extraordinaire,” has offered his house, which was a hit when it was on
the tour a number of years ago. It is full of great art pieces, antiques and a beautiful garden, but personally I am blown away by the living
room wallpaper (you’ll just have to go on the tour to see what I mean.) At the other end of the spectrum we have a small cottage across
from the Chinese cemetery, full of contemporary art and just the place I can imagine living in. A couple of Oak Bay homes and a unique
Esquimalt house round out the numbers.
Yvonne Mackenzie as usual has done her magic to find just the right artists for each house and Rilla Ballantyne and her floral designers
will be creating displays for both the house tour and the Artists’ Tea. Joan Huzar is coordinating the house captains, who will be the hardest working Associates on tour day. Aldyth Hunter is managing traffic control, making sure that the roads will be clear and cars moving
smoothly. Prior to tour day we always hold a reception for the homeowners and sponsors, to thank them for their generosity. This little
gala has it’s own crew of volunteers, ably directed by Karen Strawn-Samis. I look forward to seeing you all on September 7, volunteering
and touring. Remember to invite your friends!
‘Meet the Artists’ Tea at the Union Club
A new fundraising event associated with the House Tour
was launched on August 23 – and what a great idea it was!
Guests enjoyed a delicious cream tea, and were taken on a
tour of the Club’s facilities and function rooms.
The main attraction, of course, was that we had the opportunity to meet the artists who will be in the gardens of the
houses on House Tour 2014. Pictured on the left, below are
Beverly Petow and Yvonne Mackenzie with one of Beverly’s
stunning sheet metal dresses. And on the right, below, is
Brian Simons, talking to Lorraine Scott,
Donna Jones, Sheila
Southworth and Patricia Morgan about
his joyous ‘fauvist’
paintings.
Also on display were
several large paintings from the Gallery’s Art Rental. One
of the houses on the
tour will be decorated
with these – another
innovative idea that’s
new this year!
6
Happenings: Vol. 2 No.1
Watch for news of our Artist Studio Tour to
Saturna Island
on September 23
with Anne Popperwell as our guide!
Gallery Associates’ Book Club
A book club, with the idea of bringing another dimension to the Gallery’s exhibits, will start in September. The books are to be chosen to
enhance our understanding and appreciation of the art and the context in which it was created. The meetings will be held in the Kearley
Gallery from 1:30 – 3:00 pm on the last Monday of each month.
Books have been chosen for the next three months so members can obtain them in advance. Suggestions would be welcome for future
exhibits.
MEETING September 29th, to accompany the Kimono and Geisha to Diva exhibits.
Suggested reading: Geisha, a life, by Mineko Iwasaki.
Geisha, by Liz Dalby.
MEETING October 27th, to accompany Chinese Export Paintings and Shin Hanga exhibits.
Suggested reading: Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang.
Shin Hanga, the new print movement of Japan, by Barry Till, exhibit catalogue.
Naomi, by Junichirio Tanizaki.
MEETING November 24th, to accompany Conversations with Lucie Rie exhibit.
Suggested reading: The Pot Book by Edmund de Waal
The Hare with the Amber Eyes, by Edmund de Waal.
Photo credit: Basil Katz
A sign-up sheet will be
available at the September
12th general meeting.
Participation is limited.
Joan Fraser, Pat Katz and
Joan Shimizu, pictured
here, left to right, are on the
Book Club steering committee.
September 2014
7
Associates at Work
Let’s Talk Design
by Cidnee Wind and
Angela Buckingham
Photography by Joan Shimizu
The third bi-annual Gallery Associates fundraiser,
Let’s Talk Design, held on June 5, 6 and 7 was a big
success!
We had sold out audiences for three of the four design
lecture sessions; and we raised $7,101.60!
The hard working committee was comprised of Yvonne
MacKenzie, Gail Price-Douglas, Monica Reekie, Patti-Anne Kay and Jennie Hurley, with Co-chairs Cidnee
Wind and Angela Buckingham.
The committee began planning meetings in November 2013, with guidance from past LTD organizers, especially Yvonne MacKenzie. Initial meetings included
Anne Squires Ferguson and Georgi Sizeland from
the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia,
Vancouver Island Chapter. They played a key role in
identifying candidate speakers. The committee had
fabulous support from the Gallery staff, notably Meg
Sugrue, Jay Macdonell and Bruce Day.
Once again, our Associates volunteers did a fabulous
job to ensure all went smoothly during the event. The
flower arrangements by Rilla Ballantyne were exquisite. Thank you all for your contribution!
As you know, Associates fundraisers are a lot of work.
And, from time to time, one may question the amount
of time necessary to put together such an event relative to the net return. However, it is not only about the
money raised, but also about increasing the Gallery’s
profile in the community. In this regard, we think that
this event was indeed a positive and successful one.
Gail Price-Douglas, Pam Chang and
Karen Strawn Samis serving refreshments at Let’s Talk Design
8
Let’s Talk Design Co-chairs, Angela Buckingham, Cidnee Wind
displaying the two-page Times Colonist spread on Let’s Talk Design!
LTD Committee: Yvonne Mackenzie, Monica Reekie, Cidnee Wind,
Angela Buckingham, Gail Price-Douglas and Patti-Anne Kay
Missing: Jenny Hurley
Angela Buckingham (right) introducing panelists John Lore, JC Scott,
Meror Krayenhoff, Bianca Bodley and Moderater, Ann Squires Ferguson at
Let’s Talk Design event at the Gallery
Happenings: Vol. 2 No.1
Associates at Work
Gallery TD Moss Street Paint-In
Jenny Hurley, Lisa Samphire (Gallery Administrator), Ruth Wittenberg
(President of AGGV Board), Patti-Anne Kay and Yvonne Mackenzie welcome guests at the information table in front of the Gallery, above.
At the top of the page on the right is Mary-ellen Threadkell in the midst
of pulling off her 15th wonderfully successful Moss Stree Paint-In – yes,
Mary-ellen has been the main driving force behind this Fort Street-to-thesea outreach event since 2000! (See Mary-ellen’s message on page 10.)
Then, clockwise, photos show Angela Buckingham and Mary Davie, Peter
and Jenny Hurley, and Anglea Montanti Schreiber, followed by Joan Huzar,
Pieta VanDyke and Helen Lantz (below) all out collecting donations, providing information about the Gallery and generally enjoying the day along
with all the other thousands of artists and art-lovers.
September 2014
Photo credit: Peter Reid
Photography by Charlene Brown and Peter Reid
9
Message from Mary-ellen Threadkell
Weather forecasts for Saturday July 19th did not bode well but the
power of the collective conscience corrected them and brought us
another greatly successful TD Art Gallery Paint-In; our 27th Annual.
How could it not be with over 190 artists, 200+ volunteers, TD volunteers; 25 of Victoria’s finest (VPD), about 40 sponsoring companies
and partnerships, the residents of Moss St. and well, anyone who
was looking forward to it. People Power Plus! The unofficial count is
that approximately 35,000 people attended the one day event.
At least 20 Associates joined our volunteer core in greeting visitors,
hosting at 7 information booths, the gift shop and as aide de camps
for photographers Peter Reid and Blake Ford; we couldn’t do it without you! These central roles contribute to making the event possible
for our community and raise necessary funds that directly support the
Gallery’s educational programming initiatives. We are all delighted to
report that our message to Love your Art Gallery saw total revenues
increased over last year.
Each year the event goes in different directions; 2014 saw major increases in sponsorship dollars as well as gifts in-kind such a food for
Barry Till, Curator of Asian Art and Associate Helen Lantz
volunteers; new or emerging artists almost reached 30% of the total
presented which was also increased.
Please mark your calendars for our 28th anniversary on July 18th, 2015 when once again we will be counting on the Associates with great
gratitude for the role you play in making the TD Art Gallery Paint-In such a vital reality in our community.
From the Archives
Anniversaries
by Judy Thompson
This issue marks the first anniversary of “Happenings” under the
editorship of Joan Shimizu. She
(and the team) have received many
compliments on both the publication and on individual articles.
Joan will be leading the team into
the second year so the Associates
can look forward to another positive
year of news coverage.
Looking at first anniversaries is an
opportune time to re-visit the first
anniversary of the AGGV or the
Arts Centre of Greater Victoria, as it
was then known. Miss Sara Spencer offered her residence to the city
for an Art Gallery in July 1951. The
Arts Centre had been operating out
of rented premises at 823 Broughton Street. In September, 1951, the
offer was accepted by the city council. The city agreed to maintain the grounds and the exterior of the house.
On November 20, 1951, the Moss Street location opened without ceremony. Volunteers had helped decorate and prepare the rooms for
a gallery. A formal opening was delayed while the gallery opened its first exhibits -- contemporary Quebec painters and Old Masters. It
was close to the first anniversary of the Moss Street gallery when the official opening was held on October 15, 1952. Governor-General,
His Excellency The Right Honourable Vincent Massey officially opened the Gallery in front of invited guests and dignitaries. The Royal
Canadian Navy band added to the festivities.
Mayor Claude Harrison put a damper on the event by stating that “this matter is not settled and there is no legal transfer of any kind from
the owners of 1040 Moss Street.” He only accepted the invitation to prevent “any embarrassment” to his Excellency. He did attend on the
understanding that “I do not agree that the time is ripe for such an opening.” Governor-General Massey, recognized as one of Canada’s
greatest patron of the arts, formally opened the Gallery as planned. He expressed his personal thanks to Miss Spencer for her magnificent gift. It was a celebration worth waiting for by the Gallery’s supporters.
10
Happenings: Vol. 2 No.1
Feature
‘Feast of Fools’
by Cameron Kidd, Mural Artist
Photography by Joan Shimizu
Working with the AGGV has been a great experience.
I met Gillian Booth, education coordinator, from the Art
Gallery through some work I had been doing with the
United Way. I was working on an a fairly large scale art
project with youth in different schools and community cen-
ters in Victoria. We talked about the idea of putting some panels up on the Moss Street
wall and within a month or two... POW, there they were!
Every time there is a new mural it is painted over the previous one. I think that this is an
interesting point because we have began to establish an ever changing mural installation. Since the work is temporary, it allows different groups and individuals to access it
as time goes on. It is as if it is its own exhibition space. I would hope to see the murals
continue for years to come and would love to see the project expand to other outer
areas of the Gallery and become accessible to artists of all kinds, from all places.
I have painted the mural a number of times now and have worked with youth and established artists from throughout the community to develop the images and paint the
pieces. Also I have had the opportunity to paint as a solo artist and have enjoyed the
challenge of painting on such a large space in the public eye.
The next mural is going to be painted during September by a young woman from Quebec named Danae Brissonnét. She is a wonderfully
talented artist who has been traveling the world painting community minded murals. Her mural will be created in conjunction with the
“Puppets for Peace Festival” and should be finished around the 19th of September.
It’s been great networking with all the wonderful folks at the AGGV and I hope to continue working with everyone in the future.
September 2014
11
Associates on the Road
A Half-day with Hundertwasser
by Charlene Brown
Hundertwasser-designed boat landing on the Danube Canal across
from the KunstHausWien
Spittelau waste incineration/district heating plant (above)
HundertwasserHaus (below)
• watercolour, crayon and marker, both painted in the style of
Hundertwasser by Charlene Brown
I completed a University of Victoria travel
study program, “Balkan Odyssey,’ in May
and June of this year.
We had spent three
weeks hiking up and
around World Heritage sites – mainly
archaeological ruins,
fortifications, castles,
temples and cathedrals, dating from the
time of Alexander the
Great through Roman, Medieval and
Renaissance periods,
from Bulgaria, through
Macedonia, Albania, Author seated at the Fountain at the
Montenegro,
and HundertwasserHaus in Vienna - note the
Croatia to Austria. Just undulating sidewalk, also shown in the
before our return to painting below.
Victoria, after spending a day at the ruins of Carnuntum, we actually had a full morning
on our own to do with as we pleased.
There are many excellent art museums, large and small, in and
around Vienna and several of our group set off to visit the major
ones – all of which seemed to feature Gustav Klimt. I know some
went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) regarded as one of the five most important fine art museums in the
world, and others visited the Belvedere, a Baroque palace which
happens to own the world’s largest collection of Klimt paintings,
including the world-famous ‘The Kiss.’
I really like Klimt’s paintings, but I decided instead to go to the KunstHausWien, the best showcase of the works of Friedenreich Hundertwasser. Come to think of it, besides being described as ‘unique
and always extravagant,’ Hundertwasser’s artistic vision is said to
be ‘inspired by Gustav Klimt!’ That’s probably part of why I like his
work so much.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser was a painter, environmentalist,
eco-architect and designer of stamps for various countries and the
United Nations. The common themes in his work are bright colours,
organic forms, a reconciliation of humans with nature, and a strong
individualism. He was not fond of straight lines.
After a previous visit to Vienna, I painted (in the style of Hundertwasser) one of his architectural facades – the Spittelau district
heating/sewage treatment plant, Vienna’s ‘artistically innovative’
installation that handles recycling and disposal of waste, as well
as the environmentally friendly generation of thermal heat and hot
water.
However, I had not seen the museum housing his work or the
famously fantastic Hundertwasserhaus apartment building, built
about thirty years ago. This time I made it to both. They are located
only a few blocks apart in central Vienna, near the Danube Canal,
easily accessible on the U-Bahn. Both avoid flat surfaces and right
angles wherever feasible… and sometimes where not so feasible,
like in the stairwells between the three levels of the museum!
Hundertwasser was an early proponent of the concept of ‘green’
roofs covered with earth and grass, and went a step further in planning for large trees growing from inside rooms, with limbs extending from windows. He took no payment for the design of Hundertwasserhaus, declaring that it was worth the investment to ‘prevent
something ugly from going up in its place.’