The Arts Station

June 26th - July 30th

An Arts Station Program

Don’t miss what is sure to be one of the most colourful exhibits at the Fernie Arts Station this season - Steve Short’s new showing of spectacular landscapes from around the world, and the Best of Fernie collection featuring hundreds of never-before-seen images of people, events, and special moments in Fernie over the past decade.

Steve has mined his extensive file to assemble mosaics, individual framed enlargements, and out takes from his 11 published books including the Best of BC, In the Path of the Explorers, and Water and Our Way of Life, all widely acclaimed books. Those familiar with his work in the East Kootenay will recognize his work from the Fernie, Cranbrook and Crestbrook centennial books as well as Rumours, Routes and Rapids.

Join Steve in celebrating the world of photography and help select the shortlist of images for Picture BC , the Knowledge Network’s major project on BC. Steve will be producing the six images representing Fernie and you can give your feedback by voting for your favourite location images.

Also view a “Walk in the Cottonwoods” photo shoot material that was used for the National Geographic Crown of the Continent GeoMap.

Look for an interesting and provocative exhibit from this Fernie photographer.

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May 28th to Jun 25th

An Arts Station Program

Local artist Marj Foran echoes the landscapes around her in abstract oil pastels that provide a compelling blend of bold lines and colours. Come out and celebrate Foran’s latest show, opening at the Arts Station May 29.

Foran’s relationship with visual arts started at an early age in her native New Zealand , where as a child she would make paper dolls. She would eventually venture out to art school and become a high school art teacher. What she really wanted to do, however, was study life through the visual and pursue art on her own terms.

After moving to Fernie in the early 1960s she was able to do just that, inspired by the rugged landscapes, the flora and fauna and the mining history all around her. Often working on multiple pieces, Foran says that it takes her five or six years to create a show of work that she feels is representative of the things she is exploring on canvas. Despite the amount of work, you get the sense from her work and Foran herself that she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I find I really need to do art. It keeps me on an even keel,” Foran explains.

Indeed, Foran never really sought a career and rarely shows her work outside Fernie. Even then, this is only her fourth show in town, with the last one in 2003.

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Isabella Dicken Elementry School

From April 24 - May 28

Showcasing Children’s Creative work.

Gala Opening

Heralds BC Arts & Culture Week – April 20-27

Come and see the 38 wonderful art banners, by local artists, that will beautify Victoria Avenue for the coming year.

Sponsorship of a banner is just $100 but be at the opening to get the best or the week following to reserve your choice.

Need more info? contact us

Photographers of the community, its time to Show your Stuff

The Elk Valley Camera Club is hosting it’s
3rd Annual photography collective,
Promoting and exposing visual talents of the valley

From March 27th to April 23rd 2008
Opening night is on the 27th March from 7-9pm.

Submission criteria:

1. Be a member of the Arts Station.(memberships are 35$/annually)
2. Enter a maximum of 3 pieces (must be of a photographic medium)
3. Categories : whatever will do
4. Black & White or Color images will be accepted
5. Images must be framed and ready to be hung otherwise will not be accepted.
6. Each piece should have the name of artist, title and price for each image on the back of the frame.
7. Frames are to be dropped off on Tuesday March 25th from 6pm to 9pm at the Arts Station. ( if not possible on this date, other arrangements can be made with Andrée@ 423-7412 or andreericher@hotmail.com)

Please contact Andrée for more info.

Wednesday March 12th, there will be a meeting from 7-9pm for individuals who would like to provide files of there images to be used for the promotional poster and for people wanting feedback for choosing their images. I can also provide help with matting of work.

Need more info? contact us

Liza Gareau Tosh & Sharon Pulvermacher
February 16 to March 22

Can you imagine colour, although subtle, dominating? And shapes, although defined, being buried? For this show, Liza uses the contours of the human figure to create her painterly acrylic works that have a drawn quality. Sharon explores the undulating landscape and uses a prairie palette to define the subtexts of breath and movement in her watercolours. "What will intrigue you in this show is that while the contours draw you in, it is the layering that will keep you really looking?" says Liza Gareau Tosh.

Sharon Pulvermacher was born in 1953 at Bruno, Saskatchewan. She has a B.FA. (Honours) in ceramics, and a B.Ed. with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. Sharon worked as a professional potter for ten years. For the last fifteen years she has used watercolours to explore the landscapes of Saskatchewan, Quebec, northern British Columbia and Australia. She has studied under Sheryl Katzenberger, Brian Atyeo, Jacques Hébert, Barbara Nechis and Gernot Dick. Sharon is a member of the pan-Canadian artist collective ARTX9. She participates each year in CBC/Radio-Canada"s annual Cards From the Heart art card charity auction. Her works are in corporate and private collections in Canada, Europe and Australia. She resides with her family in Regina, SK.

The Gallery is open 10-4 weekdays

Exhibit A
January 16 to February 16

Panoramic Photos - As a self-taught photographer from Ontario, Jennifer headed west to Kananaskis in the winter of '98 and fell immediately in love with the mountainous landscape. Within a couple of years she had found a new home here in Fernie. Jennifer's photography focuses primarily on the beauty of our natural landscape; from the majesty of a snow-capped mountain to the delicate petals of the smallest wildflower. She attempts to capture special moments on film to share with others. Owning her own panoramic photo business Jennifer is presenting her own work for the first time.

An Exhibition of Art Creations from Fernie Secondary School
December 15 to January 16.

If you want to see some leading-edge thinking as embodied in art, then a visit to the Arts Station at 601 - 1st. Avenue will make your eyesPop.

"A kids creativity is unencumbered by social restraints at these ages. I get very excited by the student who will create art in new ways." says Karen Deibert, the main art teacher at Fernie's Secondary school. "I think it's important to validate the student's work by having it shown publicly."

The students ranging from grade eight to grade twelve will be exhibiting their artistically interesting, aesthetically pleasing or imaginatively striking creations. Please take an opportunity to stop by and see the work that the students have been working hard to create.

Entrance to the Arts Station is free. Open 10-4 weekdays. Closed for the Holidays December 24, 25, 26 & January 1.

In Our Gardens
November 17 - December 15

The Fernie Visual Arts Group spent several days painting au plein aire this summer and autumn. The entire surroundings of this valley, with the colours, vegatation and mountains are a constant invitation to paint. Two afternoons were spent in the back and front yard gardens of Margaret and Ralph Stadnichuk. Some of the works were started and completed outdoors, while others were started outdoors and completed later. We also painted all winter indoors and painted one evening at the Tea House.

The Fernie Visual Arts Group meets every Monday night from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Arts Station. Artists work in their favourite media which are water colours, acrylics, oils, pencils and collage. Beginners and working artists are invited to attend. Encouragement and positive feedback are part of the evening along with the sharing of ideas.

Opening Reception at The Arts Station Gallery
Saturday November 17, 2007, 7 - 9 pm.

A Contemporary Twist on Pottery Classics
November 17 - December 15

It has been said that creativity explodes boundaries. Five East Kootenay potters set out to test this theory. Their constraints? Just five black and white shapes. Heather Fletcher, Sher Pichler, Penny Rinas, Kerri Holmes and Karen Deibert revisit traditional vase forms applying their individual style to the project. The results inevitably celebrate each potter's unique style and sensibility. Morphology honours ceramic history and brings it a fresh twist.

Opening Reception at The Arts Station Gallery
Saturday November 17, 2007, 5 - 7 pm