It is a week now since the Thursday opening of Celebration of Wood: Form and Function at Port Moody Arts Centre. On a lovely summer evening Al and I walked over the hill to the event. The City of Port Moody exists thanks to the lumber industry. Logging and sawmills were the primary source of income for the first residents here. So in this Centennial year for the city it seemed appropriate to have a show featuring all things wood.
I must make a point of stopping by the art centre again before the show ends on August 11th because, as often happens at an opening, one spends much more time chatting with friends than actually taking in all the wood-related artwork on display.
The stand-out draws to the show are two large wooden boats, a light-weight wooden aeroplane hanging from the ceiling and a ‘little black dresser’ on the wall.
To accompany this show there was Wood Fair last Saturday. It took place in the parking lot and the adjacent grassy area behind the Arts Centre and it was a huge success. I imagine the organizers will consider having a similar event again, perhaps in alternate years to the very successful ‘Art in the Garden’ event last year.
http://www.pomoarts.ca/gallery/current-exhibit/414-celebration-of-wood-form-and-function
We arrived at the Saturday Wood Fair rather late, after the exciting morning opening the salt kiln in Abbotsford. So lots of events were over, including Agata Teodorowicz’ art activity table for children, a wooden items garage sale, a hot dog stall etc and I watched as the Port Moody Clay Drop-in people were finishing the last raku firing of the day.
Alan was pleased to reconnect with several retired Douglas College colleagues. He photographed past mayor of Port Moody, Dave Driscoll, who taught at DC many years ago. Dave now delights his grandsons with lessons on wood whittling.
Our good friend guitar-maker and player Michael Dunn taught lute and guitar-making at DC, also many years ago. His wife, ex-DC Librarian Eleanore was there to help pack up all the guitars at the end of the day.
And there was retired Geographer, now Arts Centre board member Desmond Wilson showing his lathe-turned bowls, with his artist wife, and also ex-DC Instructor Adrienne Peacock. Sabine Mabardi, retired DC Language Instructor was there with her Librarian spouse Ralf Stanton. Sabine was there to catch up with Marcus Fahrner for whom she had provided translations for a handmade book Marcus made. He was showing his old-fashioned printing paraphernalia.
We were happy to recognize Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs Inc. from our visits to the East Side Culture Crawl. He makes the most amazing, happy, zany furniture. Al photographed him sitting next to ‘Vern’, a coach sitting dresser. His is the ‘Little Black Dresser’ in the gallery.
I was pleased to find Del Holbrook, having seen an article in the local paper about the wooden toys he makes. They’re smooth, old-fashioned, small-child-safe and approved of by my daughter-in-law. When Caleb is bigger I shall be looking for Del again!
There’s a photo of four stalwart local men taking a fine wooden boat away for the night. I gather Dave Driscoll has donated it as a fund-raiser towards the building of a new atrium to connect the current Art Centre with its upcoming Heritage building addition. All good!
When it was all over several of us enjoyed supper at the nearby Aroma Indian Restaurant and my last photo shows the group enjoying our patio in the evening. Happily for me they all wanted to take a look at the new salty pots in my studio!
