West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival runs from August 1st – 10th this year. Many potter friends had decided to take part so I persuaded my husband that he would like to spend his birthday, yesterday, beside the beach at Ambleside!
On yet another really hot day we parked west of the venue and strolled along the beach, towards the music. En route we admired Xwa-lack-tun’s rust-coloured public art piece and stopped in to see the art show in the Ferry Building Gallery. I gather the old gallery is desperately short of space and has applied to expand with another building to the west. At the risk of getting involved in local politics I can see no reason not to provide a tea room and more gallery space next door.
All along Argyle Avenue white tents are set up, each one occupied by one or more artists and craftspeople. Some were lucky enough to be in the shade of some tall trees between them and the beach but most were having a tough time avoiding being cooked. But in spite of that the artists are cheerful and the quality of work being shown is outstanding. Some of the very best potters from around the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast were there. I chose to introduce myself to any I hadn’t already met and I took a photo of every potter with his/her work. Some will be there just this first weekend, Friday to Monday, the BC Day holiday, some will be manning their booth for both weekends and some will only be here next weekend.
During the week the tents will be used for ‘The Art of Food’.
Aside from the artist tents there are a couple of bandstands, areas to buy food, ice cream and drinks, art lectures and opportunities to make art. After we’d strolled the length of the tents, explored the charming little community garden between some of the last remaining houses along the beach, we stopped to hear some music, have a beer or cider and scrounge for a birthday supper for Al. We had difficulty finding a good meal nearby and made do with some pasta and a rather good tuna salad from the vendor on the beach while we watched two bands and the sun setting over Georgia Strait.
My Picasa album has the photos of all the potters and their work this first weekend, as well as images of various pieces of public art in the area, and the sun setting in this beautiful spot. I recommend the drive over to West Vancouver sometime before August 10th to enjoy this well-organized and fun event. Take your hat and a water bottle!
https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/PottersAndOtherArtAtHarmonyArts
