Paperscapes – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis https://www.gillianmcmillan.com Thu, 26 May 2022 19:31:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Current PoMoArts shows https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2022/05/26/current-pomoarts-shows/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2022/05/26/current-pomoarts-shows/#comments Thu, 26 May 2022 19:27:43 +0000 https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/?p=13190

There was a real in-person opening for the current three shows at PoMoArts on Thursday May12th. It was such a treat to experience meeting the artists, see their work and re-connect with art-lovers here. This will just be a brief overview of the shows, with the suggestion that there is still time to check them out until June 9th.

'Paperscapes' artists: Olga Campbell, Ellen Pelto, Dorothy Doherty & Jane McDougall
Paperscapes

The four artists, shown above as Gallery manager Janice Cotter introduced them, met at a paper-specific workshop some years ago. They have kept in touch and have made a selection of related works for this show. Luckily for me, I have known three of the four for a very long time so was pleased to see what they have been making. It turns out that they have all worked with clay at some point!

The other shows feature the work of this year’s two Kwi Am Choi award winners: Dion Smith-Dokkie and Connor MacKinnon. The photo here shows Dion’s ethereal painted clear plastic screens. Do wander through these to experience their effect, and read Dion’s text. I arrived just too late to take a photo of Janice and Dion. 

But here I have Janice introducing the other Kwi Am Choi award winner, Connor MacKinnon. I must confess that, as his work is 3D I found myself most interested. For his year-long planning for this show, and as part of his research for his UVic Masters programme, he approached the Port Moody Station Museum for inspiration. Two odd metal objects inspired him to make a ‘Historical Fiction’ mechanical device. It is 3D printed plastic but looks totally functional and metal. 

Connor MacKinnon & Janice Cotter, with Paperscapes artists
Fragmented History

Connor found various hammer heads at the museum and 3D-printed these unexpected shapes using algorithmic data. Fascinating!

Finally, Janice introduced local artist Rose Kapp and business man Fred Soofi. They unveiled Rose’s charming and whimsical painting of the Appleyard building which has now been an extension of Port Moody Arts Centre/PoMoArts for twenty years. Fred has saved, moved and restored several Heritage buildings within Port Moody. We are grateful. 

This evening PoMoArts will show the third and final video associated with the current shows. Connor MacKinnon will discuss his ideas and inspiration for the work displayed in the Kitching Gallery. Go to PoMoArts facebook page at 7.15pm.for Facebook Live. 

The earlier talks by ‘Paperscapes’ artists and Dion Smith-Dokkie  can be viewed on PoMoArts facebook page. It’s worth finding so that you are kept up-to-date on Arts happenings here in the City of the Arts.

 

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