Art at Council
Each Port Moody Regular Council meeting begins with a featured art presentation. Local performers and artists can request to showcase their art through the Art at Council program. This gives artists an opportunity to share their work with the public and educates Council on the cultural projects taking place throughout our city. Previous presentations have included paintings, sculptures, photography, film, music, sketches, artifacts, dance, and a variety of other forms of artistic expression.
Schedule
January 10, 2023Rae Yano | Walk on St. Johns
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Tonight’s Art at Council is an acrylic painting by Tri-City artist Rae Yano and is titled Walk on St. Johns. The painting was acquired by the City last November at the Port Moody Art Association’s Art to Go event. Rae is not here with us this evening but was kind enough to pass along her memories of how the painting came to be. It all started with a beautiful day in Port Moody. Rae and her husband decided to take a big walk that looped around St. Johns Street and Rocky Point Park. She always carries her camera, or in this case her phone, to keep a visual record. Rae took many pictures that day as the light and autumn colours were so powerful, and ultimately were the inspiration for her to paint this particular scene. She has a couple of photos of Rocky Point Park from that day that she still wants to put onto canvas. Rae is pleased and honoured that the City chose her painting. In fact, several years ago the City purchased a pair of her paintings, so she is doubly proud! We are delighted to share Rae’s painting with everyone this evening. The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 50 second mark. |
January 24, 2023Karlie Norrish McChesney | Sonobe |
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Fibre Friends is one of two exhibitions currently on display at PoMoArts. The exhibit demonstrates the different approaches that three artists use to create their art. Colour first attracts a person to their pieces, but a closer examination reveals a unique look for each of their artworks. Line and/or shape leads to an exploration of different techniques, many of them reflected in their use of fibre. We are fortunate to have one of the artists, Karlie Norrish McChesney, joining us this evening. Karlie’s art making frequently explores her love of perspective and structural form. Her art practice requires much measuring, calculating, and arranging of colour, so much so that her work is a form of puzzle solving. Tonight’s Art at Council is titled Sonobe and is one of her artworks that explores how 3D origami models can be represented in a 2D format that demonstrates great depth and volume. There is often an element of mixed media applied to the surface, in this case paint and plastic. Karlie is joining us via Zoom. Welcome Karlie! We would love to hear more about you, your artwork, and the exhibition. The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 1 minute 45 second mark. |
February 14, 2023Alexa Adams | In Dependence |
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As you walked into Council Chambers this evening you would have walked by an impressive collection of artworks on display in the Galleria. These pieces, created by Port Moody Secondary School grade 12 students, form an exhibition for their International Baccalaureate Exam. Each year students showcase selected works done over the last 2 to 4 years of their time in high school. While we would have liked to showcase every student’s artwork this evening, we are focusing on a watercolour painting by Alexa Adams. The self-portrait is titled In Dependence. Alexa is drawn to the visual arts for its ability to document and convey personal experiences. She gravitates towards mediums that are accessible regardless of financial and cultural backgrounds. Alexa is here with us this evening. Welcome, thank you for joining us! The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 1 minute 30 second mark. |
.jpg "Gavel, Port Moody Station Museum, artifact 2")
February 28, 2023Artifact | Gavel |
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Tonight’s Artifact at Council is a wooden gavel that has historical significance relating back to the first year of Port Moody. The City was incorporated on March 11, 1913, and its first civic election was held a few weeks later on April 3. The gavel was presented to Port Moody’s first Mayor, Perry D. Roe, after his successful campaign. The centre band is engraved with the names of the first Council members. Those early Council meetings oversaw issues about the collection of taxes, the upkeep of public spaces such as sidewalks, roads and parks, and the provision of utilities. We do not have anyone from the Port Moody Station Museum joining us this evening, but we invite everyone to see the gavel and other items currently on display in the museum’s Building Port Moody exhibition. The exhibit is on until May 1. The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 2 minute 55 second mark. |
March 14, 2023Colleen van Niekerk | A Conspiracy of Mothers |
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A novel titled A Conspiracy of Mothers and the author Colleen van Niekerk are the focus of tonight’s Art at Council. A Conspiracy of Mothers is Colleen’s debut novel and was released in October 2021. The novel is a compelling story of three mothers who fight for their families in a period of upheaval and hope in South Africa. Colleen is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, has been living in Port Moody for the past decade. We are delighted that Colleen is here with us this evening. Welcome Colleen and thank you for joining us! I understand you will be reading a few passages from your book. Please make your way up onto the stage. The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 54 second mark. |
