Art at Council

January 10, 2023

Rae Yano | Walk on St. Johns

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, 2023

Karlie Norrish McChesney | Sonobe

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, 2023

Alexa Adams | In Dependence

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.

February 28, 2023

Artifact | Gavel

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, 2023

Colleen van Niekerk | A Conspiracy of Mothers

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.

March 28, 2023

Jenny Tang & Melissa Hoffman | StreetArts Community Banners

Tonight’s Art at Council is a celebration of the return of our StreetArts Banner Program. The community banners were painted here in the Galleria this past weekend, and everyone involved was delighted to be back!

This year’s design theme is "Renewal & Rejuvenation" a nod to 2022 which was a time of recovery and renewal post-COVID. The City saw the resilience of our community and the excitement of restoring our daily social activities. We discovered collectively, through the pandemic, the importance of family, friendship, community, and support.

Mother and daughter, Jenny and Faith Tang, have participated in the program since 2014 and enjoyed it so much they invited their friends to sign up. This year they requested to be setup next to each other so they could enjoy the experience together. Jenny is the artist behind the banner depicting a tree with a heart motif.

The other banner, painted with a large flower, butterfly, and caterpillar was designed by Melissa Hoffman, also a long-time participant. After the banners have been up on City streets they are given to the artists. Melissa’s grandfather has been installing her banners in his backyard during the summer since 2014.

All the colourful banners will be available for viewing in the Galleria until this Thursday, March 30, and then displayed on Port Moody streets in late spring.

The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 50 second mark.

April 11, 2023

Crystal Noir | The Answer

Crystal Noir is the artist behind tonight’s Art at Council, an oil on canvas titled The Answer.

Crystal is an emerging self-taught artist of Jamaican and Ukrainian descent from Vancouver - the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Her work explores the intricate effects of ongoing colonial violence and the interplay between mental health disparities within BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities.

Seeking to dispel stigmatization and redefine taboo cultural conversations, her work is often autobiographical and is likewise concerned with the experiences of being multiracial, and the unique encounters of exclusion, colorism, privilege, and guilt that those of multiethnic lineage face.

You can see this painting and others at her current exhibition titled Shades of Self at PoMoArts. Using vivid colour, bold compositions and expressive brushwork Crystal conveys a range of emotions and experiences that are often too difficult to express through words. This new series in oil is a visual exploration of personal identity and introspection. The paintings offer a glimpse into the complexities of her inner world, while examining themes of shifting identity, self-reflection, and growth.

At this time, I would like to invite Crystal up to the podium. Welcome! Thank you for joining us this evening.

The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 2 minute 35 second mark.

April 25, 2023

James Groening | Thunderbird Teacher

Tonight, we have James Groening joining us for Art at Council.

James, or Blue Sky, is a Burnaby-based Cree artist from Kahkewistahaw Band, Turtle Island. He was raised in a farm community in Plains Cree Territory (otherwise known as Manitoba) by his white grandparents. Although disconnected from his Kahkewistahaw roots, he retained part of his Indian name, Blue Sky, given by mushom or grandfather, as a child. After meeting his maternal mother and learning of his heritage, he attributes discovering Coast Salish art forms, specifically, drawing a Haida-style hummingbird that inspired him to pursue a journey of reclaiming his Indigeneity.

James hopes to learn more and contribute to the art world by creating and teaching those who want to learn. He believes this is the way forward for our cultural heritage to heal and grow.

At this time, I would like to invite James up to the podium. Thank you for being here with us this evening. We’d love to hear more about you, your craft, and your current exhibition Life in Legends at PoMoArts.

The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 2 minute mark.

May 9, 2023

Dilys Huang | Port Moody Old City Hall & Rocky Point Park

Tonight’s Art at Council are two ink and watercolour sketches from Tri-Cities artist, and Blackberry Artist’s Society member, Dilys Huang. The sketches are titled Port Moody Old City Hall and Rocky Point Park, both iconic venues in Port Moody.

Dilys’ creative journey began at an early age when she participated in various colouring and drawing contests. In high school she enrolled in Port Moody Secondary’s IB Art Programme where she had the opportunity to explore using different media and styles to express her ideas. In fact, the artwork she created during her time in the IB Art Programme was displayed here in the Galleria as part of a final exhibit of all of the students’ work. Dilys later went on to study urban planning in university.

Dilys is curious and fascinated by her surroundings, and with her background and interest in planning it is only natural that her ink and watercolour sketches tend to focus on buildings, cities, and the urban landscape.

At this time, I would like to invite Dilys up to the speaker’s podium. Thank you for joining us! We would love to hear about the sketches you brought with you this evening.

The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begin at the 1 minute mark.

May 23, 2023

Tamara Grand | Sign of the Tides

We have abstract painter and mixed media artist Tamara Grand joining us this evening for Art at Council, and she has brought along her painting titled Sign of the Tides.

The passion to paint began when a friend introduced her to acrylic paints. Tamara immersed herself in the online world of art and painted daily to work on and expand her techniques and to hone her personal artistic vision.

She creates large and small scale paintings for private collections in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, has her paintings displayed in local businesses, and participates in Canada-wide and local exhibitions.

Bright colours and organic shapes are signature elements of her paintings. Each piece is painted with the intention to calm or energize a space through the use of shape, colour and form.

Good evening Tamara. Thank you for joining us. Please make your way up to the speaker’s podium.

The Council video archive can be viewed here. Art at Council begins at the 38 second mark.