Transitions are in the air along with the crispness of a new season. Fall brings with it an enticing variety of exhibitions, programming and events from the Hearth. The arts council on Bowen Island continues to uphold the mandate to further opportunities for the arts and artists and to work in a way that will socially and economically benefit our community.
Events such as the Still/ed Here presentation, a story of displacement and healing, coming to Bowen Island on Sept. 26, are an example of the social impact that arts and culture has on the local and global community. The Hearth is proud to present this free, interactive event to the Bowen community. This collaboration between a poet and a multi-media artist uses poetry, photography and new media called Augmented Reality, to tell the collective story of displacement as it shapes our world. Pandora’s Collective, an organization some of our celebrated Bowen poets belong to, sponsors this project. Join us at the library annex on Sept. 26, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visit Still/ed Here.ca for more about this project.
Bowen Studio Tours will give visitors a peek inside the creative spaces of many of Bowen’s artists and artisans. In conjunction with B.C. Culture Days, the Hearth presents the second annual Bowen Studio Tour on Sept. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Save the dates and invite your friends from the mainland to take the self-guided tour. Watch for the signs indicating open studios. Get the details and complete listing of participating studios and galleries at bowenstudiotours.com.
Fall programming continues with a new offering of Eat Drink Write: Postcards and Prompts presented by the Writer’s Adventure team, Meribeth Deen and Tina Overbury. This dynamic duo will inspire the writer in you in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Secure your spot for Oct. 17, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Now that we are spending a little more time indoors, thoughts turn to our surroundings. Insider Secrets: Interior Design Basics is offered for two Tuesday evening sessions, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. Interior Designer, Anne Boa, will guide you to create the room of your dreams! The popular Eat Drink Paint sessions continue with facilitator, Kathleen Ainscough. The next is one set for Nov. 16 and is inspired by Tom Thomson’s Autumn Birches. Check out the Bowen Community Recreation website to sign up for these programs.
Exhibitions in the Gallery @ Cove Commons have had great success this year with close to 7,500 visitors coming through the gallery from May to September.
New Works––sculptures and printmaking by four Bowen artists: Vanessa Hall-Patch, Julie York, Russell Hackney and Marty Levenson, continues until Sept. 16. Opening on Sept. 18, Emily Van Lidth de Jeude will have a solo exhibition titled change/able, an immersive, interactive installation with soundscape by Bevvy Swift.
Join us for the opening reception on Sept. 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition runs until Oct. 20. You may have spotted the artist Jose De Juan painting scenes around Bowen this summer. Lightscapes, a solo exhibition of his plein air paintings will run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 17 and you can meet the artist at the reception on Oct. 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
And calling all Bowen artists, it’s time to get your creations ready. Applications for It’s A Wrap! are available now at the gallery and the Hearth website. The deadline for applications is Nov. 3 and the exhibit runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 30.
Membership in the arts council continues to be key to our ability to support arts and culture on Bowen Island and beyond the physical borders of the island. We welcome community members to join our amazing team of volunteers to keep the arts council and the gallery running smoothly. Working in tandem with the municipality, we’ve been intent on moving forward the community centre project while we await results of a grant application submitted in early January.
As the news of the resignation of Jacqueline Massey, the executive director of the Hearth, reaches the community, one can rest assured that she will be on hand for the transition to the new executive director. She will be leaving a strong organization in capable hands of a new leader, a strong board of directors and a team of dedicated volunteers and staff.
“Jacqueline’s decision has triggered reflections on all our many achievements during her tenure,” said Rob Gloor, chair our organization. “Her leadership, excellent rapport with colleagues and supporters, extensive knowledge base and incredibly strong work ethic will be difficult to match.”
Visit the website at thehearth.ca for more information.
