The experience of living in Delta is the theme this month at Gallery 1710, home of the South Delta Artists’ Guild.
Our challenge, proffered by the Rotary Club of South Delta, was to paint pictures of local landmarks for their 2019 calendar. The chosen 12 paintings were revealed last Thursday evening at the show opening.
Landmarks can be any iconic feature of Delta.
Centennial Beach, one of Heather Boyle’s pictures, features children digging in the sand under a colorful umbrella, while Francine Alford painted her favorite walk. Nancy Dean chose golf as her theme – sure to appeal to many who consider a walk incomplete without the swing of a club.
Anita de Vos, whose quirky folk art has charmed many, got the nod for two pictures – one of Westham Island, and another called Saints Alive.
The calendar wants pictures for all seasons, and Gloria Malaka’s snow scene was an instant hit with viewers.
Gordon Richards captured Ladner architecture for his rendition of the Warfinger Office, but didn’t forget that our farm community presents many rural scenes. His Westham Island Farm is a charmer, and Jan Strehler’s Herb Farm will not be forgotten.
Who could leave out the Reifel Bird Sanctuary? Catherine Sheppard’s lovely pastels lend themselves to the depiction of softly feathered creatures, which we know and recognize. Her Feathered Tapestry is correct in every detail, the feathers seem close enough to stroke. One quiet picture, done by Jenny Hards shows her love of print making, and her humour: three cranes in the background drawn in ink are eclipsed by three herons in the foreground. Cranes and cranes!
Many of these treasured scenes are disappearing from our community.
Ann Hilton, who chose to paint the building on the east side of the Massey Tunnel, and titled it White Spot Grows Potatoes in Ladner, was at the Thursday opening.
When she went through the tunnel, she noticed that the structure had been torn down. Kathy Swift also captured the past with a picture of an old cannery called Gone But Not Forgotten. We need to document our heritage and treasure it as the ever present encroachment of humanity means change. Through our art, scenic spots, and old buildings will be preserved; a historical record.
Be sure to visit the gallery on 56th street, right beside the South Delta Recreation Centre in Tsawwassen between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. There were 70 entries in the show, which closes April 1.
