by Bob Groeneveld
91原创 Advance
The ABCs of downtown Fort 91原创 are antiques, boutiques, and cafes鈥� and of course, back to A again: art.
There鈥檚 art a short walk away from anywhere you are in Fort 91原创.
It鈥檚 pretty much bracketed, however, by two community artist groups that work together to show their works in public galleries.
At one end of town, just as you enter from the south on Glover Road, is Fort Gallery.
At the other end, off to the right just before you walk across the railway tracks 鈥� tucked away in the park-like setting that surrounds the 91原创 Heritage Society鈥檚 historic CN train station 鈥� is the Fort 91原创 Artists Group鈥檚 FLAGStop Gallery.
The Fort Gallery, at 9048 Glover Rd., is a non-profit community collective of artists who encourage and support each other in their art.
The gallery recently featured photography by David Kimura and a collection of paintings, textiles, and garments by his wife, Suzanne Northcott.
Kimura鈥檚 photo exhibition, titled, Perimeter, highlights the inspiration that can be drawn from your immediate environment, while Northcott鈥檚 variety of expressions in Make Do follow a similar theme, exploring the possibilities of using or reusing materials readily at hand.
Currently at The Fort Gallery is an exhibition inspired by Canada鈥檚 150th birthday celebrations, called, Postcards from Canada, running Sunday, July 16. It features postcard-sized original art by artists 鈥渙f all ages and stages鈥� from across the country.
That鈥檚 followed by a juried show into August.
In addition to Kimura and Northcott, artists in the group include Edith Anderson, Alex Burton, Deborah Colvin, Susan J. Falk, Edith Krause, Kristin Krimmel, Claire Moore, Lisa Nickel, Don Portelance, Jo-Ann Sheen, and Zuzana Vasko.
Visit fortgallery.ca.
Unconventional gallery space
As you wander through the village, keep your eyes open for shops offering glimpses of art of all kinds, including jewellery, stained glass, and precious (to some) knick-knacks.
Don鈥檛 miss Gasoline Alley鈥檚 offerings, and there are often outdoor art shows nestled between the shops on weekends.
For instance, at the Daily Scoop gelato bar, one wall is loaded with a fascinating collection of paint-by-numbers paintings. It鈥檚 not Rembrandt, but it鈥檚 attention-grabbing, and may bring back memories of younger days and dreams of becoming a great artist.
Just before you get to the tracks, turn right, where you鈥檒l find the FLAGStop Gallery inside the 91原创 Heritage Society鈥檚 restored CN station.
The historic train station is a piece of art in itself, as is the restored caboose next to it 鈥� but inside the station you鈥檒l find original art in a variety of media by the Fort 91原创 Artists Group.
Recently on display was the group鈥檚 Sunlight and Shadows show, and currently the Artists鈥� Choice show runs to July 30, followed by The Four Seasons show, Aug. 5 to Sept. 4.
The Fort 91原创 Artists Group includes Kim Bucholltz, Eileen Butler, Ela Cholewa, Margo Harrison, Felicity Holmes, Beverly Lawrence, Alison Philpott, Jeanie Shilton, Gail Simpson, Mary-Ann Snell, Gabrielle Strauss, Marguerite Whelton, Pat Weibelzahl, and Diane Zepeski. Visit fortlangleyartistsgroup.com.
A little off the beaten track
If you cross the tracks and head down Billy Brown Road, you鈥檒l run into more special finds.
For instance, you can find Susan Galick working in oils and acrylic in her studio gallery at 23230 Billy Brown Rd. She is usually available in the mid-week days, but not on weekends. Visit susangalick.com.
Also on Billy Brown Road is the lelem Arts Cafe, where you can gaze at a few pieces of First Nation art while you enjoy Coast Salish cuisine. Visit lelem.ca.
Or cross the Haldi Bridge to McMillan Island, where artists Phyllis and Drew Atkins welcome visitors to their K鈥檞y鈥檌鈥檡鈥檈 Spring Salmon Studio.
K鈥檞y鈥檌鈥檡鈥檈 (pronounced K-why-ee-ya), is the First Nation word for 鈥渟pring salmon.鈥� First established in 2005 as a home-based business, the studio gallery opened in September 2012. Visit springsalmonstudio.com.
Back across the tracks and striking out to the east, the 91原创 Centennial Museum provides local artists with an opportunity to showcase their work in its Foyer Art Program. Visit museum.tol.ca/Exhibits/Foyer-Art-Exhibit.
Just a little further is the Fort 91原创 National Historic Site, where you鈥檒l find there is still a culture of trade going on at the old Hudson Bay Co. fort. There the Sxwimele Boutique & Gift Shop features both First Nations designed products and Fort 91原创 memorabilia. Here you will find artwork, hand-carved jewelry, apparel, pine needle baskets, traditional blankets, decorative housewares, and more.
Like the Lelem Arts Cafe, it is owned and operated by Seyem鈥� Qwantlen Business Group, an operating subsidiary of Kwantlen First Nation.
If you鈥檙e willing to go a little further afield, just beyond walking distance from Fort 91原创, Barbara Boldt accepts visitors by appointment to her Original Art Gallery & Studio in Glen Valley. Visit barbaraboldt.com.
Sadly, the recent passing of one of the most important figures in Fort 91原创鈥檚 art scene, Brenda Alberts, has resulted in the closure of the Birthplace of B.C. Gallery, a prominent member of the Fort 91原创 business community, winner of numerous art and business centred awards, and home gallery for a number of local artists.
