Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Art in unexpected places

The walk along the Valley Trail is going to get a bit more breathtaking in the coming months, thanks to a new mural project on the horizon.

The walk along the Valley Trail is going to get a bit more breathtaking in the coming months, thanks to a new mural project on the horizon.

Last year, local artists Chili Thom, Stan Matwychuk and Devin White were commissioned to create a vibrant mural beneath the Terry Rogers Bridge on Lorimer Road, and municipal officials were so pleased with the finished product that they’ve decided to spruce up the underbelly of yet another bridge in town.

Now, the Resort Municipality of Whistler is looking for artists to complete their second underpass mural project, beneath the Blackcomb Way bridge.

“Those kind of spaces are so ill considered that they often get tagged by people, too,” said Kevin McFarland, parks planner for the RMOW. “They’re almost like blank canvases.”

Aside from beautifying a public space, the murals are also intended to discourage vandalism. When artists paint public spaces, other graffiti artists tend to respect the work and leave it untouched. Since the Lorimer Bridge underpass was painted, McFarland said he has noticed only one small tag.

The next bridge mural should be completed during the off-season, from later this month to late November, or April to June.

“Basically, we put it out there to artists or artists teams — it’s very open and un-themed. We specified that it is a bit different in that there is this sloped area, but there’s a lower wall and then the actual upper wall, so it is a bit different in terms of the form of the space,” McFarland added.

 

Progress on public art projects

 

The second installment of the Village Square sculpture series is running a bit behind schedule.

“We took a long time in the selection because we had a short list and the jury had some questions, so we had to go through an extended process,” explained Kevin McFarland, parks planner for the RMOW.

Mike Tyler’s piece, which features a tactile cold-cast bronze mother bear with cubs, may not make it into Village Square before the spring, because come November, the area needs to be cleared regularly of snow. Instead, the sculpture may be installed elsewhere in the village, or it may be held until after winter, depending on the completion date.

Meanwhile, the Ted Nebbeling Bridge, over Village Gate Boulevard, will have another artistic component added by November. The rectangular granite-clad bridgeheads will be capped with carved basalt columns, created by local artist, Patrick Sullivan.

 

To market, to market…

 

In case you missed out on the chance to pick up some shiny, handcrafted trinkets and wares, the new monthly market that debuted in Creekside during Crankworx is making a return this weekend.

Ingrid Doerr is coordinating the new Creekside Fashion and Lifestyle Market, which features fashionable finds from artists and artisans throughout the province.

While the turnout at the first event was less than Doerr had hoped for, she heard a lot of positive responses from vendors and customers alike.

“Really, I do believe it’s going to take a little bit of time,” she said, adding that its important to let people know that it will be a regular event.

“…Intrawest is totally behind it. They want to have more stuff in Creekside, and I actually like Creekside. I think it’s a beautiful area, there’s lots of parking there, so it’s easy for vendors to come in.”

She’s optimistic that the market will grow and thrive, pointing out that this weekend, Cheakamus Challenge participants will end up right on their doorstep after the race.

The market this weekend will feature a whole new roster of vendors, plus a live band and skateboard ramp to add to the atmosphere at the event.

The market will be set up in World Cup Plaza at Creekside on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Doerr is also planning to hold the market again on Oct. 11, and a three-day market leading up to the holiday season from Nov. 14 to 16, with the regular monthly market starting up again in May.

 

Creepy crawly creative writing comp

 

Halloween is right around the corner, and Pique is looking for your more horrifying, harrowing tales for a short story competition. Submit as many of your original, unpublished scary stories, poems or scripts as you like (up to 2,000 words each). The winner will take home $300, the runner up wins $100 (that’s a lot of candy!), and both will be published in the Oct. 30 issue. All entries should include a short biography of the writer, and be sent to andrew@piquenewsmagazine.com by Monday, Oct. 20.

 

Loss of beloved B.C. artist

 

The local art community has suffered a great loss with the recent death of Jimmy Wright, a 71-year-old artist known for his strong sense of social responsibility and bold style.

Wright only began painting in 1986, when he first moved to Victoria, but his work has been sold throughout Canada and internationally for over 20 years.

“I tend to keep things simple and try to create work that people will feel good about hanging in their homes,” Wright once said of his work. “My style is loose. Sort of halfway between Robert Bateman and a caveman.”

Clearly known for his bold personality as well as his talent, Wright’s ubiquitous polar bear paintings are hung in many homes throughout Whistler — they’ve been a popular staple in the local art community since he began exhibiting his pieces at the Whistler Village Art Gallery almost 15 years ago.

“Jimmy was an eccentric artist with a lot of attitude,” Jeanine Messeguer, director of the gallery said in a recent press release. “His personality shines through in his artwork, which seems simple yet thought-provoking. We will miss working with him dearly.”

The Whistler Village Art Gallery may hold a retrospective exhibition during the holiday season, at which time they will release a collection of his current works.