What: Mountains of Art
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 7
p.m.
Where: Pemberton Vineyard and
Inn
Tickets: $15
There is nothing like a
deadline to get those creative juices flowing, even if you don’t want them to.
I caught up with Lynn
Pocklington just as she was wrapping up the last brush strokes of a new
painting she will show at Mountains of Art on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at
the Pemberton Vineyard and Inn as part of the Pemberton WinterFest.
Hell, with still five days to
go, she obviously was able to crack the whip on procrastination or maybe she
wanted to give the paint time to dry before hanging.
But what really has
Pocklington’s brushes sweeping and swishing these days is her newfound love of
bears.
Black bears, grizzly bears,
cubs, and adults: she’ll paint any of the creatures she often calls neighbours.
This new artwork in acrylics
entitled Cozy Moments illustrates a mother Grizzly bear with her cub resting on
her back. The image was inspired by a photo slide show presented by bear expert
Charlie Russell at MY Millennium Place last year. So inspired, she is already
planning her own adventure to the Grizzly Bear Reserve in Alaska, so that she
can snap her own photos to paint from.
The active member of the
Pemberton Arts Council brings more than just courage to her canvas. She
graduated from Capilano College’s art program and after a six-year trudge
through Vancouver’s commercial art scene, she and her family moved to Pemberton
where she opened her own business, Whistler Graphic Designs. The avid skier and
snowmobiler is most famous for her sweeping landscape paintings, which
previously played a secondary role.
Now she just can’t get enough
of them with up-close-and-personal portraits looking out from giant-scale
canvases.
“I separated the two,” she
said of her once landscape and wildlife formula. “I like it so I can focus and
see the character and emotion (of the animal).”
Pocklington is only one of a
dozen-plus artists who will showcase their work at this rustic and original
vineyard inn. New this year includes Marlise Witschi, Anette Effe and Maiee
Hawker. Other talents include Meg Gallup, Lisa Komuro, Martin Dainden, Michelle
Beauregard, Alea Beauregard, Wim Tewinkle, Judy Bourhis, Karen Love, Janet
Roddan, Delany Zayac, Tim Napier, Mike Tyler, Billy Dan, Donna Jane, Frances
Dickinson and Helen Utsal.
The artist showcase of
painting, sculpture, pottery and woodworking also includes live music from
Suzanne Wilson as well as sushi, martinis, wine, and elegant nibblies both
savoury and for the sweet tooth prepared by Pemberton Vineyard and The Fat Duck
Cuisine chefs.
On drink is included with the
$15 ticket.
Advance tickets are available
at the Mount Currie Coffee Co. and the Pemberton Valley Supermarket. Only 100
tickets are available for this intimate fundraiser for the Pemberton Arts
Council.