By Nicole Fitzgerald
What: Sacred Space artist reception
When: Saturday, June 2, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: MY Millennium Place
Admission: Free
Artist Gavin Livingstone’s painted-live artworks and fresh takes on Whistler scenery will be showcased at his newest exhibit, called Sacred Space: An Inner Journey, for the month of June at MY Millennium Place.
“There will be a good mixture of abstract impressionism and some recognizable views of Whistler and Green Lake rendered in an abstract nature,” said the artist from his winter home on Cortez Island.
“The show is a Sacred Space, a journey that is about going deeper into creativity when looking at landscape and sensing it energetically and holding it in mind while painting and letting the abstract nature of paint flicked and dragged reveal the inner essence of the landscape.”
The former agriculturist and founder of the Shambhala Healing Centre in Glastonbury, England combines both his passion for landscape and cultivating spiritual growth in his works. One of the ways he exercises his deeper understanding of life and art is by painting live, letting viewers, sometimes musicians and sometimes film become a part of his brush strokes.
“Most people never see art being created in the moment, so the very act of painting and someone looking at it, there is a common denominator between me and the person,” he said. “We are both witnessing the creative process manifest before your eyes. Our attention on the evolving painting is part of that creative process as well.”
Livingstone has painted in unique environments from painting live with Spearhead in Burnaby to engaging passerbys at the Whistler Farmer’s Market where he entertains every year. (Look for his flicking acrylics starting Sunday, June 24 at the Whistler Farmer’s Market.)
“Painting with Spearhead was amazing,” Livingstone said. “I look forward to more of those things developing.”
He is working on what he calls a “prayerful celebration” of creativity, which unites musicians, dance, singing and multi-media into a sacred space of spontaneity and united consciousness.
“If you create the opportunity that is juicy enough for good creators to show up, the synergy of presence grows to make something really beautiful,” he said.
Until that moment comes, the public can look on Livingstone’s other beautiful works displayed this June at MY Place. Meet the artist at the opening reception Saturday, June 2 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the upstairs gallery. Admission is free.
To view other examples of Livingstone’s works, visit www.sacredspaceart.com.
