Whistler is revered for being one of Canada's most thrilling and beautiful locales. People flock into town every year, their motivations as diverse as the backgrounds from which they hail. Some arrive for an unforgettable season of skiing or mountain biking, while others put down roots in a natural wonderland they just can't leave.
Yet life in Whistler is not only about guts and glory on the mountain. Beneath the flashy veneer of tourism and outdoor escape are real hurdles: cost of living, distance away from loved ones, emotional isolation and more. Arts Whistler and the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) want to see positive change in this regard.
That's why they've partnered up to unveil Peaks and Valleys in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, an exhibit in the Maury Young Arts Centre that unpacks three issues central to Whistlerites: the impact of injury, finding a sense of belonging, and meeting basic needs.
Nearly 30 Sea to Sky artists have contributed to the presentation, including Lacey Jane Wilburn, Michaela Ivancova, Kathleen Tennock, Brent Harrewyn and Alli van Gruen.
"We wanted to work with Whistler Community Services around this idea of a mental health show so Jessica Brown, our gallery supervisor, got in touch with them," says Arts Whistler executive director Maureen Douglas. "It's great, but it also has messaging that deals with mental health…one wall has nothing but resources for people to take away. We have a trigger warning, depending on what state of mind people are in.
"Having a place like Arts Whistler, where a lot of folks come to our different shows and see that they find a sense of belonging…that's a huge part of mental health. It's a conversation we have a lot with Whistler Community Services: 'how can we support what you do with some of the things we deliver?' We always love having a chance to partner with them."
Seeking beauty in life
Wilburn's contribution to Peaks and Valleys has to do with the ever-present local housing crisis. She has a young family and wouldn't relinquish the chance to raise her kid in the mountains for anything—but that's easier said than done.
"Our house seems to be shrinking around us, and with that on top of it, the cost of living here keeps rising," Wilburn says. "It's such a gift to live in Whistler and so many people say they're so jealous…but there are a lot of realities and a lot of challenges with living here. It doesn't look like the trend is going to be changing anytime soon, and I've had so many really good friends and other families that have to leave…then we have so many empty houses around. It's a really interesting dichotomy to have: the disparity of wealth and the disparity of space where people can live is really, really vast here."
How can fine arts help? Douglas opines that artists see the world a bit differently from the rest of us. They're gifted with the power to express feelings and concepts using various visual mediums, which in turn help folks broaden their ways of thinking. Artists are often willing to stand on the front lines of new conversation, being vulnerable so that others might be inspired to follow suit.
"When we're struggling, for a lot of people it feels good to put something out physically," remarks Wilburn. "My creative outlet is art, and that comes in both joy and sorrow—and even mundanity. Peaks and Valleys gets a conversation going. It gets people to feel seen. I think enjoyment of art is about relatability: there's that personal connection you can have with the craft somebody else made, somebody you'll likely never meet in life.
"In the same way that a certain piece of music can feel like it was perfectly tailored to you, a certain piece of art can speak to you too. There's a connection that's timeless, and I think that's really powerful about art. One of the things I always love [is to] seek beauty in life."
'Beautiful, magical pieces'
Check out the full list of artists involved with Peaks and Valleys and you'll notice they're mostly women.
"I know a lot of men have a slightly tougher time around the issue of mental health. I wonder if we're even seeing that reflected a little bit in the artists," Douglas says. "But the men who did contribute [made] fantastic pieces and it really runs the gamut. We wanted people to look at the light and dark, the highs and lows, whatever terms you want to use—that's what you see.
"There's some really beautiful, magical pieces which share that message of friendship and the power of living in a beautiful place to lift your spirits and help you get out of a low point. Then there's some which are pretty raw and honest. It's not always easy to [hope] either, which I think a lot of people can relate to, but they're not always sure how to express it."
Douglas shouted out Australian Jon McWhinnie in particular, a self-described emerging artist whose material has impressed her. She hopes that Peaks and Valleys will help creators like him gain exposure for their work, sell a painting or two and build confidence along the way.
Peaks and Valleys will remain on display until June 28, with an art party on May 31 scheduled to coincide with the upcoming Nourish Wellness Series. Douglas also wants people to know about two free workshops: a self-care session facilitated by WCSS staff on June 3 and a music therapy event led by Luke Burton on June 17.
Discover more about these offerings at https://artswhistler.com/calendar-upcoming/peaks-and-valleys-exhibit.
