Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

In search of culture

This article was inspired by a commentary that recently appeared in The Globe and Mail entitled, "Why Whistler is my idea of Hell." The author, John MacLaughlan Gray, is not a skier or boarder.

This article was inspired by a commentary that recently appeared in The Globe and Mail entitled, "Why Whistler is my idea of Hell." The author, John MacLaughlan Gray, is not a skier or boarder.

" There is no public art gallery, no library… no music, other than chainsaw guitars piped in with the beer ," writes Gray. That statement left me scratching my head. Perhaps I sound defensive of the town I’ve called home for six years, but my goal this week is to highlight a growing artistic community and perhaps open the eyes of other cultural cynics who visit the resort.

So I decided to start this exploration by asking a few unsuspecting locals if they could point me in the right direction of the "non-existent" library. The twenty-somethings sitting at the bus stop cheerily give me directions not only to the library, but also to the museum, three art galleries and suggest I check out this paper for music listings.

Despite its humble lodging, the Whistler Public Library boasts a very current and thorough selection of resources.

"I've received many compliments," says Library Director Joan Richoz, "not only from patrons but from other librarians."

Richoz explains their resources are also up-to-date, including an on-line magazine and newspaper data base, CDs, and a video collection which includes everything from the popular snowboard vids, to award-winning and hard to find foreign films. And that's just the start. The library has become an important piece of the cultural community with its ongoing story-times for children, and authors' readings for adults and teens.

"That's a difficult age group to capture," notes Richoz.

The library also houses frequent slide shows and special interest courses. Richoz says the possibilities are endless and many will be realized at the future library facility in the works.

Feeling reassured that the library is actually there, I only need to walk a few steps next door to The Whistler Museum and Archives. It's here that something important dawns on me. This isn't a museum in the traditional definition. You won't find any Michaelangelo's or statues to fallen heroes. What you will find is a large corner dedicated to local faces that have made it big in the world of sport; another corner dedicated to the pioneers of recreation who established themselves long before there were ski lifts. And what I realized is that a community's culture can only be shaped by the people who create it.

"Whistler actually started in the Alta Lake area with Alex and Myrtle Phillips who built Rainbow Lodge," says Museum Director, Meaghan McKie. "They built a summer recreation resort... and recreation has always been a central theme to Whistler. Sport is part of the culture."

McKie explains the museum and archives actually has over 6,000 photographic images, both historical and artistic, on file and sounds frustrated only at the lack of space to display it.

"Oh yeah!" exclaims Michelle Kirkegaard, co-owner of the adele-campbell art Gallery and my third stop of the day. "I think the only thing that is limiting the artistic community in Whistler is infrastructure."

The adele-campbell is one of 17 commercial art galleries between Squamish and Lillooet. Alright, so Mr. Gray has us on that one. There is indeed no "public" gallery in the resort, but Kirkegaard says her gallery and most others try to make up for that by being ambassadors for Whistler.

"I'm not here just for people who might be buying a piece of work," she says. And to prove that point the gallery often hosts receptions with the artist, open to anyone who might pass by the door, as well as tours for Brownies and art classes.

Most galleries showcase the work of local and B.C. artists. This again raises the point of recreation becoming intertwined with Whistler's art and culture.

"When people take a piece of work home with them it's because they want to be connected," says Kirkegaard. Local landscape and recreation photos and paintings are always a big draw. And when you consider that the artists behind the work probably live here because they enjoy the outdoor lifestyle, well, those subjects are just an obvious choice.

Kirkegaard admits that the sky-high rental space for commercial Whistler galleries often means only higher profile artists make it to the walls and says there are many talented artisans not getting enough recognition.

"We are such a young community. I think we're already ahead of our time in many respects, and the cultural community is just now really starting to grow... at this stage I think we’re taking the time to do it right."

In the meantime, where are these up-and-comers hiding? Well, in fact, many aren't hiding at all, and all you need do is take a good look in Mr. Gray's retail hell to find some of them. I inquired in five random shops about local wares. I found everything from prints, to sweaters, to Christmas ornaments to jewelry. Other pleasant surprises were discovered on the walls of bars, lobbies and coffee shops. Take a moment to raise your eyes from your cup of joe or martini, and culture might be staring you in the face. Two in particular that caught my eye were the folk art in BBK's Pub carved by Harry Smith and the distinct artwork of Dave "Pepe" Petko gracing several establishments, including Peaks Coffee House.

"A lot of the art in town is just landscapes, stuff by Tony Curtis," Pepe says candidly. "Some of it’s okay but I think most of it (in the galleries) is just geared towards tourists."

Pepe says he hits the pavement on a regular basis, searching for potential wall-space.

"I had the Big Foot Donut spot for about 6-8 months. I used it as a gallery and studio. The landlord just didn’t want to see it sitting empty. I ended up selling one painting out of there, so it was worth my while. I’ve also been around to a few of the stores asking if I could put my art in and some have said yes."

Pepe says the resort is in desperate need of a public outlet to showcase the work of the estimated 125 local artists.

"I think some kind of ‘art-ternative’ space would be beneficial to the community and the younger artists. Whistler also needs something to do at night other than drinking. I think some kind of gallery would do well. I think people would go there, tourists included. They come here to ski, but not always to party."

Pepe’s work will soon be seen on a different canvass, the human sort. He’s currently apprenticing as a tattoo artist with Black Ohm Tattoos. Some will argue that tattooing is an art form unto itself, and certainly in Whistler, it’s a visible one. Many who enjoy this lifestyle choose to express themselves with the colourful badges of the flesh.

The studio itself is not so visible, however, having to work out of Blueberry Hill, again encountering space/price limitations in the village. It would seem until we find a solution to the infrastructure problem, we just have to look in less traditional places for what’s already out there.

One thing you don’t have to look very hard for in Whistler is live music. No music? C’mon Mr. Gray. If the posters plastered everywhere didn’t catch your attention, you can find live acts in the apres hours in at least three different locations on the slowest of days. The night scene is even more competitive, with bars bringing in names like Jeff Healey, SuperSuckers, Lee Aaron and D.O.A. Judging from that list, there’s usually something for everyone’s musical taste. And that’s just the beginning. The resort has a flourishing stock of talented musicians. At least 12 bands and soloists come immediately to mind.

"I toured around Canada in the ’90s, and as far as resort towns, there's no doubt about it, we're a great place for live music. There's a lot more local bands and a lot more support in general compared to other communities this size," says Rob DeMarco, of the reggae-ska band Big Up.

"This isn't the type of place you would go to establish a band, you really have to go to the city to do that. But the type of people who live here tend to do a lot of things, the sports aspect for a long time was their first priority."

Again, an example of community dictating culture. As most that live here are young and into new music, a growing majority of local bands are punk metal. All, however, are spirited with feel-good sounds to suit the energetic locals and the eager-to-create-a-memory vacationers.

DJs too are an important part of Whistler's music scene. An underestimated art form on some fronts, but warmly embraced by the dance clubs in the area.

DeMarco admits that he too originally settled in the area for the recreation. Aside from healthy regular gigs with Big Up, DeMarco finds himself spending more and more time in his home recording studio. He writes and records a lot of his own work, and it seems there's a growing demand for his services.

"I've already helped out six or seven artists here. I've never advertised or gone looking for business, but I'm getting inquiries," adds DeMarco – an indication perhaps, that the music community is a little more than garage bands coming out to play at the local watering holes.

"People who’ve been here a few years, who were singers and musicians but put that on hold and got into the Whistler lifestyle of skiing and partying... are getting back into music and are ready to explore that avenue."

And it seems the community in general is ready to explore the arts avenue.

"For years it was kind of a struggle… it was like a fight almost to get people into the shows," says Tamsin Miller of The Whistler Community Arts Council. "We struck on a new format a few years ago, doing it in a more relaxed cabaret style, and we found that seemed to suit people. (More recently) our audiences have been growing considerably and we now have completely sold out, standing room only situations. I don’t think that necessarily has to do with the performers, because we’ve always had acts of an equally high calibre."

Miller is responsible for the lineup for the Art Council’s fall and winter performance series as well as the yearly Artrageous show and the Bizarre Bizarre. This year’s sold out shows have included piano prodigy Michael Kaeshammer and Russian dance troupe Granada. Future performances include the plays Peter Pan and The Truth About Daughters and The Dance Theatre of Oregon. Miller says while it’s great to bring worldly performers to Whistler, it’s also essential to provide the local artisans with the same opportunity.

"We hope to start involving local performers with some of the paid performers this year…. Provide them with exposure, whether it’s opening for them or actually performing right with them. Squamish already does a lot of that. Squamish really works with the locals. They started from the community base and they’re now incorporating more outside performers. We seemed to have worked the opposite way because we didn’t have as much talent back then."

Miller says The Maurice Young Millennium Place will play a key role in realizing that development with room to house local artwork, a multi-purpose theatre with state of the art lights and sound, and a public artists’ studio and recording booth.

If you don’t enjoy hushed museums, the Mona Lisa and red wine in smoky cafes, you probably won’t find yourself on a plane to Paris. By the same token, if you don’t enjoy modern music, young exuberant art and care-free afternoons in the fresh air, perhaps Whistler isn’t the place for you either. But that doesn’t qualify this young municipality as a one-sided recreation outlet without depth. A little exploration around Whistler this week revealed abundant evidence of a rich cultural community on the grow, and leaves me wondering if John MacLaughlan Gray was ever really in Whistler at all.