In his exhibition of portraits showing this month at the public library's Foyer Gallery, Joe Tompai treats us to images of the people working the Sea to Sky Highway.
"I want the viewers to see the lines and details on the faces of the workers and think about those characters and how they came to be," he said. "Heavy construction is visually inspiring but a very difficult, dangerous business. The workers on these projects are hard working skilled people applying their will to a very unforgiving terrain while missiles on wheels hurl by. Over the past three years I have met many of the workers along the [Sea to Sky] and found them to be wonderful, colourful characters with a sense of humour."
Tompai was commissioned by Peter Kiewit Sons construction to photograph workers in action - both candid and posed portraits. The artist's exploitation of the vivid colour and contrast of safety gear, equipment and the skin tone of workers makes these images seem hyper real, almost larger than life.
Further drama comes from the tension between workers as they solve problems and work in the candid portrait shots, as do the natural textures, scenery and equipment that provide context in each image. Tompai said it is not photography that inspires him, but imagemaking itself. The camera is just the tool he uses to communicate his personal expression. Visit www.joetompai.com.
Adina Gawtkin transforms common household tools andkitchen utensils into vibrant, appealing works of art that resemble millefiori glass. Gawtkin says her unique layered designs make use of rugged enamel like that used to create bowling balls. She carefully works up each piece by first shaping the handles ergonomically, then applying multiple layers of enamel before carving the colourful ring-like patterns into the layers. Several coats of urethane finish the process. The result is work that is distinctively sculptural as well as functional and durable.
"I've always wanted to fuse creativity with functional design. After a successful decade of making bold, hand painted wooden jewelry in the over-accessorized 1980s, I painted a few hammers and garden tools with my newly developed 'carved paint' technique - they were a hit!" Visit www.paintedtools.com.
Lynsey Paterson says she never runs out of inspiration. Ideas come from everywhere and her love of nature and her country lifestyle are foremost examples. In her Paradise Valley cottage she has set up a studio where she can be close to both. Influences of both family and garden can be found in the work of this show, a collection of saucers, paintings, jewelry, ornaments and nursery rhymes. They are "whimsical, delightful, sunny" says the artist. "My ceramics are meant to be ornamental as often as functional, while the inspiration for the paintings spring from the glazing I do on clay."
She sells her work through farmer's markets and craft shows around the province all summer, and year round at Billie's Bouquet. This season she will also be at Circle Craft in Vancouver.
