NEWS photo Mike Waketisd

RSULA lisdiey's richly hued Silent Vigil Stands in sharp contrast to the West Van
rtist’s series of iconic paintings depicting old growth at Cypress Ridge. A!l have
beer: painted using the Old Master technique of tempera on gesso-prepared board.

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Wednesday, January 22, 1997 - North Shore News — 23

power of Cypress

By Layne Christensen
Community Reporter

There’s a news clipping tacked to the
wall of Ursula Medley’s studio.

Ir’sa quote from Anthony Tobin, a candidate
in West Van’s municipal elections, that reads:
“Logging 2000-year-old trees for a ski run is the
moral equivalent of bulldozing a European
cathedral for a bowling alley.”

It’s an apt comparison, says the West Van
artist. “They are like cathedrals,” these forests of
old growth thar blanket the North Shore moun-
tains —~ “a real link to the past™ and older than
the cathedrals themselves.

Medley explores the spiritual power of the
forest in Silent Vigil: Old Growth at Cypress
Ridge. The e3 jan of 18 paintings opened
Tuesday at West Van's Ferry Building Gallery,
1414, Argele, and runs through Feb. 2

Katharine Steig, chairman of Friends of
Cypress Provincial Park Socicty, says Medley’s

show carries an urgent message.

“It’s timely that she, through her arrwork, is
drawing attention to the unique and irreplace-
able qualities of the forest.” says Steig, whose

ization is working to block Cypress ski
s expansion plans that threaten ald

The show is also a tribute to the artist's late
father, Paul Birkert, who was widely regarded i in
the mountaineering community as the province’s
premier trailbuilder. Binkert died 14 years ago at
the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of trails
and trail maps.

Asa child growing up in Kerrisdale, Medley
recalls her father would routinely pull her out of
church so they could hike Mt. Seymour togeth-
er.

“Te!l your Sunday school teacher you are
closer to God here in the mountains,” her father
would say.

Medley will lead an artist’s talk on Tuesday,
Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the gallery. Refreshments will
be served. There is a suggested donation of $2.

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