SPOTLIGHT. Emerging star Audrey Marsden says of Gallery Alpha’s recent three-woman show. Marsden may have indeed been “the old one’ of the West Van- couver gallery’s allwvoman show — the exhibit also featured the work of Marta Pan and Caro} Dukowski — but at the tender age of 87, she is every bit as “emerging” as her fellow artists on display. Emerging because it is only now that Marsden has begun a serious pursuit of painting. In the ‘40s and ‘50s and even in- to the ‘60s, the West Vancouver painter's work never really cap- tured the attention it deserved. Marsden was painting at a time when few Canadian galleries were paying notice to women artists, It left her feeling frustrated and disenchanted. But ever since Gallery Alpha owner Ron Falcioni ‘‘re- discovered” her, she has come back with a vengeance and a | *M THE old one,” Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ture-framing shop. “! felt her work would move very well. Audrey isn’t concerned with prettiness — her work is in- novative and immediately recog- nizable.”’ It’s not that she had stopped painting altogether; Marsden had been at it on and off for years with the occasional showing at the Vancouver Art Gallery and Arts Club Theatre. She just never pro- moted herself. “I felt very frustrated. | suppose ! was a bit feeble about it," she 44 When I saw that they put me in the main room it was a nice, big thrill. 99 renewed passion for painting. According to Falcioni, Marsden has become the gallery's all-time, best-selling artist. The gallery sold $2,400 worth of her work in one night alone. She is definitely one of the best artists we’ve had. She alone has sold more than everybody else put together,’ says Falcioni, who teaches a variety of art courses at Capilano College. Falcioni says he began en- couraging Marsden to exhibit her work about a year ago when she first brought her work into his pic- —Audrey Marsden says, ‘‘but it seemed to me that a woman painter was a bit handi- capped — men always seemed to get more attention. Thank God that’s changed now.” On top of that, her interest in pottery always led her away from painting. Marsden ran her own pottery studio out of Portugal in the ’40s and taught there for 10 yaars, ex- hibiting at the Palacio Foz in isbon. Then when her young husband See Making pace 23 ftalian:/ German / Continental / Western Many reputable years in business now bring us to the International Plaza where the facilities include a Ballroom (seating over 400), Banquet Hall and meeting rooms, Our service includes: ¢ Bar Service * Dance Floor « Espresso Bar © Full-service or buffet style Off-site or in-home catering available 2 Operating seven days 2 week; book early and we can cater off-site or in your home for any of the following: @ Weddings © Anniversary © Banquets 2 Meetings tuncheondinner Once Savoured © Parties homebffice * Showers e Baptism * Conventions Always Favoured Telephone: 984-2141 1999 Marine Drive, International Plaza, North Vancouver, BC. Call Gianni at 421: 7875 oF Mario at 731: 9579 after hours. NISHING, TOOLS > MANN. THREAD SALMON HOUSE 3 415TH Annivel! World Famous —_ BBO. or Cajun Salmon _ Salmon Wellington LMON NOVEMBER ON No 2229 FOLKESTONE F TATIONS CALL: 926-3212 * Only tems listed above are 1976 prices, not the sniire menu.