Great mountain inspiration for West Van artist ESTLED IN Yoho National Park in the majestic Rockies, Wiwaxy Mountain towers over Lake O'Hara, casting snowless shadows on ice- blue water. The Stoney Indians believed man was Created on this grand peak, called ‘“‘Gorge of the Winds.” The entire Lake O’ Hara region, with its clear lakes and rugged wilderness, has long inspired poets, hikers and artists. It’s been the favorite subject of West Van- couver artist Jane Ford ever since she first set eyes on it as a teenager. “When I first saw it, ’” says Ford, recounting how she travelled from her home in Ontario to work at Lake Louise Lodge in the sum- mer of °57, “I thought it was the most beautiful area | had ever seen. And I thought, there should be more places like this. tt's a treasure."’ By 1989, there were many more images of the Lake O'Hara region, thanks to Ford. Last year she launched two ex- hibits of her expeditions at the Ferry Building in West Vancouver and at the Catriona Jeffries Fine Art Gallery in Vancouver. Now the artist has emerged with a new series of paintings for her latest show entitled Wiwaxy, bas- ed on drawings created during a recent pilgrimage to the mountain that is her muse. lt opens Oct. 6 at * the Catriona Jeffries Gallery. About a year-and-a-half ago, Ford, a handsome woman with dark, bluntly cut hair, hooked up with jeffries, who represents artists such as Bill Baker, Pam Chapman and Brad Chernoff. Up to that time, she had been painting mostly detailed water- colors, but has since moved on to © working almost exclusively with oils. “If you look at her canvases, say two years ago, “’ says Jeffries, “I'd say she’s much improved. There's a real spontaneity, an almost kinetic energy to her work.” Today, Ford refuses to be pin- ned down to a specific style. “My own Style is unpredic- table,” she says, smiling, ‘1 tend to get an idea and go with it.” For her current show, the artist has created eight different images of Wiwaxy (there will be between 14. and 16 works in all) with its sheer, almost vertical faces Tour Seattle LIVING WITH art isn’t: something most people spend a lot of time thinking about. It could be as sim- ple as going to a movie, or looking ata piece of sculpture while resting on a park bench. By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter Getting people to think more about the role the arts play in our environment and involving local residents in: both the process and Wiwaxy NEWS photo Mike Wakefield JANE FORD’S new series of oi! paintings reflect her love for the Lake O'Hara region. EVELYN JACOB spotlight feature reaching skyward to jutting jagged peaks, in muted browas, greys and blues. Ford has captured the craggy summit's quiet beauty and frozen it in time. All the images are painted on huge (roughly, 39’’x 45") canvases to convey the mountain’s size and sense of power. Says Ford: “I don’t paint pretty scenes with little bushes because that’s not Canada. That's some- body's parden. t have tried to make my paintings as big and as powerful as Wiwaxy is.” Over the years environmentalists have been fighting to save the Lake O'Hara region from the clut- ches of developers, and Ford is passionate that the area remains pristine. But for all of her zeal, she is careful about jumping on the environmental bandwagon. “IT don‘t want to claim I'm an public art implementation of art in’ public places has been an ongoing pro- ject of North Shore Arts Commiis- sion development officer Carolyn Lair. “Prior to the 18th Century the abstract notion of art and the artist didn’t: exist,” says Lair. ‘People made things and incorporated art into their daily lives. The problem with North American sacivty today is that we now have a separation between art and everyday life. We See View Page 24 environmentalist,”” she says. “‘! don’t want to get on the band- wagon like so many other artists do. | only want to portray the area in the most beautiful way that | can, and let people know that we're responsible for keeping it that way. One recurring theme throughout Ford’s career has been water — foamy, fluffy water, Japanese-style waves, waterfalls, rivers and ponds. One striking image from her new series is a cascading waterfall (which actually looks more like a frothy stream) poun- ding over a rocky stream bottom. Growing up near Lake Erie and watching the body of water slowly die from acid rain and pollution has had a direct impact on her. While she remains modest about her art (‘I really think that when Vm 43 Emizht be good’), and is somewhat of a free-thinker when it comes to her goals (‘IT don’t know exactly what it is I'm trying to attain’’}, Ford is determined to “always be on the edge of discovery of something new.” ANNA WYMAN School of Dance Arts Mary-Lou Brien Jazz on Mondays Lee Kuidzinski Ballet on Tuescays Dance for Adulis For more info. 926-6535 Wednesday. Octoper 3. 1990 - North Shore News - 23 COME CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WITH US Saturday 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday 10am-2pm SPECIAL DINNER BUFFET FAMOUS SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH OUR SPECTACULAR OMELETTE BAR Monday 5-9 p.m. TRADITIONAL TURKEY DINNER | Reservations Recommended | Coach House Dining Room 700 Lilooet Rd. 985-3111 ee | ! “Your One Stop Entertainment Store” eee ee ee ee ee GOOD NEWS! 40% Film to Video Transferring Have your classic family Super 8 & 8mm film transferred to video cassette. 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