NEWS photo Gingy Goedman ‘COMPOSER Michael Conway. ‘Baker. and: impressionist painter Daniel Izzard vill receive FANS awards tonight at Centennial Theatre. ‘| FANS night officially opens Centennial Martin Millerchipz 5 Arts Editor’ mmillevchip@nsnews.corm THE question of whether we konour art and our artists sufficiently in this era of bestom-line profit is one we'll look at in a facture story. ‘But the topic crept, unbidder, this week into sep- arate conversations with two internationally renowned artists: Michael Conway Baker and Daniel Izzard. The North Vancouver prolific composer and the West Vancouver dynamic 77-year-old impression- ist painter have been chosen to receive this year’s: prestigious FANS Award. . .. Previous honourees spanning a variety of fields are Robert Clothier, Elizabeth Smily, Jean Coulthard, Roy Forbes, Luman & Arlyn Coad, Arnold Shives, Norman Tait and Bryan Adams. Izzard and Conway Baker are two gifted artists ’ who have impressive careers and credentials, and will now be added to this select group of North Shore artists who have devoted their life to the arts and have been recognized here at home tor it. Wherever one walk’s in Izzard’s home, one is sur-.- rounded by his art. It is almost impossible to assinti- late so many views of the world and its people. Each one, vibrant with colour and trought alive by Izzard’s use of light is worthy of independent thought and appreciation. Together, they over- whelm, blending to create one overall impression: - that ofa primal, passionate man behind the brush wi hoi is capable of bending both nature and the view-" ) ie else looks, or I lasts, like real cedar siding. o Natural Durabit Durability “+ resistant to decay & insect damage “© Nature! Stability o's fies flat.& stays straight: Natural Workabitit - fightwieght cedar siraplities handling .Matural Beauty + rich grain & colour finishes beautifully Topas NATURAL Y er's eye t© meet in the middle — — at his point of view. He works quickly, 4 la prime, putting brush ~ straight to canvas as he recreates and composes a ‘scene or a person he might have sketched years prev easly and then forcing the light into his canvas to bring the subject to fife. He has no idea how many paintings he has ; completed since becoming a “pro- fessional” artist in his early 30s, buti ie sin the thou-. sands. os waard still tries to paint every day, but’ is also - busy mentoring younger artists through the’ Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists (CIPA), : ‘an. organization of which he is president and which he helped to found. It’s membership now includes’ some - 50 of Canada’s best portrait painters. . ~- 4Pye slowed down quite a bit but I think the. _ work is. as good,” says Izzard.” . “Better,” his wife and manager, Pia, adds quickly and firmly, ” Prints of one of his recent paintings have raised’ almost $1 million for charity. “It’s hard you know. Ye a want Co help but it’ 5 the artists who always con- tribute. Ata point in his career r where hei is often con-- . -tributing, Izzard has strong views on how to help the | . fledgling artists. “Instead of the Canada Council dol: ing it out to their preferred peas, there should be a tax deduction offered for ticket purchases toa show or for buying vour first piece of art.” oe “Taxard and Pilar both snort at the’ concept of GST. : added to the price off arowork, +See Weekend Page = TOP QUALITY PRODUCTS & SERVICE... “1335 Draycott Rd., Lynn valley North Vancouver.