14 ~— North Shore News — Friday, September 29, 2000 Putting artists into the exhibition Martin Millerchip Arts Editer minillerchip@nsnews.com PORTRAYING artist as art was the challenge West Vancouver photog- rapher Richard Montagna gave himself for an exhibition of por- traits that will open Oct. 3 at the Ferry Building Gallery in West Vancouver. in Her Own Skin, a paint- ing by W. Van’s E.M. Brossard on the cover of Roam of One's Own. Montagna says he was interested in creating an exhi- biton for the new millennium that recognized the contribu- tions artists make to our lives and communities by the work they produce. But he wanted to focus on the artists as indi- viduals instead of the work they produce. “T wanted to work with a small group of North Shore artists to produce images of themselves that would convey something of them as artists and decided the 12 arti selected for the V North Shore Millennium Project would be the perfect subjeets tor the exhibit since they were involved in a project that was developed to entich our understanding, and appre- ciation for places of cultural and historic significance in the North Shore. “As artists they understood the creative process that goes into such a project and were willing to work with me to produce an image that reflect- ed something about them- selves. In some ways these images are a collaborative effort between the artist and myself and thus more fully represent something of their personality and individuality. * A portrait photographer by profession, Montagna special- izes in what he calls “environ- mental portraiture.” “I think the strongest images that are made of peo- ple, are the ones that caprure them as they naturally are, not ones where thev are put in an artificially created set or back- ground. I try to photograph my subjects in their homes, places of work or at locations that have special meaning to them. These aspects of our lives are what make us individ- uals and different from each other. Long before I started shooting commercial porwait assignments, 1 was pho- tographing people I found interesting for exhibitions in museums and galleries. I try to NEWS photo Terry Peters RICHARD Montagna has photographed the artists of the Visions of the North Shore Millennium Project in a Ferry Building Gallery exhibit called The Faces of Vision. approach every portrait session as if I the images from it were going to be exhibited. The exhibit also features text by each artist that enlight- ens the viewer about the role art has played in the lives of each of these people. Montagna will give a talk Oer. 3 at PL a.m. and will teach a workshop on environ- mental portraiture on Oct. 14 from 2-5 p.m. in the Ferry Building Gallery. The recep- dion for the exhibition will be from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 3rd. The public is invited to all the events. Images from the exhi- bition and other samples of Richard Montagna’s work can be viewed at his Web site: . DECORATIVE .. CANDLE. CANDLE HOLDERS -#4-801 W. 1ST, NORTH VAN 2 C a 2 blocks south of Red Robin, across from Lonsdale Rentals "12" tall ma A 'D VASE SETS COLLECTABLE HANDPAINTED SHOES Retail $25 Meson YY SH ONLY 92993 A painting by North Shore Artist, E.M. Brossard, is fea- tured on the cover of the pub- fication, Roan of One’s Own, Vol. 22:4. The painting, Js Her Own Skin, is one of a series of 12 that was exhibited at the Ferry Building Gallery two years ago. ; Published quarterly, the magazine is a collection of short stories, poems, reviews and commentary by. for and about women. Brossard is no stranger to the written word, having had several of her articles and poems published and winning two awards for writing: one in poetry and one for a personal experience essay. Her paintings have been featured on the cov- ers of Sousder and Boardwalk magazines and she was a final- ist in the Canada-wide 1998 Competition for Excellence in the Arts held in Ottawa. On the North Shore, Room of One’s Own is available at 32 Books Co. Inc., in Edgemont Village, Roots Books in Dundarave and at the West Vancouver library and most independent book- stores throughout B.C. A-R-T By The Sea Gallery: Works by Lise and Ellis Bravhans. Park Royal South, Information: 921-1840, Artists for Kids Gallery: Looking Back at Where We Came Fram. Haida artist Robert Davidson will be in attendance on Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. Public is wel- come, Information: 903-3798. Bel Art Gallery Inc.: Whimsical Pleasures by Janis Blyth. To Sept. 29. The Birth of Art by Wolfgang Pentzek. Sept. 30-Oct. 27. Information: 904-0907. Buckland Southeest Gallery: Exhibition of works by Sst Lin, Information: 922-1915, Capilano College: Graduated Perspectives. Visions of the North Shore exhibition and a sale of | ~ works by alumni from the Studio Art and Textile Arts programs. Oct. 7-8, 10.a.m.-4 p.m., Birch Building. Ferry Building Gallery: The Seashore. A mixed media group —_ show. To Oct. 1. Faces af Vision, A portrait exhibition of 12, North ’ Shore artists of the Visions of the " North Shore Millennium project by photographic artist, Richard Montagna. Oct. 3-29, Opening reception, Oct. 3, 6-8 p.m., artist's talk, [1 a.m. Gallery See Swope Page 28 _ : Look at the new closet organizer ! got to fit af/my clothes! We have designed a closet organizer.” with a typical child's needs in mind. There’s a “home for ail their stuff,” whether it's ten pairs of runners ar all. their play dress-up clothes! ~~ Ask about our custom designs. | See you at ‘sHome Show (North side}, October 2-8 Closet & Mirror Doors -\ Home Show S 1 15% {min $300 order} COVE, B.C..VON 30 ‘