26 - Wednesday, December 23, 1992 - North Shore News

Presented in beautiful, refined style

From page 24

crafted paintings and hand-made prints.

“treally missed the days | spent in South Africa. We lived in the country just outside of Johan- nesburg and used to play barefoot in the hills. it was beatiful,” . recalls the former Seycove stu- dent. ‘| think one of the reasons | went to Fiji at 18 was to duplicate that childhood innocence.”

A boyish-looking 26 with thick wavy blond hair and the face of a choir boy, van Sandwyck can be seen most days racing around Vancouver in an old beat-up Volkswagen bug.

Garbed in corduravs and a hand-weven vest, he talked about his life during a recent trip home.

After ‘‘shooting” himself in the head after only three weeks on the job as a graphic designer (van Sandwyck quickly discovered that he could not sacrifice his artistic integrity for the commercial whims of clients), he decided that one way or the other, he would become his own boss.

Having had his first gallery ex- hibit at the tender age of 15, it was only natural that painting become his bread and butter. tn the fast eight years van Sandwyck has ad- ded honey and jam, making a

* handsome Siving from his art. _ His exhibitions, which typically sell out, feature old-world-style portraits of tropical birds and in- sects. :

Van Sandwyck tikes to endow his ark-load of creatures with human qualities and charac-

teristics: in his world, bees play trumpets, pelicans carry teapots, herons don top hats, vests and coat-tails, only to have theie wives complain of their poor taste in clothing.

if this sounds like great material for a children’s book, it is. Van Sandwyck recently created his first large-run printing of The Parade to Paradise, published by Van- couver-based SummerWild Pro- ductions.

A well-produced, stylish children’s fable about an eccentric flock of birds, the book was writ- ten by van Sandwyck in rhyming couplets and illustrated in opulent watercolors that recall faded ballrooms and Art Deco hotel foyers.

The Parade to Paracise emerged from tales van Sandwyck spins to Fijian children, “the little ones who restored my faith in humani- ty.”

Van Sandwyck has deep respect for children, and that respect is clearly reflected in his book,

The story is about finding para- dise within one’s own heart, and it’s written in a beautifully refined style. He says he was careful not to condescend to his audience.

“What do we have here in Canada as a legacy for our kids? It’s always a quick read — just write down five words and that's it. But what you do is tose the ef- fect of taste. And kids have phe- nomenal taste.

“| remember when I was a kid, we loved hearing our parents gossip. However, when we got to the books it wasn’t there because

| : :

FOR_MEN AND WOMEN

‘BOXING DAY SALE

children’s books are suppused to be pure. But kids Jove that kind of stuff.”

Van Sandwyck can rest assured his name will go down in the an- nals of Canadian history. The Na- tional Library of Canada bought everything from thumbnail sket- ches to his entire original series of paintings (even a tattered shopping list on the back of which The Parade to Paradise was conceiv- ed). . His only regret is that the children who inspired him to write his book in the first place will not be able to read it.

Then again, if North American kids like it enough maybe van Sandwyck’s Fijian friends will one day have their very own transla- tion.

“Thanks for the

| Socks, | but I really wanted a

| Sofa Sale” |

If you didn’t get what you really wanted for . Christmas, now is the time to shop for yourself at our biggest sales event of the year. The best

13% OFF your

Christmas or

New Year’s Party!

(over 10 people) Staff Banquets up to 250 accommodated.

OPEN NEW YEAR’S

bargain, this is the place!.

Bas FRoch Bey r,

Choose any 4 dishes on cur menu and receive a FREE CRAB!

a:

Come in and. see why our customers are calling us one of the best furniture stores around. If you are going anywhere to shop [or a holiday

DEC., 24 & 26 only

Entire Ladies’ Wear Collection

50-70%.

Men's Wear 50% OFF

(No Coupons Accepted. No exchanges or refunds))

123 Carrie Cates Cri. QE

Lonsdale Market Manived O80 Tanti oo est G8 Sun 115 987-8009 .

vereat® Rave

EXTRAVAGANZA $10 tickets avail. at bar

Includes party favours, door prizes, glass of champagne. ‘ Dinner specials available 6-9:30pm

1052 DEEP COVE RD.. N. VAN. 929-3834

prices on the best selection, BOXING DAY!

Great Pacific... the affordable designer store.

Everything is on sale at the years best prices.

RANE ty PAR bee 7 eet r eR meme cE etre =

All Major Credit 872-4806

Cards Accepted

BOXING DAY HOURS ToAM-SPM

Wednesday Night DARTS

Monday Night FOOTBALL