Aug
7
Photos by Bob Tuomi
By Rita Button
One Thursday afternoon in June, I had a good time at Huntingdon Manor's Artisan Lane-just behind the hotel toward the end of Belleville. I remembered touring through the space a long time ago-likely the eighties-and this iteration is lively and interesting. Nicole Hewat, the manager of the lane, an artist herself, has a specific set of criteria in choosing vendors who work in the lane; they must be relatively unknown, have a great work ethic, a unique ability to communicate his/her artistic vision, a need to work collaboratively, and a drive to succeed. These qualities are obvious in a walk through the lane and a talk with the people whose work is on display. On a return visit in July, I noticed that although the experiences changes as a result of a slight change in vendors, the flavor of the lane remains the same.
Everyone I spoke to was excited about the current manifestation of Artisans' Lane. It was the first day for Janice whose jams, jellies and vinegars lined the shelves of her space. Everything is made of natural ingredients. No chemicals have been wasted on these products! She was happily nervous-hadn't managed to get to bed before 1:30 am so that she could be ready for her opening. And the sparkling jams in their sealers looked yummy. She's been to market in years past, but this is her first experience in the Lane.
Beside her, was Debbie Bowles who, originally from Mayne Island, is on her way to the Interior of BC, but in the meantime, her beautifully bright paintings, cards, and prints are a joy to see. She occupied what Nicole referred to as the occasional booth; in other words, visiting artists would occupy the space weeks at a time. A part of me wished that Debbie would stay, but the other part was interested in who would be next. What great new ideas might be displayed in this space throughout the summer and early fall? Lindsay, the person in charge of this space, scours the area for people whose work merits attention. When I returned to the space a few weeks later, I discovered a wonderful variety of products. Lindsay enjoys finding the unique and the rare: her motto is "We've found the needles in the hay." She searches for vendors who are not represented at local markets and becomes their curator. Enthusiastic and curious, she enjoys showcasing unusual artisanal items from Vancouver Island.
When I walked by Christoph James's booth, he was sketching. He stopped when I asked him how he'd started. He said he'd been drawing forever, but it was only in the last few years that he felt good enough about his work to begin selling it. He starts with a shape and just "goes with it" allowing his muse to lead the way. Sketches and paintings show his eclectic view of the world. I enjoyed both the art and the artist.
Between these two art forms was yet another: hisao matsui's photography. His wife Mary drew my attention to some of the details of his work-reflective, peaceful, and exquisite-and that is the point-his photographs reveal the elegance in the ordinary, the beauty in everyday life: branches in an ordinary jar, Ogden Point pre-railings are only two of many. An internationally acclaimed photographer, he has won awards in Paris, Washington DC, San Francisco, Fort Collins and New York, but luckily for us, he lives in Victoria.
Sacha is just beginning. Her collection of sterling silver or copper earrings and necklaces, some of them enhanced with semi-precious stones, are beautiful. Her original designs beg to be touched and worn. She has decided to source all of her materials from Canada, thereby adding to the Canadian and Victorian economy. Our conversation underlined the concept of contributing to the local economy. She echoed Nicole's comments about growing the local economy while simultaneously exploring a need to create.
Michael Woestenburg displayed the jewellery he'd made. Much of it connects to bicycles, circles, gears, and all of it is original. He told me about his years of living on disability followed by time in a shelter. His love for the Lane originates in its promise of a new life for him-not only through his wonderful art, but also through the conversations he has with his fellow vendors and those who wander through to enjoy the art that has sprouted from his mind.
Sprouting is a big thing for Dianna whose friends help her in growing the food and products that she sells. Owner of Organic Market and Café on Store Street, she considers the Lane her satellite location in her attempt to widen the exposure of good food grown by people she trusts. Because she's passionate about her work of exposing the exceptional difference natural foods can make in our lives and in the health of the environment, her life is busy. Dianna rewards those who bring their own containers to take her products home as an additional reminder that our choices make a difference!
Sue McLeod of My Cloud Creations stood near her exquisite translucent porcelain bowls which contain candles made of soy wax. When the candle is lit, the light shines through the porcelain creating magical images. But within this magic is chemistry-that's the part she likes most of all in the process. Her display includes a mini-chemistry inventory which shows the elements she uses in their raw forms. Her finished products dramatize the results of the mixtures she creates to glaze her pots!
A distinctly African flavor appeals to the senses in Jacqueline McAdam's area where she runs her business, Hakuna Matata Designs, using an unusual business model, for she is "rooted in the field of social entrepreneurship". Her purpose is to give women and youth a chance to blossom, her basic question being "How can I support you?" This focus on supporting artists and youth contributes to their being able to feel hope, thereby resulting in renewed strength and vigour. The artisans she represents come from Kenya, Ethiopia and Victoria. It's difficult to know where to look first-so many wonderful pieces clamour for attention.
And then there was Jennifer whose name I had to ask twice because through all of these conversations, I was overloaded with ideas and their physical forms. She made me laugh when she explained the reasons for her choices of the art she displayed: "I used to work in a framer's shop, and I was allowed to take home the cuts from mattes of pictures I was framing!" she said. Thus, she chose paintings that would be complemented by the mattes she had saved. Her work is portrait-like. Pointing out her favourite picture, I was a little amazed; it seemed so ordinary compared to the whimsical swirls I happen to favour, but as she talked to me about the way portrait painting works, I began to see the depth in the painting, an element less obvious in the works I had originally thought interesting.
You'd think this would be enough-but there's more: non-profits are also a part of the lane. Ancient Forest Alliance is there in its pursuit of educating us by raising our awareness of the importance of British Columbia's first growth forests. Protecting old growth forests, ensuring sustainable forestry jobs, paying attention to the new First Nations land use plans in conjunction with eco-systems science is the reality they are trying to create. Much more information is available in the Lane! Check it out!
And underneath it all is Nicole-a powerhouse of energy and optimism. Her art form is animation- a truth that becomes obvious in her tremendous collaboration to rejuvenate the Lane And, she's not stopping with the Lane. Her ideas include showing movies in the band shell, offering yoga on the lawn, to identify two of many. Change is a constant in the Lane. And you'll be a constant part of the fun because you won't be able to go only once!