Local Artist Profiles

Kariton Art Gallery in Abbotsford

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

Visit Kariton Art Gallery in Abbotsford for a trip into a fantastical world. On display until September 28, 2011, is “A Tea Party with the March Hare,” featuring works by local artists Ann Grundy and Margaret Blackburn. The exhibition displays a wide range of arts, including fibre arts, paper mache masks, hand-crafted dresses and couture hats.

Ann Grundy’s March Hare display brings the tea party to life in exquisite detail. Included in the display are the March Hare, Alice and more characters from “Alice in Wonderland.”

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Artist Profile: Grant McMillan

Sunday, June 19th, 2011

Amid shavings and woodchips in a Langley studio, the shape of a bird emerges from a found piece of spalted birch. Under the careful hand of Langley artist Grant McMillan, the carving—a gift for his wife—will take shape and come to life.

What began 16 years ago with a birthday gift from his dad—two carving knives and a gouge—has become a passion for the father of three. “It really just took off from there,” says McMillan, who has been carving ever since.

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Artist Profile: Yapes Paints

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

On a bright Saturday afternoon, sun streams through the window onto the large canvas propped on an easel. While conventionality suggests one might find a beret-wearing, palette-holding artist working here, this day finds Yapes Paints’ April Lacheur sprawled on the paint-splattered floor, doing ink work on a long wood “canvas.” As her relaxed approach indicates, Lacheur—like her art—is anything but conventional.

Best known for her whimsical and unique tree paintings, Lacheur leans over her latest piece—which features cherry blossom trees amid a colourful cityscape—adding touches with her skillful hand. “I love painting trees because their shape and branches are free,” she says. “I can paint them freely, and they turn out the way I want.”

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