Laura Genovese’s dining room table is covered with paints, canvas and brushes.
It remains like that unless her large family comes over for dinner. But once they leave, it quickly returns back to its natural state.
“When I see the supplies out, it reminds me to get working,” she says.
With her children gone from the nest, Genovese has rediscovered her passion for art. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, while her husband worked on constructing the new Sea to Sky Highway, the Coquitlam-based artist reached out to the Squamish artists’ collective VISUALS.
Although she has never technically called the Sea to Sky Corridor home, Genovese knows most of the area’s creeks and ponds and Howe Sound’s shoreline.
“My parents bought a house at Green Lake in Whistler 30 years ago,” she says.
Her latest work currently hangs at The Gallery at the Art Centre (formerly Millennium Place) in Whistler as part of the VISUALS art exhibit.
The show, Sky’s The Limit, debuted at the Squamish Wind Festival in July.
The collection includes paintings, sculptures, weavings, photography and jewelry, each of which draws inspiration from the windy weather for which Squamish is renowned.
More than 20 artists translated the Sea to Sky Corridor’s natural characteristics into a wide variety of art forms, says VISUALS group show coordinator Sarah Saunders.
“The word Squamish literally means ‘Mother of the Wind,’” Saunders says. “Given our squally weather in Squamish, rain or shine, it’s not hard to understand how the original Coast Salish inhabitants came up with the name for this blustery little town.
“For me, the theme represents Squamish perfectly. It’s all about the importance of being connected with Mother Nature.”
Each contributing artist is a member of the collective, which aims to support artists’ growth by curating shows and providing an information-sharing network. The benefits of working with such a group are vast, Saunders notes.
“Through sharing knowledge, ideas, time and resources, we are able to promote each other’s work and enhance overall creativity. There are endless opportunities, and the pool of creative knowledge in itself is inspiring to all of us.”
Genovese is excited about this show. The variety of work is interesting, she says. The exhibit also gives her a chance to display her work in a place dear to her heart.
“I am really proud to be one of the artists who get to represent the area,” Genovese says of the show, which runs until Jan. 4.
The Gallery at the Arts Centre is open daily with free admission. For more information on the exhibit and The Gallery, visit artswhistler.com.
