January introduces the tenth year of art exhibitions in the Foyer Gallery at the Squamish Public Library. Throughout those years, Fran Solar has been a steady champion for the gallery. She began hanging the shows in October 1997 as part of a volunteer committee, then as co-organizer with Jane Iverson for two years, and has continued on as curator since then.
With Solar's quiet but persistent vision, the gallery has developed a reputation for high caliber works by local artists and beyond. Her dedication is appreciated by anyone who has enjoyed the exhibitions.
Solar especially loves hanging the shows and is continually impressed by the quality and variety of creativity in our corridor. She officially retired from this labour of love with the December 2006 exhibition of impressive works by Visuals members, but not before organizing artists for most of the 2007 season.
Kicking off the New Year at the Foyer Gallery are works by Squamish Valley Quilters Guild and Clayworks Community Studio. Both feature work by group members of different backgrounds and levels of skill.
The Squamish Valley Quilters' Guild has grown from its formation in 1996 to a membership of 40 active participants.
The Quilt Guild is out in our community hosting quilt shows, participating in community art displays such as Wild At Art and most significantly organizing their annual community project in which the guild makes and donates 25 to 35 quilts to agencies like Victim Services, Pearl's Place Transition House, Hilltop and this year to Brackendale House.
The Clayworks display is designed to educate and inspire viewers in the range of methods for construction and composition used in clay arts and the craft of pottery, and different decorating and firing techniques.
Potters Kay Austin and Al Price are the potters and partners behind the Clayworks Community Studiowhose brilliance is to grow the Squamish pottery community by establishing a Guild and a community pottery facility to be carried by the guild.
Come and see our community talent working through quilt and clay at the Squamish Public Library Foyer Gallery from Jan. 9 through Feb. 6.
