There is no better time to support the local arts scene now that the month-long Squamish ArtWalk is underway.
In a time when the world seems more turbulent – be it civil unrest or record-breaking storms in the U.S., or out-of-control wildfires closer to home – art has the power to bring us together and provides a break from the chaos.
Local art helps us express our values and build bridges between cultures, regardless of ethnicity, religion or age, according to charitable association Business for the Arts.
So, as dozens of artists from Squamish and Britannia Beach open their studios and businesses for the Squamish ArtWalk, make sure to check them out until the end of September. The annual event is put on by VISUALS, Squamish Artists Society and Squamish Arts Council (go to www.squamishvisuals.com/artwalk.com for a map of participating artists).
The event also includes workshops: The next ones are on Sept. 16 (Children’s Crafting with Dawna Werbeski) and Sept. 30 (Chinese Brush Painting), as well as “ArtWalk Toonie Tours” on Sept. 16 and 23, in which a guide takes a group of people to venues in central Squamish by bike. The Brackendale Arts Gallery is holding events throughout the month – Dustin Bentall & Kendel Carson play on Sept. 23 – and is showing work from local artists including Maureen Brown, Zoe Evamy, Jeannie Hnytka, Penelope Kalopisi Kennedy and Toby Jaxon.
Not only can the arts help to engage the community, it has a positive impact on children, who are proven to have better academic performance and lower drop-out rates when participating in school programs, Business for the Arts notes. The local economy also benefits in the form of tourism – out-of-towners, for example, are regularly spotted admiring the new salmon public art displays downtown and on the waterfront in Brackendale – as well as helping local artists themselves make a living.
The Squamish ArtWalk is a great way to get to know our artists, narrow down what type of artwork you like best and, perhaps, buy a piece. Painters, jewelry-makers, potters and other creative types are continuing to make Squamish a well-known arts hub in the Sea to Sky Corridor that is getting noticed across the Lower Mainland as well. After all, there’s no better place to draw inspiration from than the magnificent local views.
