This year’s Paint Out at Beach Acres was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. The opportunity for painting and sketching diverse landscapes – whether it be the sea, landforms, nature or the sky was so plentiful. It was decided at the September 27 session at WPP that we should take advantage of a good thing, so are poised to return next year, all going well. Our collective thanks to Anne Bowen for being the coordinator for this amazing en plein airweek away! (See below for some nice pictures of the event)
In late August the VSC met to discuss the upcoming show in March 2023, membership capacity, the sale of art cards and our social media profile.
Larry Gollner has most graciously volunteered to be Show Director for the 2023 Show. He has taken on this role with the hope that someone in the Club will step up to the plate so some succession training can happen. Please consider this role; we are all volunteers! Larry will be keeping us up to date on the planning process. While it is six months away, this is the main event of the Club’s year, and we hope to do as well as last year. It really is an “all hands-on deck” affair.
Regarding our membership – the VSC is currently at capacity for membership – this is a good sign of success!
The Executive Council made a collective decision to not sell cards at the 2023 Art Show. The bottom line is that within the Club’s Constitution it states that only original works of art are to be displayed and sold at the VSC Art Show. While this decision may not be pleasing to everyone, at this time, with the expected capacity of volunteers and organizational complexities, we’ve decided this is in the Club’s best interest.
Our social media platforms – Facebook and Instagram – are often updated, so don’t forget to check them out if you can.
Whilst enjoying the beautiful weather of these early autumn days, we are now back to weekly sessions at the Windsor Park Pavilion. I look forward to seeing you there!
Gillian Rhodes
VSC President |
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2022 Fall / Winter Program
DATES FOR 2022 and 2023
Venue: Windsor Park Pavilion
Time: 12:30-4:30
October 4, 11, 18, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
December 6
January 10, 17, 24, 31
February 7, 14, 21, 28
March 7 & 14
VSC Show week
March 20 - 26 (all hands on deck!)
March 28 - no session due to Spring Break
April 4, 11, 18, 25
Thanks all!
Pat Hindmarch-Watson |
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Paint Out 2022!
September 6 - 13, Parksville, BC |
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| Below are shots from Rathtrevor Beach, Top Bridge, the Black Goose dinner / Show and Share, and the beautiful Madrona Point. |
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 | | ... and a big shout-out of thanks to Anne Bowen who organized this year's successful Paint Out! |
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Autumn Sessions
Windsor Park Pavilion |
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| Members returned to VSC's heartland in great numbers after a wonderful summer of en plein air sessions. According to my sources, there were 28 people in attendance at Windsor Park Pavilion! Welcome back, everyone! |
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| Another good turnout of active club members, and a lovely shot of Nirmala Greenwell's shell sketch. |
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History Corner
by John Lover |
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In a previous History Corner of October 2020, featuring members of our Club who were practicing architects, there was an omission of sufficient significance and interest to be made good this time.
William Jacobus (Jacques) Semeyn was born in Grouw, the Netherlands, in 1890. He inherited the hereditary title of Baron, reportedly bestowed on his family by Prince William of Orange. He trained as an architect in Amsterdam where he practiced for five years before emigrating to Canada, making his way to Vancouver by train.
Arriving in Victoria in 1908, he worked with Samuel Maclure who was by that time operating an established and well-respected architectural practice in the city. Like Maclure, Semeyn w as a talented artist, and together with his fellow architect, he became a founder member of the Island Arts Club in 1909.
He first exhibited his artwork at the second annual show of the Club in 1911, contributing three modern decorative designs in oil. Two watercolours in the 1920 exhibition illustrated his versatility, and the 1921 show catalogue listed him as “Instructor in design and interior decoration.” In 1922, he was commissioned to illustrate Alfred Carmichael’s book, “Indian Legends of Vancouver Island,” which described the customs and habits of west coast indigenous peoples (see illustration above).
After his association with Maclure, Semeyn started his own practice and later partnered the English born architect Karl Spurgin before resuming his independence. He registered with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, retiring as an architect in 1950. Over his career, he experimental with several different styles. One of his best-known creations was the  Tweedsmuir Mansions Apartments overlooking Beacon Hill Park, containing Victoria’s first modern “penthouse,” and described in Segger and Franklin’s seminal work on local architecture as “a white stucco butterfly-plan building in the Moderne tradition.” (see illustration).
In the late 1930s, Semeyn married Yvette Cross, sister of W.H. Cross, a businessman who had led the financing of the Uplands development prior to World War II. The couple lived in the family home named “Valrose”, commissioned by Cross in 1915 and today recognized for its heritage value. Semeyn was to reside there until his tragic death in 1952 when, according to his death certificate, he was found drowned after a fall from a boat in Maple Bay. |
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