VSC Newsletter ~ May 2021

 

May 2021
Contact Information:

Secretary   victoriasketchclub@gmail.com

VSC website   www.victoriasketchclub.ca   
 
Facebook  
 https://www.facebook.com/victoriasketchclub/
Club News

VSC Exhibition Government House-- October 2021

 
The CEO of Government House has confirmed in writing that the VSC will have an exhibition in October. The dates are now entered in the GH calendar with the exhibition slated to open October 4. More news and details to follow.
 
Here are some issues of interest that you should be aware of.
  • GH is not open to the public unless there is an event or tour underway
  • this is an exhibition not a sale 
  • the subject and media on the painting are open, but GH would prefer scenes or local settings such as GH itself, its gardens, Greater Victoria and west coast subjects 
  • maximum painting size details will likely by 16" x 25"
To ensure fairness, the VSC will hold a lottery for all Club members on June 22 (see VSC programming below). 
 
Cheers,
Larry
President VSC 
VSC Programming
Our plein air sessions are well underway, and our programme director will be keeping members apprised on a weekly basis of our venues. Hope everyone can make it out into the sunshine!

On 22 June the plein air session will be at Windsor Park. We'll gather at lunch time (adhering to Covid-19 PHO guidelines) to socialize, introduce new members, update Paint Out 2021 (and perhaps 2022, too), and hold our GH lottery.
Scenes from May 4th 
Plein air program
Beautiful Playfair Park was the day's venue, and we lost count at about 20 VSC members! It was a wonderful turnout, and much distanced socializing was had by all. The camas was in full bloom and the azaleas were popping.

For an interesting history of the park, referred to as a "magnificent failure," check out this site from the Virgina Tech University Libraries.
Scenes from May 11th
Plein air program
Cattle Point (also known as "where cows do front crawl") has spectacularly long views, easterly across the San Juan islands with Mt Baker beyond, and southerly towards the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. It was a gorgeous day, and we had a good turnout!
Scenes from May 18th
Plein air program
The gardens were lovely at UVIc's Finnerty Gardens and, from the car window, the day appeared bright and beautiful. However, it was a 'crispy' day with temperatures hovering around 13 degrees Celsius, and gusting winds circulating through the tall trees. About a dozen brave souls made it out.

The gardens were developed in 1974 when the estate of Jeanne Buchanan Simpson was left UVic. Starting in the 1920s, she and husband George built up a notable collection of Rhododendron species at their Lake Cowichan homes. At the time, theirs was the largest collection in BC. For more history of the gardens, go here
Scenes from May 25th
Plein air program
Today's plein air was held at Michell's Farm and Island View Beach. What looked at first like a gloomy day, turned into a spectacular one, particularly on Island View Beach. About half a dozen sketchers and painters met on the beach (along with Gillian's friendly Finn the Westie). 
History Corner
by John Lover

By the mid 1930s there were signs that the Island Arts and Craft Society was losing some of the vigour of its golden years of the 1920s. The excitement of the 1932 Modern Room venture now seemed a distant memory with the stars of that “modernist” surge – Carr, Maynard, Shadbolt, Hembroff and Uhthoff – having now moved in other directions. Furthermore, there was a vacuum in leadership now that many of the pioneers of the organization like Gore, Maclure and Pemberton had passed away.
 
More evidence of a crisis came in 1937 when a special meeting was convened to confront the fact that the Society was unable to meet the cost of maintaining its clubrooms. A motion for the organization to continue was passed, albeit on a split vote, and the stalwart Josephine Crease was tasked with seeking out someone of the stature needed to lead the quest for revitalization. Her choice fell on the Reverend Robert Connell, a public figure in his own right, no stranger to the Society and, due to various twists of fate, now readily available for a new mission.   
 
Connell was born of Scottish parents in Liverpool, England, in 1871, and came to Canada at the age of 17. After work in various short-term jobs, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1895 and, following his marriage, moved to Victoria in 1901 as a vicar, thence retiring from the pulpit in 1923.

Connell, an accomplished artist, enjoyed a wide range of interests and displayed a breadth of talents. He taught botany at Victoria High School and he taught art at St. Michael’s private boys’ school. He had already become associated with the Island Arts and Crafts Society, having exhibited for the first time in the 1913 annual show.
 
Subsequently, he turned to a career in politics, joining the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the predecessor of the New Democratic Party. In 1932, after successfully running for the provincial legislature, he became leader of the Official Opposition in the BC Legislature until 1937. His ambition was to bring Christian principle into politics, but at a time of internal party strife, he was displaced by its militant faction who had become impatient at Connell's desire to bring about reform via constitutional rather than revolutionary means. Subsequently, standing as a candidate for a splinter party he failed to be re-elected.  
 
At this point, he was sought out by Josephine Crease, Honorary President of the now ailing Island Arts and Crafts Society, to lead the Society and assist in its reorganization.

During the tenure of his presidency, 1937-1939, Connell was able to reactivate his painting skills, and his work was on show at the Society’s exhibition in 1937 and 1938. His depiction of Christ Church Cathedral is in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
 
Self-educated, he was a prolific reader and writer, contributing weekly columns on nature and geology to the Daily Times in the 1920s and 1930s and subsequently to the Daily Colonist until the late 1940s.  

The Reverend Robert Connell began the last phase of his career by returning to the spiritual world, and in 1940 became Archdeacon of Comox on Vancouver Island. He died in 1957.

IIlustrations:  Christ Church Cathedral, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, K03280

Members' News
For Sale:   Lee Valley Art Plein Air Carry-All
(used once!) New:  $106 + tax $12 = $118     
Will sell for $60
Call Virginia at 250-360-2839
Thanks!       
Art Show News

Sooke Art Show

The Sooke Art Show 2021 online show takes place from July 23 - August 2 at sookefinearts.com. They have developed a new and more robust website to improve the quality of the event, and will be open for submissions starting March 17 - May 25. Check out their website for more detail.
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CALL TO ARTISTS

SPLASH! OF PAINT Saturday June 19, 2021

The Township Community Arts Council is thrilled to announce our first annual Plein Air art show and competition.

All subject matter and medium are permitted. Artists will be required to complete their original work on the day of June 19, 2021 at their chosen, approved location within the Township of Esquimalt and submit by end of day (6pm) to the Township Community Arts Council (1249 Esquimalt Rd #103, Esquimalt, BC V9A 3P2). There is no restriction on size or style; easel recommended. Artwork must be available for the first 3 weeks in August for a public art show and awards event.

Prizes to be awarded as follows:

Our Heritage - $500 CA Artistic merit - $500 CA
Best Seascape - $500 CA Best Streetscape - $500 CA
People’s Choice Award - $100 CA
Best Landscape - $500 CA Best in Show - $1,000 CA
Best small painting - $100

HOW TO APPLY: Submit your application online to townshiparts@gmail.com. Applications must include

●  Artist biography
●  Artist statement (100 words or less) including requested location
●  A digital portfolio of recent paintings ( medium and size )

Deadline for registration June 4, 2021
TCAC Contact Name: Thierry Keruzore / Kelly Kurta


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Paint Out! 2021
Beach Acres, Parksville, is the venue for 2021, September 7-14, 2021. There are lots of painting sites in and around Parksville and Qualicum Beach. 
 
For more information, please go to the website at www.beachacresresort.com. If you are interested in joining us, please make your booking ASAP.

Guest Services and Sales, call 1-800-663-7309
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