A Wider Breadth of Joy
The mélange of my life grows a wider breadth of joy, sorrow, loss and sheer need to LIVE through my art onwards into 2018. Emotions with tears for highs and lows only become fuel for more determination to be better and live on.
In following, with my varied interests, it is more important than ever before to live life and try new modes of seeing and being seen in our evolving technological and social fabric.
2015 was spent in safety and some art and with galleries visited in Western Canada. With my cameras, from Southeastern Saskatchewan to Northeastern BC, I travelled with many stops in Vancouver and sojourns to my lovely Comox Valley.
October 2015 saw a major accident in my life reduce my mobility but NOT my determination. Since then, through time spent on physio in many forms, the gym and pool, my injuries and their symptoms have plateaued to a high level this year.
It meant 2016 was a slow year spent mostly in the Comox Valley and Lower Mainland with a Christmas visit to Alberta and in particular my beginning teacher and patient guide, my Mom who shared more of her learnings and art library. A visit with Con Boland in Edmonton of course as well to learn and be with his brilliant mind and imagination.
As pool and gym made me stronger with physio and lots of encouragement from the local lifeguards and health personnel, I persevered through 2016 and 2017. As the injuries recouped and I got stronger, the opportunity to work with First Nations for a term evolved in the Spring of 2017.
Previous work with the Inuit in the Arctic and First Nations communities in Canada also made this an opportunity for traveling creating new land and seascapes. To remote BC Coastlines like Hartley Bay, Bella Coola, Kitkatla, Port Simpson and other northern coastal communities.
I also took my cameras into landlocked areas of BC around Fort St. John and more remote communities like New Hazleton or Kwadacha five hours north of Prince George where 13 black bears were seen in one day in pure wilderness!
The fall brought on a continuation of aquatic interests; training for and completing my National Lifeguard Certification from the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada. This accomplishment was overwhelmingly the most physically demanding achievement I have done in many years. But with guidance from local staff, a lot of gym and pool training, perseverance and determination we forged on to get my certification.
The sudden passing of my friend and longtime mentor Con Boland has left a hole in my soul of which will never be replaced. We must remember how such a creative, passionate and innovative man made a difference in the world and brought an eye and mind to our lives that will never be replaced.
The winter of 2018 arrives with adventure, art and creativity, risk management, safety and continued perseverance to be as healthy as possible after my accident and capture more landscapes in my lens. Once again, I invite you to visit the amazing Comox Valley for a beverage of choice in my gallery or to meet wherever I may land this year.
