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Following the initiative of artists Jim Felter, Kal Opré and Gregg Simpson, an impressive collection of some 100 art works has been donated by over 30 artists to form a historical legacy of art from the Lower Mainland of BC and the resulting Coast Art Trust was founded.
Gregg Simpson, artist, CAT co-founder and curator of the exhibition remarks, “This collection of senior and mid-career B.C. artists is a reminder of the richness and diversity of art making here over many decades and demonstrates what the history of west coast Modern Art could look like when it is assembled with a wider focus and more inclusive attitude than has often been the case to date.”
The Evergreen Cultural Centre will be showing new and recent works by the artists who contributed their works to the collection. These include: King Anderson, Joan Balzar, Anna Banana, Mary Blaze, Susanna Blunt, Ross Bollerup, Richard Bond, Pierre Coupey, Audrey Doray, James W. Felter, Stephen Gibbons-Barrett, Sherry Grauer, Pnina Granirer, Martin Guderna, John Haig, Jeannie Kamins, John Koerner, Jeanne Krabbendam, Leo LaBelle, Heather McAlpine, Sally Michener, Marilyn Mylrea, Kal Opré, Gordon Payne, Sharon Perkins, Friedrich Peter, Henri Robideau, Derek Seddon, Gregg Simpson, Peter Small, Bob Steele, Sylvia Tait and Bill Thomson.
The works range from paintings to photography, sculpture, and mixed media which reflect a dazzling variety of artistic styles. Abstraction, landscape, surrealism, minimalism, figuration and social commentary rub shoulders with mystical, lyrical and satiric visions.
This mix is what was once referred to by the late art critic of the Sun, Joan Lowndes, as the “free-wheeling spirit of the West Coast”. This spirit is something which Coast Art Trust has endeavored to re-inspire.