Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Open Air Art Show in Ladysmith

To start out with...an image of the last open air Milonga in the Sidney Band shell, beautifully located in Sidney's ocean side park.
We have Tango Nuevo, Tango Kinetiko, Tango Salon, but here we have a  brand new version: Tango Canino
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The last dance of summer. This venue must be one of the most appealing in all of Vancouver Island. And when the sun shines, which it mercifully did this enjoyable Saturday, it is like a little piece of heaven.
Since 1998, Arts on the Avenue, is an annual event in quaint Ladysmith, a coveted little town amongst the movie location crowd. A couple of blocks of main street turn into an arts (and crafts) gallery. About thirty five local artists spread and hung their works under a line up of white tents. Everyone being very happy that brisk ocean breezes held off, and late summer sunshine bathed everything in light and warmth.
Just in time, with the iconic Volkswagen Bus finally phased out of Volkswagen production, a few paintings may be a lasting homage to the celebrated van. Fido is watching for potential buyers - and this painting was one of the first with a 'SOLD' sticker on it.
Darcy Irvin is the artist
Apart from finished works, one could admire works in progress. Many artists brought their paraphernalia and painted either local scenes or abstract expressions.
Carrie Kendall at work
Realism is alive and well, as this water colour portrait of 'Fred' by Geoffrey Martin proves. Dogs, Cats, Horses, Budgies all are represented true to live and character. He has been featured in Magazines such as Modern Dog, Virginia Maryland Dog, Citizen Pet, Creatures All and more.
www.gpmartin.com
Just in case your pet needs a sitting.
Sheryl Sawchuck, with one of her over sized paintings of flamboyant blooms.
Mark Hobson, painter living in a remote float home on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island. He paints images from the Pacific Coast, from raging surf, misty coves, feeding sea otters, to whales frolicking under water amongst fronds of kelp.
One needs to take a nine kilometer boat ride to see him in his studio. But on Internet one may find him at
www.markhobson.com


 
First Nation crafts artists sold Cowichan Tribe knit wear and plaque carvings.
Exhuberant painting, whose author comes from Quebec.
Detail of a painting by unidentified artist
Art Lover, who for the occasion wore two rubber bands in his profuse head of hair, so his fringe would not obstruct the view of displayed art.
The crafters were represented as well. Here a silk scarf by Karen Nelson
Strange Birds by Katherine Moore
www.strangebirdstudio.ca
D. F. Gray, soft pastels and acrylics, casually capturing a Ladysmith scene. His paintings were on sale for $1500 a piece....
Jessica La Fontaine and her Organic Gourd Vessels, all exquisitely adorned.
www.jesseylafontaine.ca
 
Setting the ambiance...
Stilt Artists in search for ice cream...
City By Law prohibits dogs, but the sidewalks were filled with them, all watched by their - mostly male - owners, whilst the ladies were off inspecting the displays.

 
 Painting by Michael Dean of a Vancouver Island Stream www.michaeldean.art.com
Altogether a pleasant stroll on beautiful sunny Sunday Morning...

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Images from Saltspring Saturday Market

Talk about eclectic....Saltspring Island on a Saturday meets all requirements on that score. Saltspring Island is never exactly the best example of staid anglo saxon up-tightness in the best of times, but on Saturdays - watch out. Every over the hill hippy is out with whatever organic vegetable or herb from his or her garden, potential customers of all stripes stroll through their vending stands,  every unconventional piece of clothing will be parading around...great spot for people watching
 
Discarded upright pianos dot the street scape of Ganges, the main village of Saltspring Island, and anyone can test their skills at the black and whites....

Saltspring Island Haute Couture

Any style combination goes...caftans, pyjamas, you name it...

Organic display of glass jewellery

Not quite Argentinean, but the long hair trend is definitely in on Saltspring Island

Love behind the vendor stalls...

Harley Crowd mingling amongst the market stalls

One can even get too much of organic food...

But, the organic harvest sure looks colourful and appetizing

Which kind of mushroom do you want to get high on?

Weekend gossip...

Saltspring Island Youth

Wall ornament bug

Yogi with reverse pony tail

Kiddie fun - open air drafting

Herbs and Spices

A little west coast folklorico from China thrown into the mix...

Anyone liking my jewellery??

Should I or shouldn't I spend my hard begged dollar on this?

Emblem from the past posing downtown Ganges...

Definitely - very Saltspring. No deer crossing, but amongst the crystal crowd, what else what cross the main road but an elf?

Shopping along the water front in Ganges

The local church put on a Milonga at the hall

Tango at Ganges....

Hey, those are my shoes...., except not on my feet!!!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

RCMP Musical Ride in Cowichan Valley

Glorious summer day in Cowichan Valley, a great day to take in our beloved Royal Canadian MOUNTED Police at one of their cross Canada Tour stops, right here on expansive Avalon Farm on Herd Road near Duncan. Normally a training and competition venue for Three Day Eventers, today three container size horse trailers emblazoned with the Musical Ride logos, and carrying 35 horses and a couple of spares, drove into the Equestrian Center Yard.
Another trailer transported tack, gear, supplies etc - quite a logistics challenge.
Totally disciplined, the caravan arrived about two hours before show start, horses were unloaded, tacked up, and the riders donned their iconic red tunic uniforms.
Here they are, almost forty black tall horses, bred in the RCMP breeding division.They are dressed in blue and gold travel blankets and being as cool as can be. No a flicker of nervousness or excitement anywhere.
 
 
 
 
These animals are bred for size, strength, uniform colour (all black) and suitable disposition and athletic ability.
 When old enough to start training, their riders work to perfect the horses' skills. After three years, any horse, that does not meet stringent demands of the Musical Ride is offered for sale at public auction - a good time to pick up a Hanoverian bred mount.
  
What would a Musical Ride be without the oh so Canadian performance of a Pipe Band. The Cowichan Bay Pipers are quite in demand in Tattoos and Highland Games all over Canada and outside the Country.
To start things of on the right hoof, members of the Cowichan Valley Driving Association demonstrated the skills of 'large and small' driving teams. Katharina with Bliss shows off excellent dressage agility on her beautiful marathon style carriage. Formal attire, blanket and hat are de rigeur - lovely.
Size definitely is not everything, as this spirited little mini horse demonstrated - the lady driver seems to enjoy her drive around the grass ring. She uses a small training cart.
Boys need their toys...and some of the non motorized ones offer just as much enjoyment as a multi horse power gas guzzler.
As they say in Police Speak, an RCMP officer with his canine unit, for me it is a Policeman with a very very well trained German Shepherd dog. This animal is totally concentrating on his work, not a second of inattention. He obeys - not voice commands - but sign language, some of it quite obvious, like sit up, or lay down commanded via a raised or lowered hand. But some of the other commands are so imperceptible, that a casual observer notices the dog's reaction but not the handler's command.
 Lovely purebred individual. I understand that there is a waiting list more than 400 strong amongst RCMP officers to be accepted into the canine unit, as the work is exacting but extremely satisfying with a trusty partner like this one.
1700 tickets sold. Bring your own lawn chairs. No pets, close sun umbrellas when horses are in the arena (great idea). Toilets, hot dog stand, cookie stand, a couple of community tents and ONE ice cream concession. Temperatures being pretty high, the latter had a line up with an elapsed time from end of line to ice cream cone in hand was about 40 minutes. However, all done by volunteers, parking arrangements, toilet facilities, traffic control - all went without a hitch. Best of all were the special handicapped parking arrangements. Handicapped visitors would park their vehicles  in a designated piece of the immense field, and then would be transported via volunteer golf carts to the observation spot of their choice, wheel chair, lawn chair and all.
Here they are, a dramatic entry into the marked off performance area. The dark pine trees in the background, with the sun throwing a deep shadow at their feet, thirty six horses and their riders in traditional red tunic emerge from the forest into the light.
The horse, ever cool and calm, ready to go through the various synchronized exercises. Years ago the Musical Ride was an entirely male domain, but today a large percentage of the riding officers is made of of females.
Quadrilles, windmills, spirals, interlocking circles, cross cross traverses, flat out charge (all in one direction, and away from the public just in case one of these well trained animals would take a liking to greener pastures outside the enclosure). I sat at ring level, and the intricate manoeuvres could not be clearly captured on camera...hence all the experienced spectators camping on the surrounding slopes - better view.
Stubben Saddles (German brand of renown), double bridle, gloves with gauntlets, handgun strapped around the waist, red tunic and dark pants with gold stripe - as traditional and picture postcard as it can get.
And The Hat, worn dead straight, not even a millimeter tilt...
All the horses have Maple Leafs brushed like a water mark on their hind quarters, however, dust covered them quickly.
After the ride....meet horse and rider...a field day for kids
Well, he is ready to go home
In truly Canadian fashion, people were asked over the loudspeaker to pick up their and any other garbage before leaving the site - and guess what - they did!
Oh Canada!