MEMBERS EXHIBITION
ARCHIPELAGO: an island of self
In the heart of our interconnected world, each of us stands as an island — distinct and solitary, yet woven into the fabric of a larger community. TOSH Members present a collection of works that explore this paradox of individuality and unity, inviting you to delve into the essence of selfhood through the lens of self portrait.
Let's archipelago together, finding connection through our shared exploration of what it means to be truly ourselves.
Alexa Johnston, ‘Transition’, 4” x 6”, Linocut print, $100
Alexa Johnston is a visual artist and printmaker living in Qualicum Beach, BC.Her work is a practice of making memories tangible. Collecting the history of her surroundings she taps into the real and imagined past while working to uncover her personal experience in the changing seasons of life and landscape. Exploring the ideas of memory, loss, history and the home she is endlessly inspired by the garden and the changing seasons of life. All of which create the endless depth of possibility, curiosity and discovery.
Allison Kermode, ‘Ours to Treasure. Ours to Protect’, 12” x 16” (framed), Watercolour, $425
Nature is a gift to be revered, especially our ‘more-than-human’ friends and relatives. The archipelagos that humans create often lead to a disconnection with nature as we put ourselves above all other living beings, and abrogate our roles and responsibilities to protect, conserve and preserve the sacred places and natural communities that plants and animals call home. We can be grateful for BC’s Coastal First Nations who have stewarded the Great Bear Raincoast, and Great bears like the Spirit bear, since time immemorial. FYI: These two Kermode’s never got this close!
Ani MacGillivay, ‘Señora Archipiélago’, 30” x 24” Acrylic Paint and paper collage,
A group of individual islands but together come to be a whole. I really relate to this theme as I have shared my art life in two cultures for a very long time. Many times they seem to be separate islands but when I put the paper collage together it appears as an entire work . It always seems to represent me as in a self portrait. A long time in Mexico has taught me much about colour and added to my various Canadian themes works well. The individual little islands represented by the paper pieces come together to form a whole self.
Ani Mac Instituto Allende- Mexico, BFA-NSCAD, MFA-York University
Ash Woodworth, ‘You're Sun on a Cloudy Day’, 29” x 23” framed, Graphite and Minerals on Fine Art Paper, $1500
Carla Weaver, ‘Calling My Spirit Back’, 20” x 20”, Mixed Media on Canvas, $495
As we go through life, we give our power and parts of our spirit away to other people, places, or things, and as part of healing, we need to call those parts of us that we have given away to return home. This artwork depicts those fragments returning home in my journey to restore my self and my spirit.
Catherine Fraser, ‘Wandering and Wondering’, in my mind 22” x 30”, Pen and Handmade paper
My practice consists of weekly figurative work and plein air. I find this work to be playful, reflective including both the figurative and organic feel of nature. The figure is looking at nature and being immersed in nature and reclining on fabric that feels tactile and organic.
Clare Turcott, ‘From A long ago Poem', 16” x 21”, Mixed Media collage, $450
Clare Turcott is an Artist working in Nanoose Bay, BC, Canada. Active in the local art community and much of Vancouver Island, she is currently with the sidedoor studio in Qualicum Beach. Art and Graphic projects encompass a love of drawing as well as painting. Having worked for many years as a graphic artist, eclectic explorations of drawing and painting fit naturally. Private and Gallery/Studio artwork sales over the years are and have been an active part of her art making process. As a member of a number of groups such as The Old School House Arts Centre, Sidedoor gallery in The Old School House Arts Centre, Decosmos Art Centre, and Vancouver / Arrowsmith of The Federation of Canadian Artists, Clare has participated in shows, instruction and enjoyed the 'comraderie' of other artists. She also enjoys getting together with others for outdoor plein air drawing and painting. She has sold paintings with her own shows.
Corina Menz, ‘Inner Reflection’, Acrylic on Paper, 12 x 16 3/4 inch unframed, 14 x18 3/4 framed, $340
Crystal Burgess, ‘I Am Fierce When I Need To Be’, 17” high by 22” long unmatted or framed. If selected for the show, I intend to have it matted and framed. This will make it a little larger, Watercolour and Prismacolour Pencil
Price: NFS
Darlene Ellwood, ‘Colour My World’, 24” x 30” Acrylic paint, pencil cray, ink on gallery wrapped canvas, $864
After boldly venturing into the world of painting last year, I embarked on a colourful journey of self expression.
My debut piece, Colour My World, Self Portrait captures my cheeky essence using acrylics, pencil crayon and ink pen. It is painted on a 30” x 24” gallery wrapped canvas. With the vibrant hues and my diverse style my aim is to evoke joy and wonder. I invite you to immerse yourself in my soulful creation and discover what emotions it will invoke within yourself.
Dave Casey, ‘Eighty’, 24” x 30” Acrylic on Canvas, $750.00
Dave Casey is Professor Emeritus of the Alberta University of the Arts, where he taught drawing, painting and sculpture for 40+ years. He now lives and works in Nanoose Bay, BC. His painting in bold acrylic may include digital imagery of shapes, objects and colours set out to engage the viewer in ways relevant to their own personal experience. The self-portrait “Eighty” focuses on images other than literal appearance to create an understanding of the artist. The viewer is presented with a large thumb print, a compass rose from 1944, and 80 bars that speak to the artist’s identity.
Dawne Brandel, ‘The Road to Recovery’, 15” x 30”, Acrylic, $799
This painting depicts my journey of recovery and discovery the last three years.
Connection with nature, especially the forest and garden, as well as visits from
Bonnie and Clyde (Ravens) lead me down the road of rebirth.
I'm forever grateful for this truly heart wrenching experience.
Eileen Macdonald, ‘Dangerously Fabulous ' Acrylic/Calligraphy/Fabric/Sewing, $7,000
My self-portrait is painting my ideas onto platform runners. First I drew the shoe on a canvas, then painted what I was thinking (figuring colours/font) onto the canvas. Once that was figured out and over 180+ hours later the painting of the runners was finished!
The “Punk Monk(ey)” is a reflection of my youth. Sewing the monkey, making/painting its t-shirt (“Dangerously Fabulous” repeated over and over again on it) and its necklace.
My Christian faith/beliefs and Celtic roots are reflected on the runners (Celtic knots on the back and the Celtic cross on the front). My roots go back to the Outer Northern Hebrides of Scotland where my grandparents’ language was Scottish Gaelic. All the writing is in Scottish Gaelic and are verses from the Bible. The writing with the Celtic cross are from Genesis 1:1; John 3:16-18; and John 6:39. The writing (in the form of mountains/hills) below the eagles are from Isaiah 40:28-31. The eagles, orcas and water included on the shoes reflect my love for God’s creation/nature.
Heather Mcallister, 12” x 12”, Oil on canvas panel, Framed, $375
Who is this island, this self? Today, what are the essentials and essences of this self?
Ponderings that settle in on the introspective self. Questions that sometimes float up from seemingly nowhere but more often queries that are nudged to a surface from interactions with others in a social world. So two, at least, questions. Who am I and where do I belong? Does who I am help mold my archipelago? In what social world, and in what model(s) of our social world do I belong?
Scott Alexander points out in an essay “Archipelago and Atomic Communitarianism” that there exists across people a broad and diverse range of ideal models. Tethered to a world of love, compassion and shifting worlds.
Elaine Smith, ‘Into the Thicket’, 12” x 16”, linocut print, $225.00
I view every piece of art I create as experimental and exploration using different mediums helps to refine my creative process. I view my art as a form of visual storytelling which invites the viewer into creating their own unique response and story about the images they see.
Ingrid Weiss, ‘Swimmer- Self Portrait’, 14” x 18”, Graphite on Toned paper , $700.00
Archipelago: an expanse of water with many scattered islands; a group or scattering of similar things.
This piece was inspired by a personal goal: to complete the 7km “Rattlesnake Island Swim” in Okanagan Lake. Swimming and drawing have an element of solitude - we may swim in the same sea or pool, but we work alone. Artistic and athletic pursuits are often seen as opposite inclinations yet ongoing practice, training and self-assessment are required for development of skill in both realms. Whether formally or informally, the athlete and artist learns from those who convey the skills we wish to obtain and use. In this way, we become part of a community; a scattering of similar things.
This drawing was an exercise in making peace with my inner critic, one stroke at a time. We may create on our own, but our work gains meaning being a part of a greater whole. I look forward to being a part of the TOSH archipelago.
Nalia Barkman
Title: Flip Doll Self Portrait
Materials: Repurposed socks, cloth and buttons; wool, lavender stalks and nettles; mint and maple flowers; feathers and stone.
Nalia Barkman, ‘Flip Doll Self Portrait’, Materials: Repurposed socks, cloth and buttons; wool, lavender stalks and nettles; mint and maple flowers; feathers and stone.
Jean Cockburn, ‘Oh Deer Me’, 24”Textile and mixed media, $1,000.00
I love the gentle deer of Denman Island and feel a connection with their existence. The deer are linked in my psyche with my love of nature.
This self-portrait is a soft sculpture, approximately half of life size, of a woman’s body with a deer head. It is constructed from linen fabric that I hand-embroidered and is accompanied by a handmade book of my block prints of deer images. The figure is seated on a flat basket handwoven from cedar and sea grass and is surrounded by deer antlers.
She/I face the world alertly but warily, solitary but not alone, engaged in the moment, but ready to retreat into a book at any time.
Janice Erwin, ‘Morning Reflection’, 10” x 12”, acrylic on canvas, $150.00
Never having seriously considered a self portrait and in constant search of new ways to explore my creative process, I accepted the challenge to develop a piece reflecting the theme; “Archipelago: an Island of the Self, The Self Portrait”
Applying paint to paper is an absorbing passion that challenges and compels me to be creative. But, planning is key in my creative process. Finding reference material and developing a drawing, that will act as my guide, are essential. “Morning Reflection” is my interpretation of a self-portrait as seen through my husband’s eyes every morning.
From early childhood my passion for colour and mark making developed. I learned that I experience the world visually and it is this sense of observation that has lead me to explore the plethora of patterns, textures and colour relationships I see in the world around me. Study, practice & experimentation has given me the knowledge that allows me to expand my creative process. Technically retired, I am motivated by the words of Henry Moore, “ There is no retirement for an artist, it is your way of living and there’s no end to it.”
Joanne P. Nemeth, ‘52 Going On 5’, 16” x 12” acrylic on canvas, $400
I live in a place rich with an abundance of natural beauty: light, trees, mountains, the ocean, and birds all inspire my work. Painting a self-portrait in dots was definitely a step outside the box for me! But I had been thinking of painting a portrait of me in my Hello Kitty toque for sometime; the reference photo I painted from is ten years old! I love Hello Kitty and other fictional characters like her: Garfield, the Minions, and Mickey Mouse are other favourites. What can I say? I’m still a kid at heart!
My acrylic paintings are a modified form of pointillism. The contrast of the colored dots and the black underpainting make my paintings shimmer. My work takes patience, but I find that once I have a plan of my work in mind, it is very relaxing to just let the dots flow.
I was smitten with the first dot artwork I’d seen that was done by a fellow artist; I knew I had to try it myself. I hope people viewing my work feel something similar. I want to capture their imagination; I want them to wonder: how did she do that?
on; I want them to wonder: how did she do that?
Joe Enns, ‘Self Portrait No 2.’, Oil on canvas 30” x 24”, $1,170.00
Humans are social animals hardwired to read each other’s faces and expressions to gather context and meaning from our surroundings. How we read faces influences how we experience the world. Through my oil portraits focused on the face, I balance realism with impressionism, expressiveness with accuracy to build layers of complexity. Capturing someone’s likeness through the emergence of the face in an archival medium creates a moment of meaning, an echo of the self in the perpetual conversation of mankind. My paintings are a layering of strong brush or palette strokes that are often mistakes, but the messy collection of errors forms the character of the work, much like the subject.
Julie Sabey, ‘Tilt-A-Whirl’ 13” x 13” Acyrlic, $600.00
Tilt-A-Whirl reflects the off-balance emotion of waiting. While sitting still, one's mind cannot help but spin unpredictably when on a stretcher, in a waiting room, and by the phone.
Jill Paris Rody, ‘A Mona Lisa Repose’, 12” x 16”, Watercolour, $450.00
Linda Lewis, Retroscan, porcelain and intaglio print with watercolour $200
By the shore scanning waves of memory deposited in the tidal sands.
Kate Bridger, ‘Daily Walk Framed’ 16” x 22.5”, Fabric Collage, $350.00
My daily walk is essential to my well-being, my physical health and, more importantly, my sense of place and belonging. I cannot connect with this world unless I place my feet upon the rocks, the mud, the sand, the water, the streets and force my senses to tune in and pay attention. I have to check that the sky is still welcoming birds and that the trees still offer up their fragrance and scale. I have to hear the birdsong, the Rice Krispie crunch of tiny shells beneath my feet, the wind-borne conversations of passers-by and the occasional interruption by an ill-mannered car alarm to confirm that I am still here where I belong. I step out into the world and become a disruption, an appreciator, and an essential part of it by simply being there.
Ken Morgan, ‘The Departed’ 36” x 32”, acrylic on canvas, $2,100.00
My work is subjective realism and usually deals with: people, social justice, and relationships.
Leslie Love, ‘I am an exhibition; I am on exhibition.’, 17.5" x 25" each (outside dimensions), Acrylic and flexible mirror on digital photograph giclee print, May 2024, $400
"I am an exhibition; I am on exhibition" is a vulnerable and conceptual diptych and self portrait of an artist reflecting upon herself, and how she is perceived by society, depending on the context.
Being nude outside is brave, and vulnerable, but humans belong in nature, and as a female artist I am owning the space I take up in the world and in the gallery.
The mirrors invite the viewer to see themselves in the art, and to consider what they perceive, as a reflection of themselves. I am curious about the audience's interpretation, but regardless, the work persists.
Photography is a medium that inherently alludes to time and death. I am in my mid-40s, beyond my childbearing years and embarking on perimenopause. In these pieces, I haven't edited my flaws or made any attempts to "fix" myself up. I had an idea and I followed through. Taking back ownership of my body, I feel in control. I am showing my authentic self in a world of AI, Photoshop, and altered digital images.
Artists make decisions about what they choose to hide and reveal in their work. The paint is hiding and revealing, calm, and passionate. I am showing you myself, in many places and perspectives, separate but whole, like islands in the Archipelago.
Leigh Buchanan, ‘Just Part of the Fabric’ 12” x 12”, Acrylic on cradled wood panel, $550.00
I wanted to be as honest and vulnerable as possible when I painted this self-portrait.
I pondered my significance in the big picture - the contrived one of society, and the molecular one of the cosmos.
An archipelago of vision, alone, but also part of the fabric of existence
Deanna Lynch, ‘Others’, 24” x 24” Mixed media: photo on acrylic skin, fibres from artist’s baby sweater
"Although we might each feel like isolated islands seeking connection, no islands have a greater impact on us than the individual members of our own families. While we are unique individuals within this family archipelago, the shared history and bonds profoundly shape who we are. Our familial roots are deeply embedded in us, but it is our responsibility to determine how the past will shape our future."
Maria Tratt, ‘essence’ 11” x 14”, chine colé, $485.00
My figurative work is informed by themes of home, heritage and connection in loosely composed visual stories. The content reflects my dreams and my lived experience. Working from my home studio on Gabriola, I am versed in all four printmaking categories, often combining two or more processes; however, my main areas of focus are relief and monotype prints. I am a 2017 MFA graduate from Emily Carr University and teach printmaking courses on Gabriola and Vancouver Island and in Denmark. My work has been included in numerous local solo and group exhibitions as well as several juried exhibitions in Europe.
Margaret Shorter, ‘In my Element’, 14” x 14” framed, Acrylic on Mixed media paper, $280.00
Laura Hilts, ‘Then and Now’, 11” x 14”, August 2024, Watercolour
Portrait painter I am not! But it was fun to participate in this project. Laura is a retired high school English and art teacher. She is a Fellow of the OTTAWA Watercolour Society and former Show Coordinator and President of the local Arrowsmith Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Laura enjoys being one of the six resident artists in the Side Door Studio downstairs TOSH, welcoming visitors to the School House, talking art, and painting. Come down and visit our studio. We would enjoy seeing you.
Marina Wright, ‘Then and Now’, 12” x 16” Acyrlic, $450.00
How has my perspective on the world changed? Certainly, from childhood to adulthood but also, over the last several years where we all collectively experienced the pandemic and all of the disruptions to “normal life” that came along with it. I gravitate to the local beaches of Vancouver Island as a retreive reprieve and also a part of my identity. When I was considering different photos to base this painting on, all were outside beside the sea. This painting depicts my love of biology and nature, as a child looking for shore crabs on the beach, and my love for natural beauty and painting, documenting the sunset for a painting reference. On the left, this is me as I frequently contemplate change, difficult to accept environmental changes to the places I love, and the change that happens over years to the self.
Marion Lea Jamieson, ‘Self Portrait’, 20” x 20”, Green printing inks on wood, $400
I am a print-maker, painter and sculptor from British Columbia Canada. I have lived in Toronto, Geneva, Montreal, Bowen Island and Vancouver.I am currently living in Qualicum Beach which offers the right combination of inspiration and a slower pace of life. I have been inspired by the natural beauty of this large island and have turned to depicting its powerful landscapes in the form of prints. I am transforming these views using a cross-hatched drawing style that results in blurring the distinction between abstraction and realism. The work is precise, yet has the impression of being roughly created by the human hand. The prints are an exercise in the manipulation of line, form, colour, density and illusion. In short, I am experimenting with using printmaking to manipulate landscapes to the point where the “real” is still recognizable but becomes subtly abstract.
Going forward I will likely continue making prints for the foreseeable future, while also producing paintings in a style that complements the prints. Creating landscapes as prints or paintings that blur the distinction between abstraction and realism will always provide an irresistible challenge. In addition I will be exploring digital media as a vehicle for creation and communication.
Mary Leigh Campbell, ‘Self Portrait’, monoprint and linocut and trace 30” x 24” monotype $ 550.00
Printmaking is my passion. It is my "Island" for my creative force, from rolling up the ink to pulling the print. There are always hidden elements that come to the surface, like an Archipelago of the subconscious in full view.
I have been a printmaker for over 30 years, and I have made various self portraits in the past decades, but this one has been one that I started during the covid lock-down and I recently finished it this Spring 2024. I think it reveals the solitude that comes to focus, when I put all my thoughts into finding my "it" place where I lose all concerns of the surround, and delve into colour, line, and joy: living in the moment.
Michelle Nyberg, ‘Echoes Dans Les Rues Pavees’, 18” x 24”, acrylic and collage on wood panel, $800.00
Although this piece is not a typical self portrait, it is very much a reflection of me and my life, past, present and future. The collage elements are comprised of many different aspects of my life- bits of nostalgia, ephemera from my current life and pieces that point to what I want for my future self. Some of this is plain to see and some of it is obscured with layers of paint- this is also me. I am very open with parts of myself but also feel the need to safeguard certain aspects of my life and dreams.
Nanci Cook, ‘Feeling Good’ 9” x 12”, Soft pastel on pastel mat, $375.00
Every year or so, I feel a need to check in with myself, as an artist and as a person, by painting or drawing a self-portrait. For the last two years, I have focused on painting with soft pastels on sanded paper, so in this self-portrait I tried to use some of the colours that I love to use that are inspired by the local island landscape.
The beauty that surrounds me here on Vancouver Island inspires and nurtures my creativity. When I see the distant mountains, forests, waterfalls, and layers of blue islands here, I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
Paula Saar Avatars 20 x 24 inches oil $269.00
I am a retired high school teacher of 30 years who loves animals, especially cats, travel, painting, and making puzzles in the winter when I’m not playing chess with my partner, who I like to dance with.
Pauline Pike, ‘SKETCH OF THE DAY.’, 24” x 32”, mixed media, $795.00
Peggy Logan ‘Peggy still wants to Dance’, 28” x 22” Acrylic on Canvas, $900.00
Peggy Kry, ‘Portrait of the Artist as a young Fiend’, 12” x 16”, Watercolour and ink on watercolour board, $650.00
Rosemary Fontenla, ‘I am’, 16” x 20”, Acrylic $399.00
Sarah Platenius, ‘Water Crossing’, 26” x 26” mixed media acrylic on repurposed wood, $ 1,200.00
Water Crossing. A sea of blind-spots, from island to island we travel, catch glimpses of the self and slowly over a long period of time, learn safe crossings to land on shores of self-awareness.
Susan Haigh, ‘Quietude’, 17.5” x 21.5”, oil on canvas board, $660.00
This piece titled 'Quietude', shares one of my favourite places to be, by the water, contemplating the beauty to be found there. The evening light, the still waters after a windy day and a moment to myself all add up to a serene peacefulness. I am grateful to have been able to spend most of my life on Salt Spring Island where the pace is slower and the delights of the natural world are never far away.
Stuart Gilmour, ‘Flight or Fight’, 18” x 24”, oil painting and mixed media, $650.00
My work is characterized by vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes, exploring the tension between realism and abstraction. My ability to blend traditional techniques with contemporary themes sets my work apart. Each piece begins with a deep dive into my emotional
well-being , transforming raw feelings into visual narratives. I am currently working on a solo show that delves into the complexities of human emotions.
'Tiki Westnedge, ‘My Feathered Friends’, 14” x 11 “, acrylic on canvas, $ 225.00
A happy memory of my time in Honolulu , Hawaii.
Vikki Vettese, ‘Quiet Walk in the Woods’, 18” x 22”, Acrylic, $650.00
This was taken on Gabriola island where I lived for many years . There was a beautiful walk I would often take as it was so quiet and peaceful. Very fond memories .
Teresa Kachanoski, S’elf Portrait as a Green Man’, 11” x 11”, Handmade felt, $475.00
Self Portrait as a Green Man. This work depicts the ancient mythological horned Green Man which has many interpretations in various cultures. I personally relate to the Green Man as a figure rooted in place who silently endures through time and troubles.
Teresa Kachanoski is a multimedia artist who lives in Merville on Vancouver Island BC.
In her current practice she is delving into the many possibilities of felt-making. She makes sculptural and two dimensional textile art as well as wearable art through wet felting, needle felting and embroidery techniques.
Lesley Watts, ‘One of those Days’, 10” x 10”, oil on cradeled wood panel, $550
I have been painting and drawing ever since I can remember and have completed an array of courses, including 4th year drawing and painting at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, as well as a potpourri of online courses. After retiring from a demanding career in another field, I have dedicated myself to my art practice, with a focus on portraiture and figuration. I strive to interpret seemingly mundane figures in ways that reveal humour and occasional glimpses of the absurd.
Yvonne Vander Kooi Keep Picking Up the Peonies, Oil on canvas, 32” x 32”, $1,650
Florals, lace, stone, shells, asymmetrical design - the rococo upholds these things celebrating beauty and excess. This self portrait refers to the flamboyant and frivolous nature of human behaviour during this historical period and brings it into the present.
On a personal level, this portrait refers to, not just my love of flowers and wanting to be surrounded by them in the form of a Victorian headdress, but also speaks to how something - an object, a flower, in this case a peony - can be a tether to a significant event in one’s life. Ironically, the beautiful peony takes its place as a signifier of something more serious or profound.
This painting is also an exercise in technique and experimentation with oil on canvas. I am learning and relearning some of the formal aspects of painting (glazing, layering) and enjoying the richness, depth and luminosity of oil once again.
For Sales Inquiries please call 250-752-6133 or email info@theoldschoolhouse.org