M o r e than a Taste of A r t visual arts by Carole Badgley T he S e y m o u r A r t Gallery was voted o n eo f the three best pub- lic g a l l e r i e s i n G r e a t e r V a n c o u v e r b y r e a d e r s o f t h e G e o r g i a Straight. Why? B e c a u s e o f its a c t i v e r o l e in t h e a r t community, providing innovative pro- grams and imaginative exhibitions o f m e r i t . T h e final m o n t h s o f 1999 a r e n o e x c e p t i o n , as t h e g a l l e r y h o s t s a solo exhibition by an e x t r a o r d i n a r y painter, a large g r o u p s h o w by an internationally recognized printmak- ers society, and a truly fundraiser. tasteful O n the W i l d Side R o d Gildersleeve, inspired by t h e visionary quality o f V e r m e e r ' s painting and the palette and solid c o m p o s i t i o n s o f C e z a n n e , is s h o w i n g h i s l a r g e a c r y l i c - o n - c a n v a s landscape paintings from October 26 to November 21. A N o r t h Shore resident, G i l d e r s l e e v e selected t h e title f o r this s o l o e x h i b i t i o n -- O n Side--based The Wild o n his c o n c e p t o f p o r located pathways traying t h e urban wilderness in t h e r a v i n e s a n d s u b u r b a n of t h e N o r t h S h o r e . Interestingly, t h e title may very well d e s c r i b e t h e artist Squamish Estuary, Rod Acrylic Gildersleeve, on canvas himself. Frustrated by t h e study o f a r t h i s t o r y a t U B C . G i l d e r s l e e v e left t h e rigidity o f t h e institution and spent the b e t t e r part o f t h e 1970s travelling, s t u d y i n g , fasting, w r i t i n g , a n d painting. H e d e s c r i b e s this p e r i o d as o n e w h e r e "I g a v e n o t h o u g h t to It is o f t e n d i f f i c u l t , if n o t i m p o s s i ble, f o r a visual artist t o articulate the reasons f o r painting. G i l d e r s l e e v e , after a bit o f searching, w r i t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g as a m e a n s o f explanation: " T h e entire process of p a i n t i n g has b e e n m y s t e r i o u s a n d elusive f o r m e . I have b e e n unable t o c l o n e m y successes, let alone work Please join the artist, members, friends of the Seymour reception and at m o u n t a i n s ) , I c a n ' t say, o t h e r t h a n a s a spillover f r o m m y joyful r e s p o n s e to the natural world." money, career, security, o r relationship. I e m b a r k e d . . . o n walking journeys across C a n a d a , travelling w i t h o u t plans, often w i t h o u t money. Art Gallery for this evening the opening extraordiOctober Looking for the experience of people and place that t h e r o a d c a n provide." Since 1980. h e has s u p p o r t e d h i m s e l f as a b u i l d e r o f l a n d s c a p e s t r u c t u r e s -- a n o c c u p a t i o n that has provided both the outdoor working exer- nary painter, Tuesday 26 from 7 pm to 9 pm. efficiently, systematically, consistently. I have q u e s t i o n e d t h e relationship f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g . It o f t e n f e e l s t h a t what I wish to communicate cannot An artist's gallery talk will take place November at the Sunday 7 at I pm. Refreshments is welcome. Admission is by donation. and everyone be p a i n t e d , b u t n o t f o r lack o f e f f o r t o r spent canvases. W h y I feel com- will be served Exhibition November environment and the cathartic cise his physical and emotional dates: 21. O c t o b e r 2 6 to pelled t o paint t h e things I s e e a r o u n d m e (sky, c l o u d s , t r e e s , w a t e r . well-being seem to require.