I Creative Space "Clay has brought to my life a unique form of expression. The freedom and versatility of this medium allows me to reveal deep emotions. Clay allows me to explore, to experiment, and to challenge the boundaries within boundaries. I like to create art that shows my emotions; art that transmits sensations." Love brought multi-talented Miriam Aroeste from her sun-drenched home in Mexico to a home in the shadows of Mt. Seymour. The move seems to have fuelled her creative passions - Aroeste was recently featured at the Amelia Douglas Gallery and is part of an upcoming group show in Victoria. Her works are NARRATIVE S E Q U E N C E , C E R A M I C S R A K U FIRED, 36" X 4 4 " , 2000 available at the Vancouver Art Gallery Shop, Caulfield Gallery in West Vancouver and Portfolio Art Gallery in Vancouver. Protest Art Makes a Strong Statement Public flogging and an art market might seem a strange mix. But artists have never shied away from social and political comment. The t w o mixed to great effect Saturday, January 27, at the North Vancouver Art Fully Exposed Art Market at the North Shore Arts Commission's Symposium 2001. Amid the floral designs and portraits of their members on display, the Famous Open Door Art Studio Society staged a demonstration of make-up art to protest the public flogging of a 17-year-old Nigerian woman who gave birth out of wedlock. The case became an international issue as individuals, groups, and countries around the world protested the harsh sentence of Islamic fundamentalist law on Bariya Ibrahim Magazu, the young woman who, according to news reports, was struck with 100 lashes, walking the 1 5 kilometres home after the caning. "It just so happened that the flogging was supposed to happen today," said Famous Door co-founder, who played the role of the victim: "Why would we steer clear of the issues of the day? This is horrendous, and they [Nigerian authorities] obviously carried out the sentence early in the face of growing international pressure to stop." Bearing horrendous-looking wounds on her back, applied by make-up artist Patricia Murray, Elizabeth Harris-Nichols drew some strange reactions from the crowd at the art market: "It is quite gory, but a lot of people are aware of the issue and were enthusiastic to talk about it. And some people just glared and walked right by. Obviously they weren't very excited about what we were doing, but we need those people too." · by Al Price What's Your Vision for Culture and the Arts in North Vancouver? A new Cultural Plan for North Vancouver is in the works and your input is important. "We want to consider the full range of how art is made, produced, and distributed, as well as include the artists themselves w h o create the artistic and cultural practices of our community from performing, visual, and literary arts, to movies, arts and crafts, and new media production." says Laura MacMaster, manager of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the District of North Vancouver. What does culture mean to you? How do we reflect our culture to visitors, and to ourselves? What do we want to reflect? What's lacking in cultural amenities? What's working well? Think about it, discuss it with friends and family, and make sure your viewpoint is heard! To provide your comments: · check the District website at www.dnv.org · email/fax Bob Yates at ryates@islandnet.com 2 5 0 - 5 9 8 - 3 5 7 5 (fax). March | April 19