Comox Valley artist Joe Smith will be holding a solo exhibition of his works, Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12 at Filberg Lodge. Operating out of his studio and gallery in Union Bay, Smith often takes his show on the road, especially during the summer months.
“One of my favourite venues is Filberg Lodge.” said Smith. “It has a great atmosphere, is in a wonderful ocean side setting and the house provides a terrific backdrop for showing paintings outside of a gallery. The biggest advantage is that visitors can see what the paintings look like in a home setting.”
“I also think it is important to be able to support these kinds of heritage sites.” said Smith. “Not only do they give people a wonderful park to help soothe the soul but they also capture a moment in time so that people can get a sense of what life was like in the Valley.”
This is appropriate for Smith’s work as in his bio notes he states that one of his objectives is to be able to capture moments in time. Images of moments that he says help the viewer conjure up a fond memory or just simply remind them of a special place or event that has become a part of who they are.
The paintings Smith will have on display are a mix of landscapes and cityscapes. Many of them will be local scenes such as depictions of driftwood at Goose Spit, Comox Glacier and the many beaches that make the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island such a great place to live. Additionally he will be showing paintings of places he has been both on the Island and in his travels to the mainland.
“One of the great advantages of living in British Columbia is the fact that as an artist you are never at a loss for subject matter.” said Smith. “I especially like hanging around the shorelines because with the tides and the changing light you could simply sit in one spot and come up with six different paintings.”
When it comes to choosing a location many of his paintings are done from spots that are familiar to most Valley residents. “People can actually go and stand at the spot that was my vantage point for doing a painting,” says Smith. “ I hear so many people comment that they know exactly where I was when I did the painting and then go on to talk about it being one of their favourite locations to go to unwind or get away from the crowds.”
Smith has been actively involved in the fine art scene for a number of years. One of the groups he has been involved with for the past 13 years puts on an outdoor art show and sale in Marina Park in Comox the second weekend in August. On the provincial level he is currently serving as a board member on the BC Arts Council whose mandate is to provide support for a variety of arts and culture organizations and individuals throughout B.C.
Smith’s paintings, which are done in a realistic style, capture the spectacular beauty of the province and highlight why so many people call it the most beautiful place to live in the world.
Smith’s show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. For further information about the Lodge and Park call 250-339-2715 or visit their website www.filberg.com The Lodge is located at 61 Filberg Road in Comox.