Season of Light is an art exhibit on display until Dec. 28 in the Comox Valley Art Gallery windows and sponsored by Berwick Comox Valley.
Artists were invited to create a 3D miniature scene or diorama, incorporating or expressing human interaction and/or celebration of the Season of Light.
Artists and designers could use any materials; stained glass, wood, metal, fur, bread, leather, candy, pop cans, paper, or carpet to build a scene of whimsical, innovative, theatrical and artistic endeavour. Creative exploration of materials was encouraged.
The submitted works included art made of fabric, stone, bone, flowers, recycled packaging, felt, paper, wood, and many of them incorporating electronics and lighting elements.
At the opening reception at Berwick on Nov. 19, outstanding works of art were recognized, with awards presented by Berwick general manager Jackie Holt and the CV Art Gallery appointee, local artist Robert Moon.
The jury made their selections and for each presentation, shared the artists’ rationale and inspiration for each work.
• Jori Phillips was presented with the award for Most Creative Use of Materials. Her work is titled The Watcher and the Village; this piece is a 3D diorama depicting a miniature inukshuk and an igloo, created out of stone.
Phillips said, “All stone used in this piece has been collected from the beaches of Denman Island. It has in no way been modified or altered save for gluing it to hold the shape. Even the rocks with holes are all natural formations, collected by my family.”
The igloo is lighted from below and casts a warm glow.
• Rhonda Burden received the award for Outstanding Message of Community for her diorama We Know These Songs by Heart, which depicts her family singing around the piano.
“Christmas carolling has been a family tradition since our children were very young," she said. "They learned the tunes almost before they could talk and look forward to that time of year when we invite friends over to play the piano and sing the songs we all know by heart!”
The Award for Artistic Merit & Creative Response to Season of Light went to artist Cindy Dilts for her piece Return to the Earth & the Promise of Spring.
Created inside Victorian-style jewelry boxes, Dilts layered bones, flowers, wood, butterflies and tiny electronic lights to embody the following: “Along with the darkest day comes the beginning of the return of the light. As we return to the Earth we nourish new life. Take time to rest, rejuvenate and remember in your heart, the promise of spring.”
If you are downtown and come by to take a look, be sure to come inside to vote for your favourite piece. The final award, the People’s Choice Award, is open for voting until Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.
CVAG is in downtown Courtenay at 580 Duncan Ave. For details, visit comoxvalleyartgallery.com or call 250-338-6211.
— Comox Valley Art Gallery