Summer has officially hit us here at Mayne Island Resort, and what better way to kick off such a relaxing time of the year than with our very own Island Summer Art show!
Featuring works of art from 19 amazingly talented local artists, including 3 of our very own Mayne Island Resort family, which are now on display here at the resort in our events room and hotel lobby until September the 8th. But the fun doesn’t end there, stay tuned to find out what other exciting events we will be hosting this year.
Opening night
Our opening night was a hit, with over 100 visitors from far and wide coming to immerse themselves in the beauty of these truly thought-provoking pieces. From bold, abstract, pop art inspired paintings to the still beauty captured by accomplished photographers, we have it all. It is said that “The job of an artist is always to deepen the mystery”, so I spent some time with our talented experts to dig a little deeper and unravel the methods and inspiration behind their work.
The artists
One of our artists, Lucie Walker, has a sincerely wholesome way of approaching it, stating that “life has a way of steering my paintings in subtle directions as the internal and external landscape evolves. I suspect sometimes that the paintings lead, and life follows”. Several onlookers noted the striking colors used in her work and how this helped their imagination unfold.
A truly unique display comes from local artist Tamara Ruth, who finds her inspiration from the nature of the island to bring her photographs to life with her deep, meaningful quotes, which the many people who admired her pieces found helped them connect to her work on a deeper level, and were intrigued to see more.
Likewise with the awe inspiring art of the Famous Empty Sky, who is displaying four works selected from a larger series called “Out of Darkness”, in which she uses bold, show stopping colors to draw you in, then lets the intriguing complexity of her work take your imagination on an adventure. Which reminds me of the well-known quote from Edgar Degas, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”.
A woman of many talents here on Mayne Island is horticulturist & photographer Lorie J Brown, who perfectly captures the raw, untouched beauty of the island and its wildlife with images anyone would be honored to have in their home, in fact she has already had several extremely pleased customers since the show who now get to enjoy the beauty of her photographs in their homes forever.
Another favorite from the night was by Dave Clark and Marlyn Turner, whose passion for pottery brought them together and turned their business, Quasimodo Pottery, into a successful full-time enterprise. They have created one of the most unique chess boards you will ever come across, not to mention a beautiful collection of vases, both of which we are lucky enough to have on display until a lucky buyer claims them for themselves.
I had the pleasure of speaking with many people throughout the night and if there’s one thing our artists and visitors alike can definitely agree on, is that Mayne Island is full of inspiration and is the perfect place to be to deepen your connection to nature, and realign the mind, body and soul. Come and see for yourself!
The Venue
Here at Mayne Island Resort, we have a dedicated team that made the night the roaring success that it was so it would be amiss off me not to dedicate a section of our blog to them, and of course not forgetting the talented artist, Jim Heshedahl, who graced us with his acoustic set for the evening. Here are the faces that made tonight happen:
If you also love art and creating unique, thought-provoking pieces, and are looking to embark on a fun new adventure, get in touch with us about becoming our in-house resident artist!
Are you looking for somewhere to host your next event? Reach out to us today to unleash the endless possibilities here at Mayne Island Resort!
As the vibrant colours of summer fade, Mayne Island transforms into a peaceful haven where nature paints the landscape in stunning shades of gold, amber, and deep red. Fall is one of the most magical times to experience the island—perfect for those looking to unwind, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a slower pace of life.
