News

Enjoyed taking part in the Anonymous Art Show, a fundraiser for the Chilliwack Arts Council, which took place June 7-29 in downtown Chilliwack at three venues on Mill Street - Cornerstone Framing & Gallery, Harvest Cafe, and Flashback Brewing.

These are the three little 8"x 8" paintings I did for the show (seen here photographed together in my studio), from left to right, "S", "Oh", "Some Love". All three were sold.

The three little paintings have also been loaded to two galleries Landscapes 2018-24 and Plant and Animal Worlds 1999-2024.

It's a wonderful time of year to take a drive up to beautiful Cultus Lake, BC.

I invite you to come up, check out the studio, talk art, life, or whatever - in a relaxed and open environment. There are three original paintings currently underway, as well as a display of older originals and a fairly large selection of prints in the Sunnyside Series, as well as others.  

To set up an appointment to visit my studio leave me a message on the Contact page.

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Sunnyside Series prints now hanging in the Uptown Grill on the corner of Yale Rd & Sasquatch Alley.

*Update* Prints are no longer hanging in this location following a change in proprietorship.

Excited to be partnering with the Algra Bros to bring my artwork to downtown Chilliwack's new District 1881, starting with Sunnyside Series prints now hanging in the Uptown Grill on the corner of Yale Rd & Sasquatch Alley.

Great to be part of this well designed new development in Chilliwacks historic downtown. I'm impressed with the pedestrian focus of this walkable cultural hub, complete with locally owned breweries, restaurants, shops, residences, and office space.

Come and check it out!

https://district1881.com

https://www.uptowngrillchilliwack.com

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Solo Show At O'Connor Gallery, Chilliwack Cultural Centre, Aug 24 - Oct 4, 2020.

My solo show at the O'Conner Gallery in the Chilliwack Arts Centre is now on. The exhibit will run from August 24 - October 2 2020. Yes, the worst time to have an art exhibit - no opening reception possible and Covid19 protocols in place. But it's the best time to stand up for the arts and for community, in this amazing place in Stó:lō territory we call home.

        Love This Land

                       Paintings From 4 Decades of Art Practice

                                   August 24 - Oct 2 2020.

                 O'Conner Art Gallery Chilliwack Cultural Centre

                                         9201 Corbould St, Chilliwack, BC

Gallery hours are 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday

Due to the pandemic -  Enhanced Operating Protocols are in place. Viewers will be limited to five at any given time. Patrons will be required to wear face coverings at all times (we will lend you a non-medical cloth mask if you do not have your own). Face coverings must fully cover the mouth and nose.  Patrons will also be required to sign in upon arrival with both their name and phone number.  This information is being gathered solely to assist Fraser Health in contract tracing.

Chilliwack Cultural Centre website

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               * GIVE THE GIFT OF ART * 

Gift certificates are now available to give to those special people in your life.

They can be issued in any value, and have no expiry date. Great for Birthdays, weddings, retirements, graduations, anniversaries, Christmas, or any occasion, including - just because! They can be purchased by cash, credit card, or e-transfer.

Chip in as a group to make it more affordable. Gift certificates can be redeemed for art cards, limited edition Giclee canvas prints, and original paintings.

The gift of art is one of the most fun, original, thoughful, memorable, and inspirational things you can give to someone. It stands the test of time, giving joy, inspiration, and reflection for many years, long after most gifts are consumed, worn out - long gone and forgotten.  

Gift Certificate recipients get the chance to choose a piece of artwork right for them, 

by either visiting the studio, or browsing my website at their leisure.

Art cards are available to pair your gift certificate with. 

Check out the Print Page to find out about gift ideas in the Sunnyside Series.

           *   Give a gift to remember you by   *

                                          The gift of art is timeless.

                  To find out more message me on the Contact Page.

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Now Open!  Art Studio at Forest Echoes

My studio is now open by appointment for studio visits and viewing. Come, look at paintings, and chat about art, music, life!    

I'm in the studio most days, so send me a message on my websites contact page,

or an email to garyhaggquist@gmail.com if you are interested in setting up a time.  

Come up to the beautiful forests of Cultus Lake and check out my latest painting in the Sunnyside Series as well as other pieces past and present.

A selection of prints and art cards from the Sunnyside Series are also on display and are available for purchase. 

As I enter my fifth decade as an artist I acknowledge that I couldn't have survived this far without the support of my family, my community and all those who have invested in my work! Thank you so much! Love to all!

PS - I also enjoy playing music, and if you do too - we can jam a song or 2 or 3 or....

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One of my paintings from the "Defenders of the Land" series, of marine biologist Alexandra Morton is currently showing in a group exhibit which started on October 10th at the Roundhouse Community Centre Great Hall in Yaletown in Vancouver, 181 Roundhouse Mews (Davie & Pacific.)

It's the first time the painting has left the studio. The show titled "UPSTREAM – Moving Images of Salmon" runs from October 10 to November 1 and is part of the city wide Sustenance Festival. Check it out if you get the chance.
From the shows catalogue:
"How can the humans who live in the salmon’s ancestral home today make the connections between their urban life and the current health of the ocean? And what important cultural connections can we gain from present-day artist/activist perspectives? They have heard the voice of the spirits of the salmon calling them. What will you hear if you watch and listen…?"

My portrait of Norman Bethune from 2008 is now being seen around Montreal. The image is being used for promotional material to commemorate the 75th aniversary of Norman Bethunes death. I had been approached for permission to use my image by McGill Universary professor Aziz S. Fall who is also President of the Centre Internationaliste Ryerson Fondation Aubin. Professor Fall also invited me to attend the activities. I really wish I could, I've never been to Montreal. One day I shall visit.

As I reported earlier, my portrait is also being used at this time for promotional materials by Bethune Collage at York University in Toronto as part of their planned activities. It's great to see my portrait appearing in both of Canada's largest cities at this time

The City of Montreal and its partners (Concordia University, the McCord Museum, Centre Internationaliste Ryerson Fondation Aubin the Centre d’histoire de Montréal, and Tourisme Montréal has organized several events around Montreal and Gravenhusrt Ontario where Bethune was born. "In the Footsteps of Norman Bethune" will be held over several days from November 12 - 15.

"Bethune", acrylic and collage on canvas, 36"x 36", 2008

From my CIRFA invitation to participate:

"The present is to officially invite you, on behalf of the Bethune International Steering Committee, to participate in the series of events that will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the death of Dr. Norman Bethune, his entire internationalist endeavor and the launch of the project In the Footsteps of Norman Bethune. The project aims to bring to attention the role played by Norman Bethune and all the Canadians, Spaniards, Chinese and other international volunteers who joined the struggle against fascism in defense of democracy, freedom and international solidarity in Spain and China. Reveered for decades by a billion Chinese, while he was practically forgotten in his own country, Bethune remains today the best known Canadian abroad.

The events programmed for this coming November 12 to 15 are as follows:

~ Wednesday, Nov. 12, 12:00 : Commemorative ceremony and launch of the project with the Mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre, at Montreal, City Hall featuring a unique Bethune-Mao photo as the centrepiece

~ Wednesday, Nov. 12, 13:30-16:30 : Montreal Bethune itinerary; visit to several historic sites following rendezvous at the park in front of Montreal City Hall, 275 Notre-Dame Street East, Montreal;

~ Thursday, Nov. 13, 8:00-22:00 : Round trip by bus to a commemorative ceremony at Bethune Memorial House in Gravenhurst, Ontario; rendezvous at Place Émilie-Gamelin, corner of Berri Street and Sainte-Catherine Street East, Montreal;

~ Friday, Nov 14, 14:00 : Roundtable on Social medicine and the relevance of internationalist medicine today, with Dr. Amir Khadir, Ignace Adah, James Orbinsky, Andrew Beckett and Dominique Shum -Tim, at the Glen Salon, CUSM McGill University Health Centre, 5100 De Maisonneuve Street West, Montreal;

~ Friday, Nov 14, 18:00 : Political roundtable on Bethune and internationalist solidarity, at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), Hubert-Aquin Building, 400 Sainte-Catherine Street East, Room A1785, Montreal;

~ Saturday, Nov. 15, 14:00-18:00 : Screening of films on Norman Bethune, including one by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, at de Seve Cinema at Concordia University, McConnell Library Building, 1400 De Maisonneuve Street West, Room LB-125, Montreal;

~ Saturday, Nov. 15, 19:00 : Solidarity evening at the Centre Internationaliste Ryerson / Fondation Aubin, 160 Saint-Viateur Street East, Suite 707, Montreal.

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"Local food , local music and great vibes."

It's really cool to have some of my paintings and prints hanging in the newly opened "Tractorgrease Cafe" located in the heart of the wild and beautiful Chilliwack Valley. I like to hang my work in venues where music and art are celebrated. I love it when I can be a fly on the wall and listen to people talk about the artwork.

My friends and operators of the cafe, Jeff Bonner and Jodie Augustine, have put a lot of hard work into renovating the space. Jodie's talented handiwork is everywhere and though they are still adding some finishing touches, the Cafe is now open. The menu includes "everyone's favourite breakfast items and a great selection of healthy wraps, salads and burgers."

Weekends will feature live music. Every Friday at 7PM is Acoustic Open Mic night. Special event Saturdays will include a meal and entertainment by guest artists.

Tractorgrease image

Local talent Kyle Schick performing his original songs at the very first Friday night open mic last week.

Winter hours are:

Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 9:30pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm Saturday events go from 7pm - 10pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm
Monday 8am - 3pm
Tuesday and Wednesday - closed

For more info and to find out about the Saturday Night feature artist click here for the Tractorgrease website.

About Tractorgrease

Jeff Bonner, long time multimedia designer and music fanatic, established Tractorgrease in 2001 "as a loose collective of like minded individuals with a passion for music, video and media in all its forms."

"Our Years of experience in Multimedia and a vision for our own production studio led to the creation of Tractorgrease Multimedia. Our new creative space that combines the components of a live venue with the equipment and layout of a production studio. The goal of Tractorgrease is to enhance the artistry of musicians through audio and video. Creating CD/DVD's, internet marketing and EPK's are some of the additional services we offer."

The Tractorgrease Multimedia studio is located right beside the new Tractorgrease Cafe at 48710 Chilliwack Lake Rd, Chilliwack, BC.

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