News

Last week when I visited Harvey Lim at the Art Junction Gallery he told me that #18 in the Sunnyside Series is appearing in the Summer/Fall edition of Whistler - the Magazine.

"#18, Sunnyside Series", acrylic on canvas, 48"x 48", 2010 Sold

The full colour reproduction is one of six images shown in an article in the Galleries section about what art lovers can expect to see this summer and fall in Whistler galleries. Thanks to Harvey for getting the series once again on to the pages of a Whistler publication. Number 18 in the series actually sold earlier this year. When I was at the gallery last week I dropped off #20 in the series.

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Just found out today that one of my Sunnyside paintings is appearing in a May/June issue of BC Home Magazine in article about designer Linn Hepner and her beautiful home in Chilliwack. Her and her husband purchased #3 in the Series back in 2009 and have it wonderfully displayed over their fire place mantel. She is a very talented designer and I am honored to have one of my paintings so prominently displayed in her lovely home.

Update!!! The link to "BC Home Magazine" that was previously here is no longer active, so it has been removed.

"#3, Sunnyside Series", acrylic on canvas, 18"x 72", 2009

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I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable in my new studio everyday now. I still haven't finished setting up my work area and there are a few more "things" yet to be moved over from the old space but so far it's been incredibly inspiring to have such a bright, spacious and well laid out space to work in. It feels like I'm living a dream. To be honest it took me most of the first week to find my footing after moving from my old studio. At first I hadn't realized how much, after 23 years, the old space had become like a second skin for me. It had become a part of me and the act of painting.

Now that I have completed my first painting since the move I'm feeling that much more at home and excitedly looking forward to having this new space becoming a second skin as well. 

The larger space will allow me to work on several pieces at once. I have already started another new series (Waterway Series), with plans for larger paintings (early spring) in both this new series and the Sunnyside Series. Ahhh, so much to do ! I never have a shortage of ideas for new paintings it seems, just a shortage of time to complete them all. Art is long, Life is short ! (ars longa vita brevis, as the ancients would say).

I am finally moving in to my new studio. There are still a few things to finish before I can say the building is complete but it is definitely finished enough for me to start working in.

As you can see I have an area in the front of the building for displaying a few pieces. I constructed a wall in the middle of the room that's on wheels and can be split in two for repositioning. I have not finished setting up my work area and desk. I'm in the process of moving my painting materials from the old studio and hope to have that done in the next few days so I can start painting. After being in my old studio for so long (23 yrs) it feels a little strange to be in this new space. I don't think I will feel totally at home until I get a painting or two under my belt.

Yes, I also play music and you can see my drums and guitars in the back corner.

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Two of my early paintings are set to appear in the locally filmed and produced television program "The Haunting Hour".

The two pieces titled "Big Game",( acrylic on canvas, 41"x 80", 1986) and "Punk Mona", (mixed media on paper, 42"x 36", 1987) were among the very first artworks I produced upon graduating from art school. They are owned by Rob and Joey McKay of Aldergrove B.C., Canada where filming of The Haunting Hour is currently underway in their home. Even though they are the owners of the actual artworks the artist retains copyright and therefore I was approached by the production company and asked to sign a release giving my permission for them to use the images. This was a first for me. Thanks go out to my brother Neil who has experience working in the film industry with the Directors and Producers unions for his help and advice in understanding the legal speak of the release form and insuring that my rights were fully protected.

The Haunting Hour is a weekly TV show in the vein of "Goosebumps" and is geared to the 14 yr old to adult age range. With each episode being a different story using different actors its format also draws comparisons to the old "Outer Limits" TV program. The episode that the artwork will appear in is number 9 in the first season and titled "Game Over". I'm not sure when this specific episode will air or which channel it will appear on but I will confirm that information and post it here on this news item for those who might be interested in seeing it. I'm curious to see how the artworks will be presented.

"Big Game" and "Punk Mona" can also be viewed in the "Figures and Faces 1986-2007" gallery on the "Galleries" page.

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After a long wonderful spring, summer and fall working part time, side by side with my father, my new painting studio is nearing completion. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine such a place of my own to work in. After painting in a small bedroom sized room for 23 years, I'm very excited to soon be moving to a larger, better lit, purpose built space that I'm expecting will have a huge impact on my practice.

Though this project has been rewarding on many levels, the time spent working side by side with my father has alone been an experience I will cherish forever. I remember several times while working with him, evoking memories of past carpentry projects with his father. What would Grampa think of our latest project? What advice would he offer? He would have loved to be working with us too, just as he once did with his father. My great grandfather Franz Gustav Haggquist came from Sweden to Minnesota in the 1880's. Some of his wood working tools are in my proud possession and were actually used in the building of this structure. At times like these I am once again reminded of the long rich tradition of woodworking that has been passed down through the generations from father to son and feel blessed to know the feeling of being part of something profoundly larger than myself.

Though we still have lots of finishing touches yet to complete the end of the project is now in sight. I will post more pictures of the interior when completed.

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The grand opening of the new Chilliwack Cultural Centre took place on September 25th with the "Red Carpet Affair Opening Gala". I was unable to attend because I was out of Province but was told by Jacquie Simpson of the Grey Area Gallery that the Gala was a great success with close to 400 people in attendance. I was also told that the auctioning of #14 in the "Sunnyside Series" went very well too with several buyers putting in bids on the painting.

In addition I was able to view the opening Art exhibit in the new gallery there a few days ago (where #16 in the Sunnyside Series is appearing) and was impressed with the quality and diversity of work exhibited.

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The latest two paintings in the Sunnyside Series will both be appearing at the brand new Chilliwack Cultural Centre this September. Number 14 in the series wiil be auctioned in support of the centre and number 16 in the series (which I'm currently working on) will be part of the inaugural art exhibition there.

Number 14 in series will be auctioned at the" Red Carpet Affair Opening Gala" to be held in the new Centres main theatre Saturday September 25th starting at 7 pm. For ticket information visit www.chilliwackculturalcentre.com and look in the "tickets" section . Both the Grey Area Gallery and I will be donating half the proceeds from our share of the painting to help raise operating funds for the new Centre.

Number 16 in the series will be appearing in the "Gala Opening Show" which will be a group exhibit of "artists of distinction who reside or have lived in the Chilliwack area within the past 25 years". This inaugural show will run from September 20th - Otober 30th with an opening reception on Friday September 24th from 7- 9 pm.

I'm excited to be part of the opening of this important new addition to the cultural landscape of the Fraser Valley. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend both opening receptions because I will be traveling to Alberta for a family wedding on the same weekend. I look forward to seeing the group exhibit upon my return. Check out this News page in September for updates.

"#14, Sunnyside Series", acrylic on canvas, 36"x 36", 2010

The Art Junction Gallery (which represents my work in Whistler) had a party last Saturday (July 24th) to celebrate it's reopening in a new space a few doors down from their original location in Function Junction. I'm really sorry I wasn't able to attend but Owner Harvey Lim has informed me today that the party went very well and he sold several works including the large air stream trailer piece (seen below) by Taralee Guild.

Harvey has done an impressive job renovating his new space where he now has a lot more room to display artwork and as the only custom fine art framer in Whistler, more room to work on his framing.

For those inerested there is a link to the gallery's website on my links page where you can find the gallery's location as well as contact information.

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The Dr Norman Bethune portrait that I painted in 2008 is part of a group exhibit dedicated to the famous Canadian that opened in Vancouver yesterday at the Chinese Cultural Center (50 East Pender St.) and will run until Monday the 26th. A well attended opening reception was held at 11:00 am on Friday with representatives from China in attendance. Before the official ribbon cutting several speeches were given by the Chinese representatives, representatives of the Vancouver Chinese community and local city government officials. The event was covered by local and Chinese media.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Norman Bethune's birth as well as the 40th anniversary of Canadian/Chinese diplomatic relations and the 25 anniversary of Vancouver and Guangzhou becoming sister cities.

Later this summer the exhibit will travel to China and will appear in the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province (Sept. 2-13).

I'm thrilled to take part in this exhibit and excited that my work will appear once again in China.

This exhibit has been organized by Asai Wu Brandt of the Canadian International Exchange Society.

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

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