Artists In Our Midst

After a delicious lunch at Maenan (quite possibly the best Thai restaurant in Vancouver), a friend and I attended to Artists in Our Midst–a weekend of open studios throughout Vancouver’s west side. We spent the entire afternoon popping in and out of homes, studios, stores, and cafes and I have to say that there is truly no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than looking at art, especially with a good friend.

Though the event had a lot to compete with this weekend (the Canadian Art Gallery Hop, a sunny day, the elections, the royal wedding, AND the Canucks game), some places were very busy and even when it was slow at a studio there was something charmingly personal about visiting an artist in their home, getting a private tour of their exhibit, and even enjoying a glass of wine together.

Out of all the artists I saw, there were two artists whose work I absolutely fell in love with. Coincidently they were both photographers with a background in the film industry. (Okay, so maybe it’s no coincidence I gravitated toward their work).

Goga Boyat is an Iranian-Canadian who was has worked as a stills photographer for some of the most celebrated Iranian directors, including Jaffar Panahi and Tahmineh Milani. Her photos of the Iranian countryside are absolutely breathtaking as were the ones she took of storefront windows reflecting the street they are facing. There was one in particular I liked of toy cars below. on the window seal, with a bustling street in Cuba reflected in the glass above. It takes a few moments to figure out what is going on and I liked the effect that comes from this technique of superimposition which might be a reflection of Boyat’s incredibily rich past and identity layering itself on her work.

Photographer Dave Roman works as a camera operator on many film and television sets in Vancouver and his exhibit “Not Quite Clear Cut” is probably the best photography series I’ve seen in years. In fact, I can’t remember seeing anything better—so maybe it’s the best I’ve ever seen. Roman went out to various forestial locations in BC where trees are being cut down and took portraits. The series isn’t so much a commentary on clear-cutting as it is just a documentation of the process. Roman has worked in documentaries at the BBC and his ability to capture truth is seen in these grand and beautifully austere images. I still can’t stop thinking about these photographs.

Today is the last day of Artists in Our Midst–go check their website and see what studios are close to you !