Kimberly Olson
Artist bio:
Kimberly attended Alberta College of Art and Design in the late ’90s and graduated with a Bachelor of Design in 2002. Her work was featured in Canada’s Applied Arts Magazine.
She has worked as a freelance illustrator, graphic designer, and was selected as one of the artists to participate in ‘Art in the Park’ 125 years of Glacier National Park and Yoho National Park. Kimberly coordinated private art classes, including a mixed-media portraiture workshop for Leah Evan’s Female Youth Program: ‘Circle In.’ She spoke about her art at PechaKucha at Key City Theatre, and sat on the CV Arts Board for a time.
Kimberly is represented by Kunze Gallery, Art Gallery Kimberley, and BlackStar Studios. Her work can be found throughout North America.
Artist statement:
My aim is to create Peace Places that facilitate comfort and ease in a world that thrives on stimulation. Alongside my Visual Arts career, I have studied and worked within the Eastern Healing Arts for 14 years. My intention in creating these works is to create a visual healing space that feels like taking a deep breath, offering expansiveness, freedom, solace, or the experience of lightness and joy. These pieces are catalysts for the viewer’s own inner journey while engaging with the art, whatever that journey may be. The abstract nature of the work invites the viewer to become, as Olafur Eliasson describes, a co-author of the art. What you see is entirely up to you. This process may encourage the viewer to be introspective and nurture their creativity, providing an opportunity to explore their relationship with themselves and the world.
Catherine & Jack Moes
We are secret hearts and inveterate makers who enjoy working together to reflect our love and passions in the creation of unique, hand-crafted art. We moved from the Manitoba prairies to beautiful British Columbia in 2015 and make our home in Cranbrook. Inspiration for our art emanates from worlds old and new, and the beautiful Kootenays and Columbia Valley* – their mountains, skies, trees and wildlife. We fill our time exploring, hiking, road-tripping and immersing ourselves in nature and return to our home studios to recreate our discoveries, memories and emotions.
Using a broad definition of mixed media, we collaborate on a variety of art processes: Shou Sugi Ban wood sculpture, reclaimed and patinated metal art, watercolor and acrylic painting, assemblage art and photography. Where possible, we incorporate into our art, reclaimed wood and metal sourced from salvage yards, landfills, and thrift and antique stores. Collaboration, patience
and respect are key to our art, challenging each other and ultimately achieving a better outcome.
We hope you enjoy this collection of Columbia Valley art. It reflects our travels along Highway 95, exploring the Valley’s vivid color – from the source of the Columbia at Canal Flats to the beautiful
waterfalls west of Brisco.
Sheila Swayze
Sheila Swayze is a self-taught artist whose work draws deep inspiration from the awe-inspiring landscapes and wildlife of Creson, British Columbia, where she now resides. Originally from Ontario, Sheila moved to the west coast in her 20’s, and the breathtaking beauty of the mountains and nature has since become a constant source of creative energy. Her love for animals and the natural world fuels her artistic vision, infusing her painting with a sense of connection and wonder. Although Sheila has only recently turned her full attention to painting, creativity has always been a central part of her life. Sheila enjoyed a successful career as a costume designer for competitive figure skaters, where she further honed her eye for color, detail, and design. Sheila expertly captures the essence of animals, using vivid colours and bold brushwork to transport viewers into the wild realms she loves. Through her work, she invites others to experience the beauty, strength and vulnerability of the creatures she portrays, offering a window into their world.
