Oh Canada! Inside Art in the Park

By MIKE YOUDS

Fifty years ago Canada emerged from a national debate of tremendous symbolic importance, one in which artists played a pivotal role.

The Great Canadian Flag Debate raged in 1963-64, louder when the Liberal government’s preference, the triple-leaf Pearson Pennant, was leaked to the press.

Painter A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven submitted his own design, a slight variation on the Pearson Pennant, an embroidered-looking three-leaf design minus the blue bars supposed to represent two oceans.

“The wild river is far more associated with our history than any ocean and the rollicking line can be the expression of it on a flag,” Jackson wrote to the prime minister, hoping to sway him.

The emotional debate was finally settled in classic Canadian fashion by parliamentary committee. They chose the design of George Stanley, dean of arts at the Royal Military College of Canada, and so it became the jagged, crimson-red Maple Leaf, forever.

The quest for a flag Canada could call its own came to mind when I visited Oh Canada!, an exhibition by Kamloops Arts Council members at Heritage House. How would artists interpret the landscape, culture and history? What experiences and symbols would they draw upon? Some have carried the theme in surprising directions.

Harold Jones’ digital image called Dreams is a stylized maple leaf, representing his entry into photography seven years ago. A series of these renderings in the show sparkle like Faberge jewelry in regal settings.

“I use this,” he said, pulling from his pocket a Samsung cellphone his daughter gave him. He photographs flowers in the Riverside Park rose garden, then works with the images in Adobe Photoshop. He has learned to remain absolutely still while shooting. “One degree off and you see it in the end result.”

Erin Mikashalen takes the flag in a different direction with her chainmail creation fashioned from 5,000 small aluminum rings. Most artists, though, have ventured away from national symbols.

David Snider is among eight members of the Kamloops Photo Arts Club with works in the show. His landscape photos practically pop off the wall, mounted on polished aluminum.

“You almost get that backlit effect,” he said.

The room is several degrees brighter with Cherie Churchman’s wildly expressive floral paintings, which she describes as having an internal rhythm to them.

Landscapes, the great Canadian tradition, are in abundance. Painter Cathie Peters’ Mountain Mood was inspired by the drive along the Icefield Parkway in the Rockies. Ed Young imparts an impressionistic style to the Chilcotin wilderness and Mt. Robson.

One of my favourites is Linda Davidson’s photo of Mounties in Red Serge, standing at attention with their backs tall against a dramatic sky scape.

This is the first time the arts council has tied an indoor show with its customary Art in the Park extravaganza on Canada Day. Some artists are hesitant to expose their work to the elements and there have been a few sad stories of works damaged by wind over the years.

“From now on, this will be part of Art in the Park,” said Lorel Sternig, KAC events and programs manager. Next year, they may expand the show to include pottery and weaving rooms elsewhere in the building. “This is a pilot project.”

She was worried they wouldn’t have enough members involved, but typically in the last few days they were inundated. More than 80 pieces representing 35 artists are on sale through Canada Day.