Michael Wigle
Arts & Culture
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t is a land of striking contrasts…a land that drew me like a magnet into its soul.” Author Richmond P. Hobson wrote these words in his classic book Grass Beyond the Mountains. So, it is no wonder that the culture and landscape of this vast region is reflected in our local art. After all, the First Nations people have been singing, drumming, and dancing around campfires for thousands of years. In the visual arts, Emily Carr roamed the region by cowpony in 1909 and was inspired to paint its landscape vistas. She wrote, “I can never love the Cariboo enough for all she gave me.” The Group of Seven’s A.Y. Jackson was equally infatuated, touring in 1914 and returning in the 1940s to produce works now displayed in galleries worldwide. Today, B.C. artist Mark Hobson is inspired by stunning Chilcotin landscapes, and also paints in central coast locations such as Calvert Island, to raise awareness about keeping our coastline pristine for generations to come. He and over fifty of Canada’s celebrated artists have published a book entitled Canada’s Raincoast at Risk: Art for an Oil-Free Coast. You’ll want to experience many of the region’s galleries, such as the Quesnel Art Gallery, one of central B.C.’s most exquisite hidden gems. Sometimes art galleries themselves are the display. Williams Lakes’ Station House Gallery is a restored 1920s railway station showcas-
ing pottery and weaving, among other visual arts. The Central Cariboo Arts Centre now houses several artisan groups in a decommissioned fire hall. Williams Lake also hosts its annual Artwalk, each August to September.
throughout the West — as does Frank Gleeson, the “Fastest Cowboy Poet of the West” and official cowboy poet of Williams Lake. ♦
Wells is a renowned artist retreat with galleries set amid heritage buildings and has a celebrated art school where vacationers can enroll in folk-art and music classes. The restored Sunset Theatre offers an array of professional theatre, music, film and retreats and itself has a remarkable story. Built originally in 1934, the Sunset Theatre showed movies, held town hall meetings and dances, and was once used as a morgue during the 1950s.
WELLS:
Quesnel’s ARTrium hosts workshops with nationally recognized artists, as does Wells in late July during the popular Artswells Festival of All Things Art. Barkerville’s Theatre Royal features costumed interpreters so convincing one might have stepped into the 1860s. Williams Lake’s Studio Theatre Society has staged live theatre (October to June) for the past 58 years! Horsefly’s Arts on the Fly Festival presents music, dance, food and fun in equal measure, while Clinton’s War is a weeklong costume pageant dedicated to re-creating the Middle Ages “as they ought to have been.” The Cariboo is also home to “Camel” Dave Howell, who performs at festivals
more than just a pretty façade
Arts, History & Adventure in the Cariboo Goldfields 1-877-451-9355 www.wellsbc.com 1-877-451-9355 www.wells.ca
1-800-663-5885
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