NORTHWEST COAST NATURE Art Inspired by Nature : Elke van Breemen

RELATIVELY NEW TO QUADRA Island, artist Elke van Breemen is quietly making herself known locally by teaching “art in nature” classes to children through the school, community center or at her studio on Quadra. Her teaching style is nature immersion, paired with different art media to facilitate and enmesh a connection between children and their surrounding environment.

Born in Miami, Florida, Elke moved to BC with her family when she was ten. She brought with her a deep curiosity and fascination with all aspects of nature, and showed it through art which she grew up making alongside her mother, also a painter and graphic designer. Wanting to know more about the ecosystems that drew her in, Elke went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation followed by a Bachelor of Education, giving her a stable platform to share her passion with the public.

Through her work in nature outreach with different conservation groups such as Wolf Awareness, Cetus Research and Conservation Society, and community programs such as Quadra Literacy, Elke uses her art as an educational tool to focus a spotlight on the need for conservation by showing the beauty of nature through her eyes and artistic perspective.

While all of us know that the interpretation of subjects through art is an incredibly varied and fluid concept, it is clear by looking at Elke’s paintings that she has a good understanding of ecology and a passionate appreciation for detail in regards to what makes a species, and the role that organisms play in their habitat and their connections with each other in a larger ecosystem. When chatting with Elke for this article and seeing her art, I was struck with her ability to bring nature to life on a canvas. Through my conversation with her, it was clear that her education and love for the natural world contributes strongly to the richness portrayed in her paintings.

In Elke’s own words:

“As children, we know that nature is a part of us and that we are a part of nature. Yet as we age, this intuitive piece of knowledge is often lost from our understanding. I believe that we can rekindle our innate connection to nature through inquisitive immersion within our surrounding green spaces, whether out in the wilderness or nestled in an urban setting.

My paintings stem from daily rambles in the forest and along the shoreline, drawing from the detailed curiosities offered up by Mother Nature. A vibrant palette allows me to explore the complex colors that are sometimes overlooked in a muted west coast environment.

These works are a playful study of biological forms found within forest and marine habitats. The imagery invites a visual celebration of nature’s treasures that have fallen from trees, washed up on shore or flown down from the sky. Some specimens are given the spotlight while others lurk in the lush tangle of nature.”

Elke van Breemen's art show opening is at Beach Fire Brewing in Campbell River on July 29th from 5pm to 10pm. Her art will be on display throughout the summer, to share her paintings inspired by nature with the larger community. The opening event is family-friendly with live music from Jeff Bruce and delicious food and craft beer. See you there!

For original work and prints for sale, visit www.elkeswildlife.com

THE ART OF TRISH MALCOMMES blurs the boundaries between sculpture, ceramics, drawing, photography, painting and life. Reflecting contemporary culture through her work, Trish’s research-based practice has evolved into two distinct streams, Social and Environmental. Resiliency within these streams is where she finds inspiration.

Trish studied Fine Arts at East London School of Art, South Africa and achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts through Emily Carr University, Vancouver, Canada. As an Interdisciplinary Artist and conservationist, she has exhibited her work in South Africa and Canada since 1977.

Coastlines emerged from Trish's walks down the coast during the 2020 lockdowns… from time spent documenting her findings around Vancouver Island and the Wild Coast of South Africa with her camera. Through the work, Trish endeavours to create an experience that resonates with the surrealistic atmosphere of the past three years, and to invite the audience to explore the boundaries of reality and imagination. Each brushstroke and composition choice serves to transport the viewer into an alternative realm, where the familiar and the unfamiliar coexist harmoniously. www.trishmalcomess.art

Ultimately, her intention is to provoke an introspective response, prompting viewers to question the nature of perception and their own place within the world and aspire to foster a deeper connection between art and reality, inviting individuals to engage with the mysterious aspects of our shared human experience.

Compass Gallery + Gifts will host ‘Coastlines’ from August 1st through September 30th at the Comox location. The Opening Receptionis Friday, August 11th from 4.30 – 6 pm; all are welcomed. Compass Gallery is located at 101 – 1811 Comox Avenue, Downtown Comox.

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TRISH MALCOMESS

DETAIL FROM COASTAL CRUISING OIL ON BIRCH, 36" x 36" 2023

is emblematic of the new wave of Canadian Indigenous Artists turning perceptions upside down. Raised in British Columbia's backwaters, drawing more from a DIY/Indie aesthetic than traditional/mainstream music, Sinclair's musical roots are a darkly intoxicating mix of grunge, folk and classical. Rich and orchestral, underpinned with alternately snarling guitars and warm strings, her music balances the intimate and epic.

A classically trained guitarist who grew up on grunge, Kristi Lane Sinclair is back with a new single, "End of the Rope," off her latest album Super Blood Wolf Moon in the moment. Super Blood Wolf Moon combines severity and symphony, weaving archly gorgeous string arrangements alongside the howl of heavy riffs. Essential to the recording process was assembling an all-woman team, from studio band to producer and engineer. The album's recording sessions at Jukasa Studios on Six Nations Territory in Ohsweken, Ontario and ARC Studios in Hannon, Ontario featured drummer Dani Nash, bassist Anna Ruddick, keyboardist Robin Hatch and string players Praise Lam and Blanche Israël. Produced by Juno-nominated Terra Lightfoot, engineered by Jill Zimmerman and mastered by Grammy Award-winner Emily Lazar, Super Blood Wolf Moon's multidisciplinary solidarity is palpable on songs like "Landback," in which a chorus of singers shine forth from the commotion of grinding guitars to harmonize, "the world sings terribly, when no one's listening, we're here with you."

Sinclair released her first album, the self-produced I Love You, in 2010, and followed it with 2013's By The Sea Alone. In 2015, she released Dark Matter, which earned the Best Rock Album honour at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards. The making of that album was documented in a six-part APTN series, Face The Music The Ability to Judge Distance followed up with a 2018 release. Producer Terra Lightfoot had been hoping to work with Sinclair since the two crossed paths at the Dawson City Music Festival in 2015. When she heard Sinclair's demos, Lightfoot jumped at the chance to collaborate. "I believe these songs will be transcendent, and set an example for all young women in the music industry," says Lightfoot. "It's a true statement celebrating women, and how we are healing together."

The beautiful, brash and bold musician spent three years writing the album's twelve songs. Already the longest time she'd ever spent on an album before unveiling it to the world, production was delayed, though not entirely halted, by the pandemic, prolonging the process even further. But in what seems an act of prescience, Super Blood Wolf Moon arrived at exactly the moment it needed to: the album's layered thematic dualities—anger and love, optimism and despair—express the nuances so many are learning to embrace as they heal. "I wrote this album wanting to find common ground for all who experience womanhood," Sinclair explains. "I don't want my identity to be that of a victim. I wanted Super Blood Wolf Moon to be a true account of how it feels to endure domestic violence and PTSD. It's not only about what I've been through, but also what I've learned from women I've encountered throughout my life over the years."

On the album's lead single "Break," Sinclair again holds space for women who've endured violence. The song culminates in the declaration "no this is not the night", one of many moments on Super Blood Wolf Moon strongly avowing agency. "Writing that song, I was trying to get all those women's voices out of my head. That clicked while I was in the studio," says Sinclair. The album is a triumph of Sinclair's will. Among the more raucous offerings is the lionhearted "End of the Rope," its grind of chugging guitars making way for an eventual message of survival. "I'm still alive," sings Sinclair—and the soon-to-be queen of classical grunge, at that. "'Break' is a very different kind of arrangement. It doesn't really sound like anything I've ever done before, there's mostly just this pulse, this heartbeat of drums and of voices chanting. This is one example of a song where I asked the girls in the studio to portray ancestral voices in their singing within the song's narrative. It was our chance to incorporate the amazing voice of Kelly Fraser, whose throat singing runs throughout the track."

Sinclair also has produced choral works, including a piece called 'Woman', which has been performed in Vancouver as well as in Toronto by Winnipeg choir Dead of Winter. Hauntingly beautiful, mournful, and extremely powerful, this song deals with a very difficult subject in a subtle way. It's an exquisite marriage of text and music without any preaching, the message is gentle and compelling. "Woman was written to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It is a call to action; for love and protection going forward."

Sinclair's well-polished, brutally honest songwriting delves into far too common experiences of violence, surfacing to breathe with softness and grit. She describes her songwriting approach as "visceral," with music and lyrics written together

Sinclair is residing on the North Island for now and continues to write and produce music. Follow her on social media platforms. Download or stream Super Blood Wolf Moon and take your time listening to her latest single 'End of the Rope'.