50 over 50

Photo Exhibition: Celebrating Mature Women of all Shapes, Sizes, Lifestyles and Backgrounds

Celebrate mature women of all shapes, sizes, lifestyles and backgrounds at the 50 Over 50 Photo Exhibition created and developed by local photographer Ramona Lam.

Societal standards for what makes a woman beautiful constantly shift: heavy black eyeliner in Ancient Egypt; white powdered faces in the 18th century; or a curvy feminine shape in the 1950s.

Over the last couple of decades, fashion media, which predominantly promoted thin, young models (a look made popular by Twiggy in the 1960s), has tried to include some plus-sized models and women over 50 (although generally thin with nice teeth, like Helen Mirren). However, despite this move towards greater diversity in the media, many women over 50 feel invisible and unattractive.

Salt Spring Island portrait photographer, Ramona Lam, is working hard to change that mindset. As part of her 50 Over 50 Project, Ramona invited 50 women over the age of 50 to participate in a photo shoot, complete with complimentary hair and make-up session. The goal: to celebrate the essence and wisdom of women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond and to prove that beauty does not diminish with age.

Launched in January of 2019, Ramona will unveil the results of her body-positivity project with an Opening Reception April 1st, 3pm-5pm, with the show running Monday April 3rd, until Friday, April 28th in the Salt Spring Island Library program space.

The photo showcase will feature photographs of women over 50 years old that she captured during their “model for a day adventure” over the past 3 years. (The exhibit was delayed due to Covid and she is super excited to finally showcase all 50 stunning women).

Ramona says the project was an incredible experience for both her client and herself. “I set out to show how beautiful women are as they age, and it’s turned into something magical. So many women over the age of 50 feel that they are disappearing, that they are becoming invisible,” Ramona said. “So, I wanted to show that women at this age are still beautiful, still vibrant. Many are starting new careers, starting new businesses, thriving and giving back.”

She says that the more we see images of mature women who are happy, confident and unafraid of aging, the more we are encouraged to feel better about ourselves at any age.

Ramona has since launched her next 50 Over 50 project and plans to continue photographing women throughout 2023 here on Salt Spring Island. Each photo session includes a makeover with hair and makeup, and styling from Ramona’s Wardrobe Collection. To find out more information go to: www.ramonalamphotography. com/50-over-50

The project wrapped up with 50 women having their photo shoots, culminating with an exhibition, where all participants will meet each other to celebrate at the reception of the exhibition.

16th Annual Spring Art Show Archipelago –Contemporary Art of the Salish Sea

A cultural exchange between the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada, and the San Juan Islands of Washington State, USA. In collaboration with the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and ArtSpring.

EVENTS

APR 14 | 6–9PM | Opening Reception at Mahon Hall

Join us for not only the opening of Archipelago with artists and curators present but for what is often deemed as the opening of exhibition season on Salt Spring Island. The Mahon Hall exhibition will feature works by Temoseng (aka Chazz Elliott), Anna Gustafson, Jane Kidd, John Macdonald, Sam Montalbetti and Joanna Rogers.

APR 16 | 2PM | Artist Talk at Mahon Hall with this year's Art on the Hall artists: Kalei D'Oscope, Marie-Anna Michaud, and Murray Siple.

APR 18 | noon

Artist Talk at Mahon Hall by Archipelago artist Jane Kidd

APR 18 | 7PM

Island Writings: Salish Sea Authors Panel at Mahon Hall

Writers of prose, poetry and local history give readings and discuss how the Salish Sea and its islands have informed their work featuring: Chris Arnett, Chris Smart and Charles Kahn.

APR 19 | noon

Artist Talk at Mahon Hall by Archipelago artist John Macdonald

APR 20 | noon

Artist Talk at Mahon Hall by Archipelago artist Anna Gustafson

APR 21 | 5–7PM | San Juan Island Artists Opening Reception at ArtSpring featuring: Danielle Dean, Glenn Hendrick, RaVae Luckhart, Joe Miller, Raven Skyriver and Tom Small.

APR 22 | 10:30 AM | Artist Panel at ArtSpring featuring: Joe Miller, John MacDonald, Sam Montalbetti, Danielle Dean, Glenn Hendrick, Anna Gustafson

APR 22 | 10:30 AM

Artist Panel at Mahon Hall featuring: Tom Small, Temoseng, RaVae Luckhart, Joanna Rogers, Raven Skyriver, Jane Kidd

APR 24 | noon

Artist Talk at Mahon Hall by Archipelago artist Joanna Rogers

APR 24 | 7:00PM | What the &%$# is a curator? at Mahon Hall

Join host Patrick McCallum for a rollicking and educational discussion about what a curator is, and what they actually do... and you may discover you want to be one! Patrick will speak to a panel of curators, including Celia Duthie, Margaret Day, Rose Spahan, Richard Steel, and Kaeli Yarwood, about the experience of sharing their vision, and passion for art through curation.

APR 27 | noon

Artist Talk at Mahon Hall by Archipelago artist Sam Montalbetti

APR 27 | 7:00PM | Fellowship of the Sea at Mahon Hall

Presented in partnership with the Salt Spring Seals.

What do a filmmaker, a cartographer, a poet, and a diving-biologist have in common? Join the members of the Salt Spring Seals who are celebrating 20 years of year-round ocean swimming to find out and hear their unique stories and rich relationship with the ocean.

APR 29 | 7:00PM Electro-Pelago at Mahon Hall

Presented in partnership with Paper Covers Rock.

A poetry open mic, bring your own haiku or short poem to read. Featuring poet Carlie Blume (Gigglepuss, 2022, Guernica Editions) with improvisational music by musician and producer Graham van Pelt (Atlantis Tapes, 2023).

Ruckle Heritage Farm Day

A free event for the whole family!

Sunday May 7th 10:00am-3:00pm

Activities include: sheep dog demonstration • face painting historic films • sheep shearing demonstration kids’ fish tank and craft table • blacksmith demonstration seed saving demonstration • log sawing demonstration family cow milking talk & butter churning

Come see baby animals and learn about knitting, weaving and more! Enjoy yummy food and wonderful acoustic music. For more information about this event or if you’d like to volunteer, please email Abey at abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com

April Offerings

Please register at staroftheseassi@gmail.com

All our programmes are held at St. Mary’s Church, 2600 Fulford-Ganges Road, unless otherwise listed. Donations for participation in these events are welcome. For details, visit our website at www.staroftheseassi.ca

Tuesday, April 11th 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION with Heather Martin and Brian Day

Join us for an open and respectful discussion where participants share their own views and experiences and listen attentively to the words of others. Welcome to followers of all paths or none. This is a recurring event held on the second Tuesday of each month.

Monday, April 17th 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

GOSPEL, VESPERS, KIRTAN with Marilyn Walker and friends

They draw on various spiritual and cultural traditions and faiths - Christian, Tibetan, Hindu, gospel, Celtic and folk - from traditional and contemporary artists. This is a recurring event held on the third Monday of each month.

Tuesday, April 18th 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

SACRED POETRY with Brian Day

Bring and share some of your favourite sacred poems. This is a recurring event held on the third Tuesday of each month, facilitated by Brian Day.

Sunday, April 30th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

QUIETING THE MIND with Marcia Burton

In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, we will use a combination of self-reflection practices and exercises in pairs or small groups to discover new information about our relationship to quieting the mind. This workshop is one in a series, offered every month on the last Saturday.

Sunday, April 30th 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

An evening of KIRTAN, with Ananda

Join in the music and singing with Ananda as they play traditional kirtan, a call-and-response style song or chant set to music. Kirtan is an expression of devotion that comes from spiritual practices in India. For the evening, Ananda provides songbooks so everyone can feel included and encouraged to sing together. This is an event that evokes devotional feelings as our heart opens to the mantras and prayers. This is a recurring event held on the last Sunday of every other month.