Artists in Communities Create in Local Neighbourhoods

Sunset/Moberly artist Pat Beaton and artist intern Zee Kesler invite your participation in Here and There an art-making process that will generate community gatherings and surprise encounters with art and exchanges of local lore. The results will see the creation of three new artworks for permanent display at the Sunset Community Centre, Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre and the Sunset Ice Rink. This project will focus on the life of the Sunset neighbourhood both past and present. Come leave your mark through engaged and inspired art making workshops. From these encounters, your visual marks will be translated onto wooden panels and when put together, represent the past and present voices of the Sunset neighbourhood. What do you have to share with your community? http://art-hereandthere.blogspot.com 

Pat Beaton

Pat Beaton is a visual artist who works in printmaking and installation as well as community-based projects which have included quilts, carving and murals. She has been involved with grunt gallery, Malaspina Printmakers and Dundarave Printshop since 1986. Her strong links to neighbourhood, community gardens and the grunt gallery gave rise to the Mount Pleasant Community Fence Project, a carved cedar fence that stands alongside the community garden. Her goals in working with the community are for people participating to have a good understanding of the project throughout the process, and that they are able to see their 'hand" or hear their "voice" in the project. The theme of the human/nature relationship in this urban environment is often reflected in Pat's community projects. Projects such as Strathcona Park Pavilion, Calling Birds, Luna, the moon, and Coyote Facts and Folklore have engaged the public in the art making process and asked each participant to consider the natural world that exists in this very urban environment.

Zee Kesler

As a teenager growing up in the suburbs, Zee Kesler spent most of her time alone in her room creating stories and videos not realizing they were 'art'. As a new Vancouverite, she now revels in the sense of community she receives from working with families at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House. Zee works in video, sound, collage and site-specific installations using recycled materials to explore ideas of interconnectivity, public space, nostalgia and her fear of growing up. Zee draws endless inspiration from her work with young children and is psyched by group projects, collaboration and the idea of art in unexpected places. She currently runs a Pre-teen program that gives youths a voice in their community through art while introducing them to local collectives. Zee is a member of Vancouver's W2, the Vancouver Public Space Place Network and Toronto's Dupont and Spadina Corner Collective. Zee is a recent graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design with a B.F.A in Integrated Media.

Cyndy Chwelos is the Community Arts Programmer at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre facilitating the Artist in Community project at Sunset, Sunset Rink, Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre. Her interest in community arts engagement began as a practicing artist working with community members on ceramic tile artworks. She joined the Park Board 2 years ago, via ArtStarts in Schools where she was the curator of student art exhibitions and programmed artist residency in schools throughout the lower mainland. cyndy.chwelos@vancouver.ca