For a long time, a movement of thought has existed that a city can be reinvigorated, its urban plan transformed, not just with hard concrete, asphalt and steel, but with imagination, beauty and art.
The late Jane Jacobs, Canada’s great urban visionary, was a proponent of this kind of community building.
A well-known graffiti mural in the Annex, the Toronto neighbourhood where Jacobs lived, features a cartoon of Jacobs’ and her famous quote, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
Creating a city is the essential philosophy for Powell River Dreams: An Exhibition of Art and Ideas, curated by Autumn Skye Morrison and Blake Drezet, members of artist collective Vale Society.
In the medium of their choice, 20 local artists will present pieces on that theme, including newly arrived sculptor Sandra Lopez, Powell River mural artist Luke Ramsey and visual artist Meghan Hildebrand and Cortes Island artist Robert Skot McMillan.
“We’re really asking for a literal representation of ideas, whether it’s social, environmental or arts-related,” said Morrison. “We’ll get quite a mix, so some pieces will be more abstract and others will be very literal graphic design.”
Powell River Dreams is a free, two-day showcase of the work of sculptors, painters, illustrators, photographers, videographers and performers.
According to Drezet, because the exhibition is about Powell River, they hope submissions will have real applications for the town.
“The idea is these art pieces are expressing some dream or some visions the artist has had for Powell River,” he said.
According to Morrison, the inspiration for Powell River Dreams came from scratchings Hildebrand created a few years ago. Hildebrand’s first Powell River Dream comic was inspired by the work of Canadian artist Eleanor Bond, whose paintings depict real and imagined cities; one of Bond’s pieces is called IV Converting the Powell River Mill to a Recreation and Retirement Centre.
Intrigued by Bond’s art, Hildebrand said she created 13 cartoons representing her own Powell River dream ideas.
“As artists, we’re used to dreaming that is not defined by politics or economics. I’m always trying to find new ways of seeing and thinking,” said Hildebrand.
After three years of mulling over the idea that began with Hildebrand’s work, Morrison and Drezet said they hope their event will give voice to artists’ ideas about how Powell River can be created by everybody.
Powell River Dreams takes place at the ARC Community Theatre (7055 Alberni Street) with an opening gala Friday, May 27, from 7 pm-12 am, and again Saturday, May 28, from 12-6 pm.
