July 30, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Echino II"

It is very fitting that my final Castlegar Sculpture Walk feature is about the sculpture I have seen the

most. Everyday as I broadcast from the GOAT studios I had the prime viewing space to see Sculpture Walk viewer’s reactions to “Echino II”. Surprisingly, they all had the same one, to reach out and touch it!

"Echino II" is actually the sculpture that The GOAT and Juice FM sponsored for the Castlegar Sculpture Walk (that is one of the reasons I saved it for the end of my blog series).

“Echino II” stands out on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk and was created by Calgary’s Greg Jones. I think Jones did a fabulous job creating this sea urchin with a very mechanical twist. For more on “Echino II” and Greg Jones click here.

To view my previous sculpture, the second to last blog in my series on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk “Friends & Neighbours” click here.

July 28, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Joy Of Dance II”

Today’s Sculpture of the Day is D.E. McDermott’s “Joy of Dance II”. The sculpture features two magnificent dancers perfectly in-sync dancing in mid-movement without a care in the world. The dancers are en pointe, displaying perfect lines and look fully immersed in their art.  

Everything about “Joy of Dance II” is smooth and perfectly toned. The sculpture captures the essence of being lost in rhythm while being in-tune with a dancing partner.

D.E. McDermott’s “Joy of Dance II” comes to us from Virginia, another international piece to join the Castlegar Sculpture Walk stage; for more information on McDermott click here.

To see the Castlegar Sculpture Walk piece in my previous blog of the day, “Saturday’s Distractions” click here. Fittingly, it is another sculpture about a lady being fully engulfed in what she is doing…

Kootenay Festival 2014

I had an amazing time at Kootenay Festival Saturday! Unfortunately it took me a day to bounce back from all the sun and heat, but I can finally tell you all about it on this Monday afternoon!

What can I say; the Kootenays are home to amazing artists from all walks of life. Whether their craft is perfect wood oven fired pizza or creating amazing home décor woodworking, there is a place for it at Kootenay Festival!

On top of all of the physical art the stage was packed with incredible acts from the moment the festival kicked off at 10:30am (with the Scottie School of Highland Dance) to the closing act Cod Gone Wild who played until 7pm. All of the musical acts delivered and I was blown away by the dance troops that took the stage too.

One performer that really impressed me was Bobby Bovenzi; not only did he perform he instructed. His interactive drum and dance circle is not to be missed if you ever have the chance to see it and take part make sure you do! He had absolutely everyone involved cheering and chanting along with the pounding rhythm drums and noise-makers. It was a highlight of my day.

Bobby Bovenzi left the crowd in awe! 

Every festival I attend I break from my normal dietary habits and indulge like a person who has never seen food before; Kootenay Festival was no different. I had a little bit of everything. I always try to order up things that I am not skilled enough to make at home, that normally leads me to Kootenay Filipino food. Of course I had to order up their amazing pork rolls.

I added Gypsy Wagon Wood-Fired Catering to my festival menu for the first time with their incredible breakfast pizza (that is scrambled egg on the pizza). If you followed my blog while I visited La Jolla’s Open Aire Market earlier this year you know how much I love a good breakfast pizza! 

And, with the heat I HAD to hit up both JillyBean’s Ice Cream truck for a waffle cone and have a little breakfast gelato from Nelson’s Little Miss Gelato. How can you say no to bubblegum gelato? It was so hot that I sweat out all the calories throughout the day; that’s how that works right?

Good Ol' Goats

It was such a fabulous day, I spent it with the two people I am thankful for that made me smile (yes doubling up on a happy moment and event blog). Liam, for ordering a medium bag of kettle corn that was the size of a small child and Idaylia for being her always cheerful, helpful self.

I do have to just note a couple of talented musicians who took the stage during the festival that were remarkable. They guys from Roy Has Fire never fail to disappoint and rock every show they play. The Good Ol’ Goats were showstoppers and had everyone clapping, dancing and moving their feet. Last but not least Cod Gone Wild made me feel like I was back at home on the East Coast rocking out downtown Halifax at the Commons.

Cod Gone Wild!

Kootenay Festival 2014 was one for the books! To find out more about next year’s celebration click here.

One more thing, this photo snaps a moment in Castlegar’s history that is pretty cool. Castlegar’s sister city in Ebetsu, Japan sent representatives to help celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the city’s twinning.

July 23, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Talking Crowes”

I have been reading a lot of Game of Thrones lately so today’s sculpture takes on little bit of a different meaning for me, when I hear the word “crow” I immediately am transported to the Wall these days.

With that being said I’m guessing “Talking Crows” was not created by Nelson’s Denis Kleine with Game of Thrones in mind. Regardless he has captured the essence of two crows beautifully having a chat on a tree and its branches. Crafted in bronze atop a beautiful stone base “Talking Crowes” captures one of nature’s conversation that we normally tune out. With one bird listening and the other speaking we can easily relate to the humanity exhibited in this piece.

I am so impressed that there is yet another Kootenay artist featured on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk! Denis Kleine is based out of Nelson and has actually won the Peoples’ Choice Award for Sculpture Walk in the past! For more about his big win and his art click here.

To visit my previous blog about “Talking Crows” neighbor sculpture “The Kiss” click here. 

July 15, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Whisperer”

Yes, it has been a few days. This heat wave has melted my ambition for writing so I think my blogging will cool down until the temperature does the same.

Intricate. Beautiful. Blue.

Noelio Gonzalez has crafted an amazingly colorful mystical piece called “Whisperer” that stands tall and open to your interpretation between multiple sculptures outside of Castlegar’s City Hall and RCMP Offices.

I like to think of “Whisperer” as an incredible blue dragon but you can let your imagination create your vision for what it is. Regardless I think we can agree that “Whisperer” is a beautiful spectacle sparkling in blue.

“Whisperer” comes to us from Noelio Gonzalez, an American sculptor from Florida. You can learn more about the whimsy of “Whisperer” by clicking here.

To see my previous blog about the wild “Zodiac Totem” on Columbia Avenue click here.

July 11, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Zodiac Totem”

“Zodiac Totem” is one of the most unique sculptures on this year’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk. There really is not anything quite like it. The detail and originality behind Pokey Park’s five bronze animals that make up this wild totem pole is incredible. I have been admiring this sculpture for quite some time and am absolutely enchanted by it!

Gigantic in height “Zodiac Totem” stands nine feet tall and every inch of it is rich with purpose and detail. Pokey Park is a renowned American contemporary sculptor who calls Arizona and Colorado home. For more on Pokey Park and her amazing work fusing wildlife, nature and art click here.

To see my previous blog on Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Petrified” click here. 

June 23, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Groundling”

Today’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the day is The Goddess of Columbia Avenue, “Groundling”.

It is hard not to stop and take note of this incredible sculpture that sits on the corner of Columbia across the street from the Element. Being a full bronze sculpture, “Groundling” really does have that immortal feeling like a true goddess.

“Groundling” is another work from an artist-based right here in the Kooteanys. Merlyn Richelhoff is a graduate of Selkirk College’s Kootenay Studio Arts Metal Casting Program and you can learn more about him by clicking here.

Viewing “Groundling” today was well worth my minor seasonal allergy attack. I love that you can see the dark skies rolling into Castlegar in my photos. They were taken in succession within seconds but one side of “Groundling” looks like the beautiful Kootenay day we started out with and the other angle shows the dark clouds rolling in with rain.  I think the pictures really do show “Groundling” as the master of nature and community.

If you have not taken in Sculpture Walk you still have plenty of time. The weather has been incredible over the weekend; I have seen so many people with their voting cards on the streets enjoying the first half of Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk. If you have not taken part, do it now!

For my previous blog on “Rebirth” by another impressive British Columbian Artist, David Hunwick click here.

June 20, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Rebirth”

“Rebirth” is one of the largest sculptures on the 2014 Castlegar Sculpture Walk and it stands beside one of the first sculptures I featured here in my blog series, the incredibly unique “What The Nose Knows”.

Equally unique, “Rebirth” truly is one of a kind because it is constructed from the casts of ribs from the ribcage of a blue whale.

It is crazy how massive the ribs of a whale are! They are not something you commonly see downtown Castlegar (obviously) so they stick out like a sore thumb. “Rebirth” really puts things into perspective and proves that we really are just so small in comparison with other parts of our amazing world.  

Resembling a giant heart it is inspiring to see “Rebirth” prove that life can be recycled, that even in death we can still continue to go on and influence the world we have left behind. Thank you to the Sandman for sponsoring “Rebirth” from David Hunwick, another impressive artist that has a home base right here in BC. You can explore more of Hunwick’s work in Victoria at the Point Hope Shipyard. For more on David Hunwick and “Rebirth” click here.

For my previous blog about the Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Playful Souls” click here.  

June 19, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Playful Souls”

I am wild about this sculpture! It has been a horsey week for me, my mother’s horse foaled last week so I have been a little homesick. Spring is the best time to live on a farm with baby animals popping up left, right and centre!

Today’s sculpture is another small work that is incredibly detailed. “Playful Souls” sits on the corner outside Mountain High Lighting (one of the sculpture’s sponsors) across the street from another piece I have featured in my blog series “Eye of the Wind”.

Another neat thing about “Playful Souls” is that the artist behind this beautiful metalwork sculpture is from the West Kootenays. I have somehow managed to pick two sculptures from Nelson back-to-back in my blog posts! I try to devote a fair amount of time and praise to each sculpture but I do feel a little unfair love and pride for West Kootenay artists featured on the Castlegar Sculpture Walk; like Simone Schlichting!

Not only is Schlichting an impressive sculptress, she also crafts impressive jewelry at her business Valhalla Studios.  For more on her incredible equine inspired jewelry you can click here.

Slowly but surely we are getting through Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk 2014! I am still torn on what sculpture will get my vote for the “Peoples Choice Award”. After a very horsey, homesick week I can totally see it going to “Playful Souls”.

Today I was inspired by the “Playful Souls” and the message behind it; I went to Nelson and had a tame night on the town (it is a Thursday) and played rather than hunkering in for a night of show prep and a routine weeknight. Why? Well, because like animals sometimes we need to get out and play.

Fair warning, this was another sculpture impossible to capture in all of its glory in one photo. Please visit it and check it out for yourself! 

For more on “Playful Souls” click here.

For my previous blog on Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Counting Blessings” click here.  

June 18, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Counting Blessings”

Today’s sculpture is another work from a talented BC artist. Today we are close to home with Sherlin Hendrick’s “Counting Blessings”. I have been a little out of sorts lately and I have heard word on the streets that this is a weird time for a lot of people with things feeling out of control. It is times like these when everyone is a little wacky that we need to find a little inner peace like this figure and count our blessings.

I honestly cannot believe the number of people who have told me, “if its meant to be it will be” or something along those lines in the last couple of weeks. Seriously, it is weirding me out. People I have never met have begun talking to me everywhere, from the grocery store to the gym and all have used a phrase about fate and destiny in some way.  I know how strange it sounds but it is really true. Today’s sculpture was meant to be, I was walking and challenged myself to write about the first sculpture I could find and boom “Counting Blessings” found me on Columbia Avenue.

“Counting Blessings” is incredible, the attention to detail. There is not much more I can say about this impressive piece that you cannot take from it yourself. Like most sculptures these photos do not do it justice, you really need to see the intricacy and finesse of “Counting Blessings” yourself. It will strangely make you feel Zen; I know it was a very calming distraction from my crazy life today and made me happy I ended my workout early to find a sculpture to escape in for a few moments.

Mother Natures is the sponsor of this impressive piece of West Kootenay Art. Sherlin Hendrick is originally from the United States and now calls Nelson home. For more on “Counting Blessings” and Sherlin Hendrick click here. 

For a look at my previous blog on Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Mobius” click here.