Art Off the Fence on Pender Island

There's going to be a silent auction of wearable art created by this year's participating artists beginning Saturday at 11 am and closing Sunday at 4 pm. We'd love to see you at the show but if you can't make it you'll still be able to phone or text your bid (778 891 9437) on any of the items shown here. A Bouquet for Amadeo Modigliani by Frank Ducote painted shirt, XXL minimum bid $50... Bee Bonnet by Mimi Fujino chicken, brass, steel, and copper wire with seaweed and sea glass 19 x 17 x 7 high minimum bid $100 retail value $150 Diane MacDonald art card and matching facemask #1 art card and matching facemask #2 art card and matching facemask #3 Minimum bid for each $15 The Mighty Diatom Shirt by Susan Taylor painted shirt, L / XL minimum bid $50 Wild West by Dave Roberts arbutus hat, size 7.5ish; weight 8.5 oz minimum bid $250 retail value $500 Tie the Knot by Dave Roberts Sea Star Winery wine barrel staves 19 long and reversible minimum bid $250 retail Value $500 Cotton canvas tote bag with artist art work cut out by Robin Timms 18 wide, 15 long minimum bid $15 In the Eye of the Storm by Annie Smith kimono and matching bag, organic cotton embellished with momigami, hand washable minimum bid $400 Hair Pin by Ron Underhill yew wood with beeswax finish, 11 cm long, 4 cm wide and less than 1 cm thick minimum bid $25 The gate opens on the 25th anniversary ART OFF THE FENCE Show and Sale tomorrow (Saturday) 11 am until 4 pm and continues 11 to 4 on Sunday on the grounds of the little church next to Poets Cove Resort. Car pool if you can.

The much-loved founder of ART OFF THE FENCE, Joy McAughtrie, introduced the show tradition she called the "geemeek". The participating artists each year produced one work on a chosen theme. After 25 years, we aren't about to break with tradition but we're going to run it a little differently this year. It will be a silent auction but if you aren't able to attend the show and bid in person you'll be able to phone in your bid. The theme this year is wearable art. Each artist h...as created one or (sometimes more) pieces of wearable art. Tomorrow evening we'll post photos of all the works, along with the minimum bid for each one and a number to call if you'd like to bid by phone. The items will be on display at the show Saturday and Sunday. Bidding will close at 4pm Sunday. To give you a taste of what's coming tomorrow this is one of guest artist Dave Roberts' pieces. This unique tie is made from Sea Star Winery wine barrel staves. It's 19" long and reversible. The minimum bid is $250; the retail value is $500. Check back tomorrow evening for the rest of the items that will be on auction this weekend. We look forward to seeing you at the show Saturday or Sunday 11 to 4. ART OFF THE FENCE Show and Sale, July 17 and 18 on the grounds of the little church next to Poets Cove Resort on South Pender Island.

The fourth continuing member of ART OFF THE FENCE is Susan Taylor. Susan will be showing a few nest drawings, this one is titled Home I, ink and watercolour, and measures 21" x 15.5" - as well as new work in her ongoing Importance of Plankton series. Ever since learning a few years ago that plankton is responsible for every second breath we take and then seeing how stunningly beautiful and varied it is, she's been celebrating and drawing attention to these crucial microscopic... organisms in her work. You can see more of Susan's work at www.bloodstargallery.com. Four more sleeps until the 25th anniversary ART OFF THE FENCE Outdoor Show and Sale on South Pender Island, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4 pm

The third continuing member of ART OFF THE FENCE is Frank Ducote. Frank is an early adopter and ardent practitioner of digital art, inspired by one of his favourite living artists, David Hockney. This is Taylor Bay II, a 40" x 30" digital painting of one of his favourite places to beach his kayak on Saturna Island. ... Limited edition #1 of 10. As well as new digital works, Frank will be showing a number of analog paintings (I.e., pigment!) and a series of whimsical folk art critters. Art making is an integral part of each day. To see more of Frank's eclectic work, www.bloodstargallery.com the 25th anniversary ART OFF THE FENCE Show and Sale coming up in one week, July 17 and 18 on South Pender Island

The second continuing member of ART OFF THE FENCE is photographer Diane MacDonald. Diane aims to express through her images the lyrical wonder and beauty of the world around her. Treat yourself to more of Diane's photographs that do just that at www.dianemacdonaldphotography.com... ART OFF THE FENCE Outdoor Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18 on South Pender Island

There are four continuing artists organizing ART OFF THE FENCE 2021. First up today is Mimi Fujino. Mimi is a print maker and wire sculptor. In the wire drawing here, Mimi has captured one of the Penders' favourite bands, Turnstyle. Each band member is made from 8.5 feet of continuous 18 gauge steel wire. The band sits on a wooden magnetic base; each member can also stand alone. A wonderful tribute to the greatly-loved Turnstyle!... You can see more of Mimi's whimsical wire work and her elegant prints at www.mimifujino.com Coming up in less than two weeks, the 25th anniversary edition of ART OFF THE FENCE July 17 and 18 on South Pender Island. If you're coming from off island, book your ferry travel now.

Our fifth guest artist for this year's Art Off the Fence show is Ron Underhill. About this painting, an 8" x 6" pastel, Ron says "this little guy was one of many Atlantic puffin characters we got to photograph on a Newfoundland trip a few years ago. He seems to be thinking it's about lunch time..." ART OFF THE FENCE, the 25th annual - coming up in just two weeks Saturday and Sunday July 17 & 18 on South Pender Island

Our fourth guest at this year's show is wood artist Dave Roberts. While having no professional training or courses in woodworking, Dave has been working with wood for over 35 years and is self-taught. In 1984 he was given the book The Craftsman Wood Turner by Peter Child and that was the basis for learning his craft. In 2015, he and his wife retired and moved from Ontario to reside on Pender Island where they have taken to the shop full time. In 2020 Dave was featured in th...e UK magazine Woodturning issue 346 which is distributed in over 60 countries. We love Dave's motto "Creative people don’t have a mess they have ideas lying all over the place!" This is Dave final turning a very large 24 diameter X 12 deep Big Leaf Maple Burl Bowl in preparation for AOF 2021. ART OFF THE FENCE July 17 and 18 on South Pender Island

Our third guest artist this year is painter Robin Timms. Robin is inspired by the language, theory and psychology of colour and the interaction of colour, line and form to create individual colour stories within her contemporary landscapes. She describes her story creations as "Colour Hieroglyphics".... To see more of Robin's work, www.robintimms.com ART OFF THE FENCE, South Pender Island, July 17 and 18, 2021

Our second guest at this year's ART OFF THE FENCE show is ceramic artist Nancy Silo. Nancy first began working with clay in the late 70’s. As a self-taught artist she continues to refine her skills by attending workshops and symposiums hosted by international, national and local ceramic artists. Living on Pender Island provides a close interaction with nature and this is evident in her choice of design and colour palette. Her work encompasses wheel thrown and hand built piece...s that can be functional, sculptural or a combination of both. With a background as a medical laboratory technologist and years of working in chemistry she enjoys the process of mixing and testing her own slips, ash washes and glazes. A love of nature, experimentation and attention to detail are characteristic of her work. Ocean Trumpets shown here is porcelain with a wood ash wash on the interior; it measures 9" x 4.25" x 4.25". To see more of Nancy's work, nspottery.ca Art Off the Fence on South Pender, coming up soon - July 17 and 18

We're very happy to have five invited guest artists at this year's ART OFF THE FENCE. First up here is Annie Smith. Annie works in many media including charcoal, washi and watercolour. This is one of her watercolours titled Storm's End, 6.5" x 6.5". ... Annie is continuing her exploration of the rocky beaches of Pender Island - the narrow, magical spaces that separate forest and ocean. The diversity of rock that is the foundation of the island we live upon, the endurance of stone that is tumbled and worn by the crashing waves, and the natural treasures that can be found there are an endless source of wonder. To see more of Annie's work, www.anniesmith.ca Join us at Art Off the Fence Saturday and Sunday July 17 and 18 on South Pender Island.

We're thrilled to announce that ART OFF THE FENCE 2021 is a go! Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday July 17 and 18 on the grounds of the Church of the Good Shepherd, South Pender Island. Follow this page over the coming weeks for news about participating artists. We're looking forward to welcoming you in just 30 sleeps. :)

Art Off the Fence organizers are thrilled to hear today that Annie Smith who was one of our guest artists last year has been invited by the Massachusetts PEG Centre for Art and Activism to show her work in a show coming up later this month. You may recall Annie’s Bee House from AOF’s Bee Project last year. Bravo, Annie!

This coming Saturday the 2020 Art Off the Fence artists will be showing a few pieces outside the display case between 9:30 and 11:30 before we call this year's AOF a wrap. Susan Taylor has a piece from her Importance of Plankton series as well as a nest drawing in the display case at the Penders' Driftwood Centre now. On Saturday, she'll also be showing this large plankton piece.... The Importance of Plankton VII acrylic and resin on cradled panel 30 x 30

Frank Ducote is showing two birds from his Conspiracy of Corvids series in the final week of ART OFF THE FENCE 2020. Showing now in the display case at the Penders' Driftwood Centre on the Talisman Books side of the case. AOF artists will be attending in front of the display case between 9:30 and 11:30 this Saturday morning, August 29, and showing a few more pieces - before we call AOF 2020, disprupted, a wrap. Hope to see you there. Strutting Corvid... painted wood and found metal 12 x 14 x 5 $250 See more

Take a look at photographer Diane MacDonald's work titled Buoyant. She's captured the beauty of a nasturtium, one of summer's flowers that lifts our spirits with its startling colours. You'll find this piece and others by Diane and other ART OFF THE FENCE artists in the Penders' Driftwood Centre display case. The exhibit is on the Talisman Books side. Buoyant... 15 x 19, matted and framed $245 To see more of Diane's work, www.DianeMacDonaldPhotography.com To contact Diane, 250 884 1930