Outside In: Cathryn Jenkins | Niina Chebry | Michael Host
Outside In is on at the Hearth from July 5th to July 23rd. Artist pARTy on July 8th from 6 to 8pm with bar service, snacks, and a DJ.
The Hearth’s new group show presents the work of three well established artists: Cathryn Jenkins, Michael Host, and Niina Chebry. Entitled Outside In, the exhibit juxtaposes sculpture, wood designs, and paintings of three Parker Street creatives who, in their own respective ways, interpret and explore subject matter from the outdoors.
Cathryn Jenkins, well known for her wildlife sculptures, works largely in stone quarried from the mountains of Osoyoos and Revelstoke. Her highly polished bronze, serpentine, marble, and argillite beasts invite both a visual and tactile experience. The wild informs her attention; from it, she extracts the graceful power of native eagles, sea lions, and bears. Jenkin’s art creates a sense of fluid movement and successfully breathes life into the hardest of stones.
Michael Host, founder of “mth woodworks”, is inspired by the surrounding forest habitat of BC and translates this experience into both functional and artistic pieces. Through his process, he manages to marvelously encapsulate the essence of raw material. Ecological responsibility has remained paramount for him, and the use of salvaged trees and stumps has provided him the opportunity to create art from environmental biproducts. By using organic soy and peanut-based resins, Michael is able to design and install furniture that leaves little to no impact on the land.
Niina Chebry’s nature-based paintings suggest a sense of abstraction while addressing themes of climate change and environmental issues. Drawn to the abundant variations found in nature – wild, fragile, majestic – her work explores novel ways to view the environment. Layers of textures and translucent colors give to her work a sense of mystery. Known for her icescape paintings, she uses these tilting masses as a metaphor for the isolation and impermanence of the human condition.
With a multiplicity of mediums, these three artists aim to create a dynamic and engaging exhibition, celebrating their home environment while considering Bowen’s own natural uniqueness. Indeed, best known as a quick escape from city life and for its lush beauty, Bowen seems to be the quintessential venue for Outside In.
“Much like that wondrous sensation when standing at the edge of a body of water, mountain, or forest, nature-inspired art and the essence of raw material remind us that there’s more to life than carpets and fluorescent lighting”, they say. Therefore, in response to a common desire of connection with the natural world and of shedding the burdens of modern or urban life, bringing outside elements into the white cube offers a sense of tranquility, awe, and contemplation.