Shavasana Gallery & Café will be opening Fri. Mar. 29 til Mon. Apr. 1

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Dear Friends…It’s Sunday March 24th and I’m sitting at my local Starbucks in Kitsilano – getting ready for my annual Just Push Play Theatre Society AGM https://justpushplayaudiomotion.wordpress.com/ (our 35th I believe) – and taking a little time, in what appears to be a very busy week coming up, to announce the “soft opening” of my new 2024 season at Shavasana Gallery & Café (my 11th!)

I’m coming over to participate in the bi-annual “Made on Mayne” event which is a really cool celebration of all things, “made on Mayne”…art, crafts, clothing, food – beer!…you name it, if it’s made on Mayne Island – we celebrate it, with a well-organized tour of all the local studios, shops, roadside stands, businesses & more! It’s a fun & informative couple of days with maps, websites & posters (thank you Arts on Mayne! https://www.artsontheislands.org/mayne.html ) and is definitely worth checking out👍

I’m changing my format this year – rather than the 4 or 5 rotating shows I’ve had in previous years (1 artist for 1 month) , I’ll be welcoming 5 new artists (Robbin Yagger, Linda Church, Ranjeet Dhaliwal, Dell Maxwell, and Stephen Cropper)and 4 returning artists (Famous Empty Sky, Bill Maylone, Tina Farmilo, and Jody Waldie) to join me for the Made on Mayne event, with the option to leave their art up or change it – as they see fit – throughout my May to October season. We are planning on having a “Meet the Artists” night sometime in June, the details of which are still to be determined, this may be followed-up with some kind of closing party at the end of season…also TBD.

I’m looking forward to hosting you all at next weekends “Made on Mayne Crawl”…drop in for a coffee and a chance to check out the fabulous talent we’ll be exhibiting!

Hours of Operation:

Friday March 29, 9am – 4pm

Saturday March 30, 9am – 4pm

Sunday March 31, 10:15 – 4pm

Monday April 1, 9am – 4pm

Hope to see you then!

Cheers!

George Bathgate

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open, Sat. Mar. 2, Sun. Mar. 3, & Mon. Mar. 4

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It’s Sunday, Feb. 25th and I’m sitting in one of my neighbourhood cafés, on Broadway in Vancouver, just penning a few words to let you know that I am planning on opening the Gallery Café this coming weekend. Despite my commitment to my slow season, which allows me to spend more time with my partner Cathy in Kitsilano, I always miss Mayne Island, my little island business, and all the lovely people that I call my friends, and who make up the broader community there.

One thing I absolutely love about running my little gig on Mayne, are the oft-times unique and enriching experiences that I have there. When I was over, earlier in February, my friend Peter brought his friend Adam in for a coffee. Adam saw my little window table – which looks out over Active Pass and where I do

some of my own creative work – and noticed my collection of paintbrushes. “Are those your brushes?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied. “Do you have any paints?” he continued, “and canvases?” “I do, but I haven’t used them in a while so I’m not sure of their condition.” “Well, if you give me a canvas & some paints, I’ll paint you a picture.”

Thrilled by this offer – and curious to see what Adam had in mind – I hauled out my collection of paints and a canvas and let him have at it. He went right to work and within half an hour produced the above image.

Adam is an Ojibway resident of a small reserve on the shores of Lake Nippigon, and produced this image of a “Bondabée” (sp?) which is a being that his mother and her brother saw many years ago, when they were young, crawl out of Lake Nippigon and up onto the stairs of their local church. She described it as part man, part woman, and part mermaid. Anyway, as mentioned, these moments are – for me – pure gold. If you’d like to see the Bondabée, it’s on the wall at Shavasana winking at you as you walk in the front door…come on down!

Hours:

Saturday, March 2, 9pm – 4pm

Sunday, March 3, 10:15am – 4pm

Monday, March 4, 9am – 4pm

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend, Sat., Feb. 10 – Mon. Feb. 12

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After a rather long and unexpected hiatus, Shavasana Gallery & Café will be re-opening this coming weekend from Saturday Feb. 10, to Monday Feb. 12 9am til 4pm (except Sunday 10:15 til 4).

My intentions to open up in January, were thwarted by 2 weekends of snow and cold, and, that second winter wallop with temperatures below -12, wound up bursting some pipes requiring the honest & hardworking plumber, David Rae, to come around and work his magic. Long story short, I was unable to open up on my third weekend attempt in January until Dave got the wet stuff running again.

All is well now, and water – that essential ingredient for a good cup of coffee – will be flowing through the new pipes and taps again.

Please come on by!

Cheers!

George

Previous Show: Artist Deborah Strong, “Feather and Bone” Aug. 25 until Oct. 1

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We had a lovely Art Opening on Friday Aug 25, with a well-attended appreciative crowd, enjoying Deborah’s beautiful selection of coloured-pencil drawings of Birds.

Black Oystercatcher, Great Horned Owl, Song Sparrow, House Wren, Kinglet and Swallow (click on the third photo to see a Kingfisher and a Downy Woodpecker)

Over the last several days since the Opening, I’ve had many guests drop in to admire Deborah’s exhibit, and some have compared her work to that of James Fenwick Lansdowne, and even John James Audubon – both of whom had a fascination with birds and an uncanny ability to capture them using only watercoulours, oils and – in Deborah’s case – coloured pencil on illustration board and clayboard cradled panel.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler (click on the photo to see a pair of Goldeneye Ducks, a Chickadee and House Wren), Swallows, Pileated Woodpecker, and Great Grey Owl

It seems that everyone has a favourite bird, or a fondness for a particular encounter with a feathered friend, which has been driving sales of particular bird species. I became fond of House Wrens when I put up a wooden bird box on the back of Shavasana Gallery about 7 years ago, which was promptly occupied by a little wren family who returned annually for many years to have their babies. In this exhibit, Deborah’s depictions of birds are species she has witnessed locally (with the exception of the Great Grey Owl).

Young Barred Owl, “The Watering Hole” with 9 different species of bird…and Deborah! On hanging day having some fun placing all the art with yours truly😊

Deborah’s show, “Feather and Bone” runs until October 1st – Don’t Miss It!

My New Book, “All Roads at Any Time”, is now available at Books on Mayne!

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I just wanted to send out a quick note to let people know that my new book, “All Roads at Any Time” is now on the shelves of Mayne Islands best bookstore – Books on Mayne! The ever-wonderful Gail Noonan has agreed to stock my little book of short stories, which is a blessing as I am not open throughout the Christmas season and am thrilled that it at least has a venue through which to be purchased🙏

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & a healthy, happy & peaceful New Year. Sorry I can’t be over there this holiday season to share in the festivities with you❤️

Cheers!

George Bathgate

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend – Fri. Dec 1, Sat Dec. 2, & Sun. Dec 3

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Yes, Christmas is now officially less than a month away😱 I’m not sure how it’s possible that I’ve allowed myself to be busier now – in my “off season” – than I was during my regular May – October “summer season” (which also happened to be my busiest year yet at the Gallery) but here I am at 7pm Monday night, at a Starbucks in Kitsilano…updating my website to let everyone know about my upcoming weekend Hours of Operation.

I’m rambling…probably a little too caffeinated, which goes with the territory when one spends too much time in coffee shops doing online work😆. Anyways, I hope you are all well and that I have a chance to see you when I’m over on Mayne this weekend, and the coffee is hot and the Open sign is up👍

Hours of Operation:

Friday Dec. 1, 9am – 4pm

Saturday Dec 2, 9am – 4pm

Sunday Dec. 3, 10:15 – 2:30ish (leaving early to attend the Noonan/Heshedahl/Jackson concert at the Church)

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend – Nov. 10 – 13 – for the Fall “Made on Mayne” event

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Just a quick note to let you all know that I am intending to open up this coming weekend to participate in the bi-annual “Made on Mayne” event put on by the Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council – a fun event celebrating all things, “made on Mayne”.

Shavasana Art Gallery & Café hours:

Friday Nov. 10, 9am – 4pm

Saturday Nov. 11, 9am – 4pm

Sunday Nov. 12, 10:15am – 4pm

Monday Nov. 13, 9am – 4pm

Famous Empty Sky will be exhibiting some of her fascinating collage work, Bill Maylone will display some of his beautiful Suiseki rock creations with perhaps a painting or two, and there will be an eclectic mix of other artists and craftspersons – regional and local – showing off their creativity.

Come on by for a delicious coffee or tea and a yummy baked good while you take time to appreciate all the art & creativity that Mayne Island has to offer

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend Sat. Oct. 21 – 23

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I am now operating under my Fall/Winter schedule and will be open intermittently until about March, with an expectation to be open weekly by May 2024.

So…I will be open this coming weekend as follows:

Saturday Oct. 21 9am – 4pm

Sunday Oct. 22 10:15 – 4pm

Monday Oct. 23 9 – 4

There will be hot coffee and tea ad a selection of yummy cookies and squares – there will be art on display but it’s what I refer to as “The Show Between Shows”…a collection of art that will fill the walls until I sort out what’s happening in 2024 when – hopefully – regular art shows will recommence🙏

Hope to see you this weekend!

Cheers!

George

New Art Show at the Library! Joseph Synn Kune Loh, “Who Am I?”, Oct. 4 – Nov. 11

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Art in the Library presents a solo show by Joseph Loh, October 4th to November 11th., entitled: “Who am I?”

Joseph writes:

“The show comprises a group of graphite pencil drawings on paper inspired by an art gallery owner who challenged me”, “I know you can paint but can you draw as well?”, she asked. “What can I draw?”, I replied.  She said: “Something I have not seen before.”

The result is this series of works created in the mid 80’s. The drawings became a detour in Joseph’s art career.

After visiting sacred sites in Mexico, he took up drawing again and created a series called “Molecular Language”, which are also being shown.

If you would like to meet the artist, Joseph Loh will be on hand in the Library Saturday, October 7th from 1:00 to 3:00.

Art Opening! Deborah Strong, “Feather & Bone”, Friday August 25, 7 – 8:30pm

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I am pleased to be welcoming Deborah Strong and her beautiful artwork back to the walls of Shavasana Gallery & Café, August 25 – October 1. Her show is called “Feather and Bone”, and is a collection of Drawings which celebrate the life of birds, and Deborah’s love and appreciation of our little feathered friends.

As the attached poster attests, we are having an Art Opening to kick off Deborah’s exhibit at Shavasana Gallery, on Friday August 25th, 7pm – 8:30pm. Deborah will be there mingling with the guests, and we will be having “Light Refreshments” (Nibblies, a fruit punch and free tea and coffee)…please join us! It’ll be great to see you🙏😊

Cheers! …..George

(ps. I’d also like to mention that it was Deborah Strong who offered her Formatting skills to help save my new book project, “All Roads at Any Time”*, when I was mired in Amazon self-publishing hell. Thanks Deborah! I couldn’t have done it without you!🙏

(pps. copies of “All Roads at Any Time” will be available for sale this weekend at the Gallery or online through Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/All-Roads-At-Any-Time/dp/B0CDF2C8T5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1USY8I7D4LBYW&keywords=all+roads+at+any+time&qid=1692744609&sprefix=all+roads%2Caps%2C304&sr=8-1