"Oceans of Art Weekend Retreat"

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I am going to be participating in the "Oceans of Art Weekend Retreat" at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

I will be travelling with a group of about 48 artists between January 23-27.

Bamfield, British Columbia is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in a protected inlet on the south shore of Barkley Sound. Bamfield is surrounded by the traditional territories of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Crown Land and portions of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre - photo from BMSC website

Photo by Charles Seaborn and Rich Palmer

Photo by Charles Seaborn and Rich Palmer

 

View slide show of BMSC and activities

Throughout the retreat, a marine seabird/mammal still life studio will be available as well as studio space. We have the option of participating in several field trips for example:

  1. Plein-air painting on the sandy shores and rocky sea stacks at Brady's Beach. BMSC staff will be on hand to guide, talk and answer questions. Seaweed will be collected for creating 'algal art' later in the lab. Now this is a curiosity to me and I look forward to learning about algal art so I will keep you posted on what it is and I will post examples of this work once I get home.  
  2. Ocean Explorations and Island Cruising on BMSC Research Vessels. Exploring what's under the waves on the bottom of Barkley Sound - the knowledgeable staff will bring some examples of sea life from the bottom to the surface to view.
  3. Exploring the coastal biodiversity of Bamfield and Grapplers Inlets. Plankton will be collected during the trip for later microscopic observations in the lab.
  4. Visits to the Lab for marine botanical inspiration and the creation of algal art from the seaweed collected of the beach. Microscopic examination of plankton samples with the introduction to "The Big World of Small Things".
  5. On our last afternoon there will be a trip to the open coast and sandy shores of Pachina Bay. Here you can hike the start of the west Coast Trail, paint on the beach or, weather permitting, kick back around a driftwood fire and watch the sun go down.

I will be participating in "Oceans of Art" a fundraising exhibit for BMSC to be held 11 - 29 June 2009, at the Nanaimo Art Gallery, 150 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC, 250-754 1750