Impermanence, Yet Undeniably Valuable.

Steve Smith, Red and Yellow Cedar Bentwood Charity Box, Impermanence, 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

We tend to buy material objects based on our attachment to them as tangible goods; they should in theory, remain intact for, well, forever. So what kind of feelings does a piece of art, that can literally be erased, invoke in us as consumers? How do we perceive a piece that is so readily... impermanent? Kwakwaka'wakw artist Steve Smith challenges our conceptions of tangible objects and their value with his 2012 Annual Charity Bentwood Box Silent Auction contribution titled Impermanence. 

The box is painted with chalkboard paint and drawn on with chalk/soft pastels. Since it's on chalkboard, it's kind of like being back in school and it's one of the days lessons. It's title is really what it's all about, in that the art work can easily be erased or wiped off (with a damp cloth). After having a heart attack it became even clearer to me how impermanent we all are. As artists, I think most of us are trying to make art work that will last well after we have moved on, but this piece is all about non attachment to what we think should last forever. The body will die and the only think that is forever is the wondrous connection that we all have to the Creator. Because we all are the Creator.

-Steve Smith

This piece will be available for silent auction until December 8, 2012 at 8pm PDT.

Gwaii Haanas Call to Artists

Gwaii Haanas Provincial Park and the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate have just released a call to artists for a residency program this summer. Three artists will have the opportunity to be led through the remote Gwaii Haanas Park on a seven-day adventure, and then they will be asked to create works based on this unique experience. The works that are created will be featured at the Haida Gwaii Museum in the autumn of 2011.

Applications must be in by March 11, 2011 and details can be obtained from Jen Wilson. Artists are asked to submit images of at least five recent works, a detailed proposal of a possible piece to be completed for this project, and a general artist statement. Jen's phone number is 1-250-559-4643 and her email is jen.museum@skidegate.ca.

Lattimer Gallery Raises $10,850 for Charity

Lattimer Gallery is excited to confirm that we raised $10,850.00 CAD for the Aboriginal Health Program at BC Women's Hospital through our annual Bentwood Charity Boxes event. The twenty cedar boxes that Lattimer Gallery presented were sold via silent auction, and we raised more than double any amount we have generated for charity in the past.

Lattimer Gallery thanks all of our loyal customers and the artists, who donated their time and their creativity. The success of this event was due to the generosity and artwork of: Joe Campbell, Jim Charlie, Alano Edzerza, Phil Gray, Landon Gunn, Dean Heron, Dean Hunt, Kwi Jones, Rob Long, James Michels, Michael Nicoll, Splash, Marie Oldfield, Ian Reid, Rod Smith, Steve Smith, Ernest Swanson, Clint Work and Xwalacktun. A special thanks to James Michels, who donated all of the steam-bent boxes AND created a fully carved box.

Charity Bentwood Boxes - Nov 27th to Dec 10th

For the past four years, Lattimer Gallery has organized events over the holiday season to help support various charities.

This year, we will be holding a silent auction featuring a wide range of bentwood boxes. All of the work in the creation of these small cedar boxes will be donated: the boxes will be steam-bent and donated by Metis/Cree artist James Michels; the promotion and collected funds will be donated by Lattimer Gallery; and the artwork will be donated by the artists. Lattimer Gallery is working with Vancouver Aboriginal Health, which supports children and families at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of hospital experiences for Aboriginal patients and their families.

We will be selling the boxes by silent auction, and we will start uploading the boxes to our website in late November. We will update current selling prices on the website as well, and bids can be placed in person, via email, or by phone.