Neil Loewen's Site

 Over my right shoulder-- painting plein air at Wickininish Beach (Long Beach) on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

 

 Wickininish Beach this is what the painting done plein air looked like when I finished.

 

 Buying a Horse-- This is based on a low german story of a man buying a horse and doing the inspection before laying his money down.

 

Foarma Hein Schmedt haft twee Kjinja. Daut Ellste es de Mejal, dee heet Marieche, un es achtieen Joah oolt. Daut Tweede es de junge Doft un dee es grod fief Joah oolt. Nu fählt Schmedt grod toofalig noch een Peat, un eenes Doages well he noh Staudt foahre, eent opp'em Peadmoakjt to kjeepe. He nemmt sien Doft met daut dee uk waut vom Peadhaundel leahre kaun.

Opp'em Moakjt bekjikt Schmedt sikj doa een schmocket Peat. He bekloppat daut von aule Siede, kjikt daut en'e Frät un besitt sikj de Tähne, häwt jieda Been aun un bekjikt sikj de Feet von unje un von bowe, bestrichelt de Been un de Schullre un häwt däm Zoagel un bekjikt sikj waut doarunja liggt. He nemmt siene goode Tiet doatoo, oba aum Enj woat he sikj eenig, un kjaft daut Peat. He bingt daut niee Peat hinjer'em Woage aun un dan foahre se auf noh Huus. Opp'em Huuswaig kome se em Vetahle äwa däm Haundel un dan well de Jung weete wuarom de Voda daut Peat soo väl bekloppat un bekjikt haud ea he
daut jekofft haud. "Na," saigt Schmedt to sien Jung, "wan ekj mi een Peat kjeepe well, dan mott ekj daut doch dichtig bekjikje un befeehle von unje bat bowe, daut ekj kraikt weet auf aules en Ordnung es un auf et uk jesund es, ea ekj doafäa Jeld utlaije doo. Daut vesteihst doch uk, nich, Doft?"

De Jung bleef lang stell, oba met'e Tiet kaum et bi ahm doch 'ruut, "Weetst uk waut, Pa? Ekj jleew ons Noba Peetasch sien Hauns well onse Marieche kjeepe!"

FOR THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION

 

This show was at Kariton from August 30 to September 24, 2009. http://www.abbotsfordtoday.ca/?p=17671

A backward glance

Artists usually paint or photograph their subjects, whether they're still life, landscapes, people in portraits or engaged in activity, from a perspective that is most recognizable, most beautiful, more proper - some might say predictable - to the anticipated viewer. This often means showing the front view as it is the most identifiable. Yet "putting on a happy face" or having a "false front" does not always present reality.

On Saturday, Kariton Gallery in Abbotsford opens a show in conjunction with the Central Fraser Graphics Guild featuring artists offering a different point of view, literally.

Views are taken in reflections, peeking over subject's shoulders, through objects, and from the rear.

The "rear view" is one occurring in less formal situations, sometimes in more intimate occasions, perhaps not so perfect, but sometimes more revealing of what is real. The theme challenges the artist, both creatively and technically, to discover some new territory in what are often familiar subjects.

The result is a refreshing and fun exhibit that reveals the playful, and creative, side of the guild artists.

Mirrors, angles, reflections confound our expectations of what we should be seeing, and delight us with a new take on a familiar scene.

Images like Melodie Douglas' rendering of a reflection in a trombone, should keep gallery visitors gazing into this remarkable perspective.

And during the artists' open house on Saturday, some visitors will no doubt be asking artist Neil Loewen is that's a self-portrait, looking over his own shoulder painting another painting.

The Central Fraser Valley Graphic Guild has been around for close to 30 years, and is unique in that there are no prerequisites for membership. Membership ranges up to 30 members of various artistic backgrounds and levels of expertise working in a diversity of mediums.

The guild members meet on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Kariton Gallery, and also hold drawing or other sessions.

For more details about the guild's activities, you can call Neil Loewen 604-859-3696 or Melodie Douglas at 604-859-7561.

The guild's exhibit at Kariton Gallery follows a successful studio tour last Saturday that featured 11 of the Abbotsford area's artists and artisans.

The event co-sponsored by The Reach and the Abbotsford Spirit of B.C., featured artists from the various sectors of the arts community.

Through such events and exhibit, both the grassroots Kariton Gallery and The Reach Museum and Gallery offer the public exciting insights into the calibre and depth of talent shared by the city's pool of (sadly) largely unknown artists.

The Kariton Gallery open house is Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while the exhibit is on until Sept. 23. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and weekends from noon until 4 p.m.

To find out more about these artists and the Central Fraser Valley Graphic Guild, go to www.geocities.com/graphicguild/.

Kariton Gallery is at 2387 Ware St., Abbotsford. Gallery hours are Call the arts council at 604-852-9358.

© Abbotsford Times 2009