CHRISTINE PARTON (September 2007)
A writer and editor and mother to a young child, Christine’s work recently appeared in Momentum Magazine. In 2004, Christine won first prize in non-fiction writing contest at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference Writing Contest. Christine graduated from University of Ottawa in 2002 with a BA in English and Women’s Studies, and has since taken several professional writing courses at Simon Fraser University. In 2000, in Ireland, Christine worked for Amnesty International, organizing volunteers and publishing an 18-page magazine for staff and volunteers. In India in 2001, she volunteered at a children’s home where she worked with children aged 3 to 17.
While at the Centre, Christine will work on a book-length project on the topic of Pacific Salmon. Tentatively titled Taliesin after the god in Welsh mythology who is bestowed with the wisdom of the salmon, the book will weave historical, fictional, factual and mythological elements. It will look at myths surrounding the salmon as well as current day environment and sustainability issues affecting its habitat, spawning and survival.
Christine also plans to establish permanent "reflection points" along existing trails in the Nature Reserve, to include notepads, pencils and a drop-off slot for people to contribute their observations and words to the vision of the Centre.
While at the Centre, Christine will also offer public outreach activities in the form of readings, writing workshops and drop by writing/drop-in poetry/prose sessions. Framed collection of writing samples acquired over the month at workshops will be posted on the wall of the Centre.
The Natural World: An Artists' Celebration is a partnership initiative of the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society and the Sunshine Coast Arts Council. The Program has received generous funding support from the Spirit of BC Arts Fund, the 2010 Arts Now Catalyst Program, the McLean Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation and from an Aboriginal Arts Development Award to artist Dionne Paul.
To learn more about this initiative, please contact us at 604-883-9201 or by email info@lagoonsociety.com.
The Lagoon Society is very grateful to the generous contributions of the many private individuals, businesses, foundations, community groups, corporations, and government agencies that make up our many sponsors.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
Well-respected within her community, Dionne serves as the Sechelt Nation Cultural Coordinator and is at the forefront of efforts to maintain, strengthen and revitalize traditional aboriginal cultural practices, values and art forms in the context of contemporary society. Dionne is a member of a Salish weaving guild where she is learning traditional Coast Salish techniques of weaving. In addition, she has had the exceptional opportunity to work with Lawrence Paul (Yuxweluptun) as an apprentice and studio assistant to a master First Nations painter and internationally recognized artist. Dionne graduated with a BFA from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2005 and now serves as the Sechelt Nation Cultural Coordinator.
An exceptional student and artist, Emily Gray is a young rising star on the Sunshine Coast. In 2005, Emily won a Governor General’s Award for achieving the highest academic standing in her high school graduating class and she has received numerous Fine Arts, Top Student, and Service Awards over the years. Emily is currently completing her second year of Fine Arts at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, but returns to her home in Egmont each summer. At home on the Sunshine Coast, she is an active community participant, teaching art classes for children, volunteering on various community initiatives, and working at the Egmont Heritage Centre. In 2004, together with mentor Ken Walters, Emily designed and created a 600 square foot mural at the Pender Harbour Aquatic Centre. In 2005, she independently designed and painted a 300 square foot mural for the Egmont Heritage Centre.
Sweet Cascadia is a musical trio consisting of Mark Lebbell, Jenny Groves and Simon Hocking. Cumulatively, the members of the group have over 45 years of experience playing their instruments, including guitar, mandolin, stand-up bass and other stringed instruments; 25 years of songwriting experience; and involvement in five full-length album recordings, all in a variety of musical forms from folk to jazz, rock to children’s music. All three band members are certified teachers with six years of indoor classroom teaching and 35 years of outdoor ecological education background.
An emerging artist, Stewart currently works as a full-time dad, but he dreams of pursuing a living through painting as his children reach school age. To date the bulk of his work has been paintings of cedar, Douglas fir, and arbutus trees, rocky shores with coastal forest mountain backdrops, flowers, breezy skies, and other natural scenes of coastal life. 
A well-known local photographer, Alan has published many magazine and book images, features and covers and held exhibitions on the Sunshine Coast and in Vancouver. Alan’s artwork and portfolio attest to his careful consideration and celebration of the natural environment. His work is thoughtful, powerful and provocative and has been recognized by many collectors and galleries as well as international photographic and nature organizations. Alan has won photo contests in Popular Photography Magazine, Photo Digest Magazine, and Photo Life Magazine, and in 2004, he was recognized with the Sunshine Coast Arts Council’s Gillian Lowndes Memorial Award for most outstanding artist on the Sunshine Coast. In addition to his art practice, Alan dedicates considerable time and effort to community groups and initiatives in support of protecting habitat and nature spaces. He is not just a talented local artist - Alan also demonstrates inspiring stewardship and citizenship. Alan’s public slide shows are extremely popular, informative and entertaining. Alan’s gentle character, warmth and humor never fail to deliver a strong message as well as captivate a crowd.
Jan majored in Painting and Printmaking at the Vancouver School of Art and her teaching training continued in Art Education at the University of British Columbia. Jan’s illustration and rendering abilities have contributed to her fine art career with expertise in drawing, watercolor, pastel and oil painting. Showing in private galleries, solo and group exhibitions since the late 1970’s, her work is based realistic and colorful subjects including landscapes, interiors, and floral studies. In 2002, Jan’s work shifted to creating a collection of strong and vibrant oils, acrylics and smaller watercolor studies done on location to reflect the beauty and unique character of the local coastal surroundings. Keeping pace with the current technology in computer graphics and web media, Jan also does commercial illustration work for international corporate commissions and has contributed to many non-profit organizations and events with logos, paintings, illustrations and promotional materials. Jan has over 20 years of teaching experience all levels of fine arts, including teaching fine arts classes for Capilano College and participating in Artist in the School Programs.
Annathea has studied and practiced art for more than 10 years, focusing on printmaking, painting, film and video. She completed her BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in December 2004, graduating with honours and an interdisciplinary major. She is also a poet and has continues to explore the combination of writing and visual art. Annathea’s most recent body of work is inspired by forms found in the microcosmos of cells and organisms, as well as larger forms found in nature. In these recent abstract works, she has taken elements directly from the natural world, including animal, plant, cellular and microscopic features, and created "environments" where these familiar, but unidentifiable forms act and interact. She has extensive experience working with children and youth.
