Thanks for a great Crawl!

I was surprised—but delighted—to see so many keen art-lovers out this past weekend! Everyone was thoughtful and mindful of the health restrictions, and very kind in their positive feedback on my work. Thanks very much to all who came out!

The cityscapes proved especially popular, so I’ve created a new section in the Works section devoted to them—stay tuned for new additions to this collection over the winter.

I hope the new art you purchased during the Art Crawl provides comfort and joy as we stay close in the coming days.

Urban Canyon Collection A & M Celenza

Time to Crawl

Private collector appointments today in lieu of an evening soiree—curse you COVID-19!! Hope we can get back to wine and cheese next year!

But—open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10-5 for drop-in visits with health protocols (masks, please!) and on ZOOM (see ‘Art Crawl—Virtual Chats—Halfmoon Bay at suncoastarts.com) from 9:00-9:30 each day as well.

My latest book, Those Who Stay (sequel to Those Who Wander) will also be available—personalized signing with every purchase! Limited copies of Those Who Wander still available.

Art Crawl --new works

Today I took a handful of new works to the framer—only two weeks to go until the Art Crawl (Oct 23-25)!

I’ve been re-purposing older works and frames, but the results are fresh and new! Hope you’ll come and see me (health and safety precautions in effect, but studio will be open 10-5 each day).

Facing the Light oil on panel 18.5 x 18.5 framed $695

Look Both Ways pastel on paper 15 x 23.5 framed $625

His Car is Warm and Dry oil on panel 11.5 x 47.5 framed $725

Those Who Stay launching October 3rd (Copy)

Just a last minute reminder that the sequel to my first historical fiction book, Those Who Wander, will officially launch on Saturday October 3rd, via a Zoom presentation from 4:00-4:40 pm PST. Those Who Stay follows many of the characters from the first book, but focuses on Grace Joe, a fictional mixed blood character, as she struggles to find her identity in the face of many challenges presented by the British Columbia health care system in the 1920s-1940s. The online event will include a slide show and reading, and time for a Q & A. Hope to see you then!

The first book explored the early days of Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia through the eyes of Clara Lyell, Halfmoon Bay’s actual first white settler, concluding with her involvement in an unsolved murder that took place in Halfmoon Bay in 1922. The sequel takes us further up the Sunshine Coast to Pender Harbour and inland to the Chilliwack area in the Fraser Valley. Whereas the first book’s characters were affected by BC’s residential schools, this book places Grace in a segregated ‘Indian’ hospital.

To register for the launch, contact Emily Kammerle at ekammerle@hotmail.com. A link to the online event will be sent to you on the day of the event. If you need instructions for downloading the Zoom software (it’s truly simple), contact Emily for assistance.

Books ($25) are available from me at the studio (contact me at rodgers.ruth@gmail.com to arrange pick-up) or at Talewind Books in Sechelt.

Elder College Presentation

This morning I gave a 90 minute Zoom presentation to about a dozen participants enrolled in our local Elder College art appreciation course. It was a new experience to ‘lecture’ to an empty room, accompanied only by a gallery of small pictures of the registrants! Nevertheless, I think they learned a lot about soft pastels and I hope I inspired some of them to give them a try.

Here’s the painting I got about half finished during the presentation—I polished it up after the call ended. I thought you might be interested to see how it turned out. I’m calling it Last Warmth, and hope to have it framed and on the wall before Art Crawl.

Last Warmth pastel on board 14 x 11