Archipelago: An Island of Self invites the viewer to find connection through an exploration of what it means to truly be ourselves.
Archipelago is the Old School House (TOSH) Arts Centre members exhibition and includes works by dozens of artists in several types of media. It can be viewed in TOSH's Brown Gallery until Nov. 1.
"In the heart of our interconnected world, each of us stands as an island — distinct and solitary, yet woven into the fabric of a larger community," TOSH said on its website. "TOSH Members present a collection of works that explore this paradox of individuality and unity, inviting you to delve into the essence of self-hood through the lens of self portrait."
The artists have chosen to represent themselves through self portrait in many creative ways.
"My self-portrait is painting my ideas onto platform runners," wrote Eileen Macdonald in an artist statement. "First I drew the shoe on a canvas, then painted what I was thinking (figuring colours/font) onto the canvas. Once that was figured out and over 180-plus hours later the painting of the runners was finished!"
MacDonald's entry, 'Dangerously Fabulous', also included a 'Punk Monk(ey)' as a reflection of her youth. Her Christian faith and Celtic roots are reflected through Celtic knots, a Celtic cross and several Bible verses which are integrated into the design.
"My roots go back to the Outer Northern Hebrides of Scotland where my grandparents’ language was Scottish Gaelic," MacDonald said. "All the writing is in Scottish Gaelic."
Jean's Cockburn's self portrait, 'Oh Deer Me', is a soft sculpture made with textile and mixed media, approximately half of life size, according to her artist statement.
"I love the gentle deer of Denman Island and feel a connection with their existence," Cockburn wrote in the statement. "The deer are linked in my psyche with my love of nature."
The sculpture was hand-embroidered and is accompanied by a handmade book of block prints of deer images. The deer figure sits on a basket handwoven from cedar and sea grass and is surrounded by deer antlers.
'Swimmer- Self Portrait' by Ingrid Weiss was created with graphite on toned paper and inspired by Weiss' personal goal to complete the seven-kilometre 'Rattlesnake Island Swim' in Okanagan Lake.
"Swimming and drawing have an element of solitude — we may swim in the same sea or pool, but we work alone," Weiss wrote in her artist statement. "Artistic and athletic pursuits are often seen as opposite inclinations yet ongoing practice, training and self-assessment are required for development of skill in both realms."
Weiss says the portrait was an exercise in making piece with her inner critic, "one stroke at a time".
Dave Casey's self-portrait 'Eighty' focuses on images other than the artist's literal appearance.
"The viewer is presented with a large thumb print, a compass rose from 1944, and 80 bars that speak to the artist’s identity," Casey wrote in the artist statement.
These are just a handful of the dozens of self-portraits that make up Archipelago.
TOSH (122 Fern Rd.) is also hosting two other exhibits, Otium by Roy Langhorst and Dreamscapes by Phil Harrison, curated by Emily Harrison.