ANGELA BAILEY, Ceramics
Angela's East Coast heritage along with her love for West Coast terrain has shaped and influenced her clay artistry. Both coasts contribute to her affinity for the earth and rock that encompasses much of her daily life. Consequently, it is quite natural for her to feel connected to these elements by way of clay. Angela's interest in clay began when she was child, turned into a hobby in her twenties and is now one of her passions and her profession.
Angela graduated from the Fine Arts Program at Langara College in Vancouver, in 1997. During this program, she was exposed to many talented pottery artists by way of studio visits, workshops and courses. Under the direction of Laura Wee Lay Laq, whose work is featured in museums and private collections around the globe, her passion for hand building and sawdust firing was ignited.
This technique of firing is constructed in an outdoor vessel fueled by specific types of sawdust. Pockets of oxidation and reduction occur producing unique, spontaneous colours, decorations, and textures, while the carbon blackens the clay.
This phase of her career was inspirational for her as it moved her creativity towards its current path. Angela's sawdust-fired pieces offer a primitive earthy artistry that is reflected in nature and are embellished with unique drawings and designs. Her collections of hand built and wheel thrown pottery are custom glazed and decorated with hand drawn images.
Angela's studio is located in Squamish, where she lives with her daughter among the inspirational mountains, Pacific Northwest forests, and ocean that encircle her majestic backyard.
CLAUDIA GABRIELA LADRON, Beaded Jewelry and Bags
Claudia Gabriela Ladron was born raised in Mexico City before immigrating to Canada in 1995. As a young girl she learned the artistic handcraft skill of bead working from her mother who was a Huichol Indian from the state of Jalisco in Mexico. The Huichol people of Mexico were spiritual people with a long history of rituals and ceremonies. They strongly believed that communication with the spiritual world was achieved through symbols and rituals and their artwork was used to express their deepest religious feelings and beliefs. Huichol beadwork originated as an art form long before the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In the past, the abundant patterns of bright and colorful beads were woven to create art as a spiritual or religious expression. Presently Claudia is finding the handcraft works of art passed on by her ancestors are becoming a fashion statement. Every piece of beadwork is meticulously created with the aid of a bead loom and is a unique work of art ready to be worn.
RICHARD WHEATER, Photography, Climbing
Richard Wheater is a Vancouver based mountain sports photographer who specializes in high-angle cliff photography. He is one of Canada's most dedicated rock climbing photographers who also shoots mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, skiing and backpacking. Rich spends a huge chunk of time in the glorious, world famous Sea to Sky Country, and contributes regularly to specialty magazines and adventure print media throughout North America and Europe. Rich has been documenting outdoor recreation and adventure travel for over ten years, and currently spends roughly four to six months a year traveling, trekking, climbing and shooting. His next project is a four-month tour through the hillbilly crags of the eastern United States, including New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.
