ARTISTS

January
Fernie, BC
www.melaniemacvoy.com

Melanie MacVoy was born and raised in Southern Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC and Emily Carr University, Vancouver. While exploring the Coastal Mountains on Vancouver Island, Melanie fell in love with the outdoor lifestyle.

In 2000 Melanie joined the small mountain community of Fernie. She is inspired by exploring wilderness areas and painting outdoors ‘en plein-air’. International clients and outdoors enthusiasts, alike, collect her work.

February
Nelson, BC
www.reneeharperart.com

Renée Harper is an artist and college professor who lives and works in the
West Kootenay. Renée studied painting, and creative writing at Kootenay School
of the Arts before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Book and Media Studies and
Literature from the University of Toronto;
a Master of Arts in Literature from
York University where she is currently
a doctoral candidate.

At home in the mountains, her paintings are her attempt to express the awe she feels for the place where she lives.

March
Kaslo, BC
shelleylross757@gmail.com

Love of nature drew Ross to a career in natural heritage interpretation. She created original artwork for panels/brochures for interpretive trails & visitor centres. A recipient of two Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance awards, she also participated in an art project with Parks Canada. In June 2019, she was awarded a residency at the Wallace Stegner house in Eastend, Saskatchewan.

Her body of work, Inner Rainforest¸ images of the interior rainforest of B.C. has been exhibited in southern B.C.

May
Castlegar, BC
www.noracuriston.com

At 55 years Nora Curiston, a self-proclaimed ‘late bloomer’ graduated from Emily Carr Vancouver 2007. She gravitated towards sculpture and installation. She won a scholarship to attend the Toni Onley Artist Project 2008, and has since returned to Wells to create several permanent outdoor installations.

Her work has been highlighted in group and solo shows in B.C and has work in private and public collections in Canada and the USA.

June
Invermere, BC
www.deniselemaster.ca

Denise has been painting primarily Western Canadian landscapes for many years and finds endless inspiration in the vastness and variety to be found.

Her style simplifies the elements for the viewers as she strives to promote conversations concerning an appreciation of the countryside and lifestyle.

Denise has lived many places but the Columbia Valley, where she grew up, is home.

July
Nakusp, BC
www.debrarushfeldt.com

Debra Rushfeldt received her arts education at the Alberta College of Art & Design and she is widely exhibited. She has also curated, taught and served in both chair and director positions in a variety of community organizations in both cities. She currently co-owns Prima Materia and operates her Studio Gallery in Nakusp.

In 2020 she was commissioned to create a western toad outdoor mural for the downtown area of Nakusp.

September
Golden and Invermere, BC
www.sabcurtis.com

Sab Curtis is a self-taught landscape artist. Her affinity and deep respect for the natural world stems from a life of exploring mountainous terrain around the world, including her own Kootenay backyard where she has found inspiration for the past 20 years.

Art became Sab’s unexpected silver lining while recovering from a traumatic brain injury. In 2020, she put brush to canvas as a therapeutic outlet. An engineer by profession, she has converted her problem-solving skills to her art practice through cognitive “rewiring’.

October
New Denver, BC

Jane Champagne (1930–2008) was a plein-air artist whose passion was the land. Her paintings have been acquired by many corporations and dozens of private collectors in Canada and abroad.
Jane wrote and illustrated Painting the Ontario Landscape.

She was a member of the Society of Canadian Artists. While visiting the West Kootenay area Jane painted lovely watercolours of one of the region’s most beloved and picturesque historic towns.

All Jane’s work reflects her love of Mother Earth’s wonderful range of moods.

November
Silverton, BC
www.tsunekokokubo.ca

Tsuneko Kokubo was born in Steveston BC in 1937, and raised in Japan. Returning to Canada in her late teens, she studied Fine Arts at Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr) focusing on drawing and painting.

She has worked extensively in physical theatre and dance, and costume design.

In 1990 she returned to full-time painting, working mainly in oils and acrylics. She has had numerous exhibitions, and has paintings in private collections in Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico and the USA