Finding Cultcha...
It has been very interesting the last few days, as I seek out various people and ask their opinions on “(Columbia) Basin Culture”.
Whilst strolling the aisles of my best source in the Koots for art supplies I stopped and chatted with the art department about this very subject. As the day wore on I spoke with a cross section of Basinites and got an interesting list of responses.
When I asked, “What do you think of when you hear the words “Basin Culture” , the responses included such things as: hard working, water, resource based, conservative, water, commercial, business like, independant, organized, oh yes – and water.
But when I then asked, “and what do you think of when you hear “Kootenay Culture” I received more specific comments and quite different from the first question. These included: hippies, hemp, herb, organic, wackos, enviro’s, birkenstocks, small business, gardening, grass roots, tree planters…and water. Was this meant for “the Kootenays in general? (both East and West)?. Nope, these answers appeared to pop up in terms of W.Koots only. The E.Koots is another whole set of ideas: mining, grasslands, dry, hard working folk, resources, Alberta influenced, resorts,….and water.
We do have lots of water that is used in every way possible by man and beast, and is the reason the Columbia Basin Trust was formed to begin with. But beyond that I was surprised in the different answers elicited by those questions. It has in fact, made my search for representational images (of Basin Culture) much more interesting.
As the images in the Art of Philately exhibit relate directly to the intersect between the land and the culture(s) of the area, I have given thought to what that represents to me, and have come up with a short list including (but of course, not yet complete) of the following: Festivals, Doukhabors, fishing, mining, logging, tree planting, hydro, First Nations, skiing, hiking, artists, migration,forestry, fire fighting, “off the grid” lifestyles, and…water.)
I realize of course, that creating an exhibit of work is usually about one person’s perspective. But it makes sense to me to always get a second, third or many more opinions and responses to the “Basin Culture” question in order to get a bigger perspective on it all. So to all those out there who care to respond, send in your ideas on what culture in this area means to you personally.
And if you have ever visited the southeast corner of B.C. (aka the Columbia Basin) - but dont necessarily live in the area, send along your impressions also- either of “the Kootenays” or the larger,more encompassing “ Basin” area. The more the merrier.
On a final note, Im happy to report that all the pastel paintings for my August show (opening on the 8th) in Nelson – “Carpets and Mirrors” are now complete and ready to go – hooray! – 3 weeks early, even. Thats gotta be a record. see below for the final one that I just finished 2 days ago. cheers, back to the studio.DB
Ripples on a mill pond
