The Seven Carters' show
The members of Bowen’s Contraband, (from left to right: Will Husby, Stuart Cole, Lois Meyers-Carter, Ellen MacIntosh, Kellie Burnett) came together on Sunday, Nov. 1, to celebrate the opening of the new show, The Seven Carters, at The Gallery at Artisan Square.
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Updated: November 05, 2009 4:28 PM
The new exhibition at The Gallery at Artisan Square highlights diverse pieces of art that include landscapes and abstracts, oil paintings, watercolours, acrylics, scratchboard images, photographs and giclee prints.
The common threads that tie them together are the artists’ connection to Bowen Island and their last name: Carter. Featured are the works of three generations of Carters, Dick and Katie Carter, their sons Ross and Jim Carter and grandchildren Ian, John and Stephanie Carter. The Seven Carters’ show at The Gallery at Artisan Square runs until Nov. 22.
It seems the artistic gene can be inherited.
But Stephanie Carter believes that there is another important ingredient to being an artist, and that is desire.
She said, “We all have a creative bent but having the desire to be an artist is essential. And I had the fortune of being exposed to someone who was extremely passionate about art. ”
Bowen Island has played a prominent role in Stephanie’s career as an artist.
She recalls, “When I was growing up, we spent the summers on Bowen. I always went painting with my grandfather especially when he got older and I had a growing interest in art. Even when the rest of the family went to the beach I stayed with him. He introduced me to watercolours and oil paints very early on, I guess that was when I was about five. Every time I went to see him, we would create something together.”
Inspired by her painting sessions with her grandfather that spanned a period of about 15 years, Stephanie studied illustration at Emily Carr and Capilano College.
Today she works as a professional illustrator on Granville Island and her images have been published in many magazines and corporate materials.
Her impressive client list includes companies like Microsoft, AT&T, Canada Post, The Royal Canadian Mint, KVOS TV [Seattle], The Wall Street Journal, Weyerhauser, The National Post and Coca Cola.
The Carters have had a connection to Bowen since 1945 when Dick and Katie started building their home on Eagle Cliff Road. Dick Carter was a professional sign writer with a passion for drawing and painting that inspired many family members to follow in his footsteps.
After her retirement to Bowen in 1965, Katie Carter also became serious about painting. Both Dick and Katie were instrumental in creating Bowen’s longest-running art group at Collins Hall. Ross Carter continued his parents’ tradition. He studied art at the Vancouver School of Art.
On Bowen Island, he is well known for his paintings and as an advocate for our active arts community. For many years, he was also involved in the Collins Hall art group.
Jim Carter took up drawing and painting on his retirement in 2000 and is currently a member of the Fisherman’s Cove Painting Group.
When John Carter began painting about seven years ago, he decided that he would go it alone as he believes that instruction can interfere with the creative process. His background is photography. Ian Carter took up painting three years ago and is working in a distinct, personal style. He has joined the other Carter painters for group painting sessions.
In addition to the popular family painting nights, the Carters also hold family critiques. Stephanie Carter enjoys those get-togethers where her husband Fraser often shows off his artistic skill in another medium and cooks an elaborate feast. Stephanie is very proud of the family exhibition on Bowen. She said, “You never know how the different pieces are going to hang together. But this show is a very heartwarming historical event for our family.”
For Stephanie, Bowen represents a perfect connection between family, art and nature and she is determined that this tradition will continue.
She said, “There is one big thing I recall from when I was really young. Even before my grandpa taught me, I remember collecting beach glass and rocks. I would take them back to grandpa’s house and we would create sculptures. Now I take my daughter Isabella to the beach and she has her own collection of rocks in the shape of hearts.”
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