Presents
Paintings, By The Numbers
Celebrating the life and art of Ken Kirkby
September 14,2024
2 pm – 5 pm
40 KNOTS Winery
Inukshuks In The Blowing Snow 40×60
Tickets
Event Details
Program
Ken Kirby Biography
Partners
Guarding The Salish Sea 30×60
Event Details
Internationally renowned painter, Ken Kirkby donated 50 of his paintings to Project Watershed prior to his death on June 20, 2023. It was his wish that they be used for this event to raise funds for environmental restoration, research and education on Vancouver Island.
Paintings, By The Numbers 2024, will focus on celebrating Ken’s life and art on the beautiful enclosed patio at 40 KNOTS Winery. In addition to the art available in the draw, we will have commemorative prints of his most famous painting “Isumataq” and books written about his life and journeys available to peruse or purchase. Luke Blu Guthrie will provide live music and complimentary locally crafted amuse-bouche from Cheffanie will be available.
The main activity of the event is the Art Draw which combines the thrill of getting a good deal with the warm fuzzy feeling of contributing to environmental stewardship. In Ken’s words “It’s not just a deal, it’s a steal”. Ken’s art is world renowned and is valued between $1,000 to $8,000, depending on factors such as size and framing. Through this event, Art Draw Ticket holders will get to own an original Ken Kirkby for $600. Thanks to our sponsors Odlum Brown, 40 KNOTS Winery and Cheffanie, the funds raised will go towards Kus-kus-sum and other environmental projects.
There are fifty Art Draw Tickets available and thirty Spectator Tickets available for this event. Art Draw ticket holder’s names will be drawn at random during the event and at that time they will be able to choose one of the paintings available. The ticket holder whose name is drawn first will have the first choice of artworks. The ticket holder whose name is drawn second will have to choose from the remainder and so on, until all the names have been drawn. Each Art Draw ticket assures ownership of one of the original artworks. If the ticket holder cannot attend the event, they can designate a friend, family member or one of our volunteers to attend in their stead with a list ranking the paintings in order of their preference. The designated person will use the ranking list to choose the top available painting when their name is drawn. Please note that if ticket holders would like the artwork shipped to them they will be responsible for the shipping costs.
ART DRAW Ticket holders will receive a complimentary taster of wine, an amuse-bouche and may bring a guest. Spectator Tickets are also available for $25, these tickets come with a drink ticket redeemable for a beverage (a glass of 40 KNOTS wine or a non alcoholic beverage), an amuse-bouche and commemorative print.
Ticket holders are encouraged to review the art using the online gallery and during the preview period so that they can record their preferences in the catalogue they will be provided with. They must be prepared to make their selection within a few minutes of their name being called.
Funds raised will go to Project Watershed.
Program
2 p.m. ~ Doors Open, Art available for preview
2:45 p.m ~ Opening Remarks
4:00 p.m. ~ ART DRAW Commences
5:00 p.m. ~ Fin
Chef
Stephanie Noel
Currently living in the Comox Valley, Quebec born Stephanie Noel has been creating delicious cuisine since 2001. She has worked in Vancouver, the south of France, Montreal and Tofino. In collaboration with David Hawksworth, she created Hawksworth: The Cookbook.
Musician
Luke Blu Guthrie
The charismatic Luke Blu Guthrie is a beacon of originality. Deeply soulful, and passionately committed to creating and sharing his music, Luke Blu has devoted much of his life to his craft. Often armed with only an acoustic guitar, Guthrie has been an integral part of the Vancouver Island music scene for two decades. He is widely respected for his versatility and skill as songwriter, vocalist and guitar player.
Painter
Ken Kirkby
Warrior Painter
Ken Kirkby was born during an air raid in London, England in 1940. The timing may have foreshadowed the warrior-painter he was to become. He grew up in Portugal where he had his first successful exhibit at age 16 and in the late 1950s he realized his dream to move to Canada.
He spent five years in the Canadian Arctic and promised the Inuit people that he would find a way to raise awareness of their issues in the rest of Canada. This promise became “Isumataq” – the world’s largest oil-on-canvas portrait. The 12 foot high by 152 foot long painting of the Arctic landscape and its Inukshuit was exhibited at the Canadian Parliament in 1992 and Ontario Place in 1993, along with a multi-media exhibit attended by more than one million visitors. Kirkby then turned his “warrior-painter” gaze on the depletion of the salmon stocks and the destruction of their habitats in B.C. rivers.
In 1993, Ken Kirkby was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation. His work is in many important public and private collections, including those of several members of the British Royal Family, The Right Honourable Jean Chretien and The Right Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau. For more about Ken visit Remembering Ken Kirkby – Project Watershed.
Sponsors
Our Thanks to
Ken Kirkby and Nana Cook
for the art and guidance
Bryan Walwork
for capturing the images of the art
Robert Wolfe and Odlum Brown
for believing in this event
Related Posts
Greenshores at Dyke Road Park – Reimagining a Park
On September 20 and 21, over 20 people were on site to help with planting at the Comox Valley Regional District’s (CVRD) Dyke Road Park redevelopment project.
Gartley Beach Green Shores for Homes Project
Project Watershed is teaming up with the CVRD and the Stewardship Centre for BC to do some shoreline restoration at Gartley Beach in Royston.
Fall and Winter Forage Fish Sampling
We’re gearing up for the fall/winter season of forage fish sampling!
Mallard Creek Riparian Planting
We will be planting native riparian species along a section of Mallard Creek that we recently cleared of invasive Reed canarygrass.
Fall Planting at Kus-kus-sum
We are looking for volunteers to assist us with planting native trees, shrubs, and marsh plants at Kus-kus-sum this fall!
A New Day for Forage Fish
Project Watershed and the Coastal Forage Fish Network (CFFN) are celebrating Surf Smet Day on October 25th! This adds another day on which to celebrate and raise awareness about beach spawning forage fish as Pacific sand lance are celebrated on a day in December.