The Ranger Station Art Gallery is literally being lit up by this month’s feature artist, Sylvie Roussel-Janssens.
The Chilliwack-based artist works with light and fabric to create illuminated sculptures, often with striking results.
“I have a diverse art practice that ranges from sculptural installations to window panels and light boxes,” she said, and is always in the constant pursuit of light and its magic.
Roussel-Janssens assembles, pierces, cuts, welds and sews a variety of materials together to get the effects she is looking for. Her current show, The Active Landscape, incorporates bits of topographical maps in a landscape scene.
It’s a technique she’s developed “mostly by accident” and in addition to showing her creations this month, she’s passing on her knowledge through a local workshop.
“This is a fabric burning workshop,” she said, in which the participants will be making small flags using two different techniques. First, they will learn how to burn through fabric to create a desired effect, and then they’ll learn about thermo-adhesive collaging. The workshop begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Ranger Station Art Gallery.
It’s open to anyone, of any age, however children will need to be supervised by an adult.
The public will have a chance to meet Roussel-Janssens before then, at the artist’s reception for her show at the Ranger Station. That will be held this Sunday, Sept. 16, starting at 2 p.m.
She is looking forward to showing her work in Harrison Hot Springs (on display Sept. 7-30) because of the relation to the landscape.
“It is very fitting to show them in Harrison as you could see some similar scenes on the lake or the mountains at any moment,” she said. “I hope to expand the Active Landscape series this year with the use of different kind of maps and landscapes.”
Born in Montreal, Roussel-Janssens has lived in B.C. since 1980. She graduated with honours from Emily Carr College of Art in 1984, specializing in sculpture.
She shows frequently and obtained a Canada Art Council in 2001 for an amphibian sculptural installation project about the now disappeared Fraser valley tidal lake.
For full information on Ranger Station Art Gallery in Harrison Hot Springs, phone 604-796-2723 or visit kentharrisonartscouncil.com.
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