A series of artwork celebrating our heritage and culture in Canada will be exhibited in Coombs this weekend, the culmination of three years of work by renowned local artist Joan Larson.
Larson, known as one of the top horse-themed artists in the world, has now completed 21 paintings in her RCMP Musical Ride Series. The incredibly detailed, pastel paintings capture the essence of the iconic Canadian event and evoke a visceral response, much like that felt by spectators of a Musical Ride.
Larson said often Musical Rides create a synergy in a crowd, a common bond that melts barriers and makes you proud to be Canadian.
“There’s something that happens that is bigger and better than the individual,” she said. “So what we’re hoping is when we get a crowd of people together to view the artworks that the same thing will happen.”
Larson has been a horse lover since she was two years old. Her first memory involves straddling her tiny two-year-old legs over the warm back of a Clydesdale horse.
“I just remember thinking that I was sitting on top of the world,” she said.
As the horse chewed his supper she said she remembers listening to that peaceful sound. To this day the sound soothes her and puts her into another level of consciousness, she said.
Over the years Larson has garnered praise for her equine art shows in China, England, the United States and throughout Canada, and her artwork hangs in galleries worldwide. Her work has been showcased at the Spruce Meadows Masters Equi-Fair in Calgary for over 20 years and has been in juried shows at the American Academy of Equine Artists in Lexington, Kentucky.
So when her husband and marketing director, Paul S. Smith, came home with a suggestion to paint a Musical Ride series, she literally slapped herself in the head.
“I remember the moment clearly, and I went ‘Oh my God,’” she said, as she re-enacted the slap. “It really was one of those moments.”
Larson said it was perfect timing in her career to take on something of this magnitude and it supports the couple’s ideals of promoting and supporting Canada.
“I just knew that I had to do this series, like it was destined. It was one of those things I felt all the way down to my toes,” she said.
Larson said it’s thrilling to capture all the elements of the Musical Ride, like the RCMP in their internationally recognized attire, the contrast the black horses present and the repetitive patterns. But beyond the spectacle of the show, Larson’s paintings strive to give people an intimate look at the event, to connect people with the horses and grasp the time and effort put into the show.
“Although it’s really easy to get into the glamour of the ride itself which is really seductive, to me it’s the behind the scenes things that I really enjoy,” she said.
Coombs will be the second show the Musical Ride Series will be presented at.
The first was held in Ucluelet in October in conjunction with another internationally acclaimed and local artist, Ken Kirkby.
Here, Larson, Smith and Kirkby chose to support the Ucluelet Aquarium Society, and through the art show and the donation of some of Larson and Kirkby’s original artwork, the aquarium has raised $60,000 toward constructing a permanent aquarium.
Smith said although the exhibition will showcase paintings it is really about our greater identity as a country and proves what art can do to create a culture and empower communities.
“It’s about our concept of ourselves. The art show is a reflection of what is really important here,” he said.
Although there will be prints for sale at the exhibition the originals will not be. Smith and Larson hope to take the series across the Island and ideally across the country, however they need sponsors or invitations from corporations and individuals to do this.
In the meantime the couple is looking forward to showing the series to local residents and sharing their excitement and love for our country this weekend.
“We have a pretty remarkable country,” said Larson. “And its okay to celebrate it, and its okay to feel good about who we are. To stand up and say ‘I’m Canadian and I’m bloody proud of it.’”
There will be an opening reception this Friday, March. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bradley Centre in Coombs. Exhibitions will take place Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about Joan and Paul, the Musical Ride Series, or their studio in Coombs, Creekside Studio, visit www.canadarides.ca. or call 250-752-0395.
