Creative works of sculpture are in the spotlight at The Avenue Gallery.
Maarten Schaddelee is a sculptor who expresses his deep passion for life through his art. His enthusiasm bursts through his work, which depicts the beauty of our West Coast environment and our coexistence with nature.
Born in Soest, Holland, in 1947, Schaddelee emigrated with his family to Victoria in 1955 where the family opened The Dutch Bakery and Coffee Shop Ltd.. Maarten trained as a master cake decorator and baker and worked with the family for 28 years.
After spending several years carving in his spare time, in 1991 Schaddelee made the difficult decision to leave the family business to focus full time on his art. He developed a series of lyrical works that captured the joy of the birds and animals on the west coast. Maarten became known for his whales, eagles, dolphins and seals, and worldwide interest in his work began to grow.
His early works were part of the Royal B.C. Museum’s “Whales, The Enduring Legacy” exhibit, 1997 – 1998. Two of these sculptures ‘Heartless and Delicate Balance’ are now showcased in The Bob Wright Centre For Ocean, Earth And Atmospheric Sciences at the University Of Victoria.
The study of Michelangelo’s life and work and a pilgrimage to Italy 1997 expanded his artistic work to include his story telling and dialogue in stone with the Great Masters of art, spirit and mythology. He has created busts of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, St. Francis, St. Clare, Mary, Goddesses and others.
In 1999, Schaddelee’s work was featured in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s exhibit “Form and Spirit.” Later that year Maarten was selected to join sculptors from across Canada in a one month sculpting symposium in Iqaluit, Nunavut titled “Our Life In Stone.” He has been honoured by People’s Choice Awards and continues to receive local and international attention for the freedom and fluidity his work imparts. His sculptures have been chosen for Sister Cities Suzhou, China, Morioka, Japan and Khabarovsk, Russia.
Maarten lives and works from Maarnada, his oceanfront home and sculpture garden overlooking Haro Strait.
An artist’s reception for Maarten is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.
In September, The Avenue Gallery features the work of painter Marianne Meyer, whose abstracted, spontaneous paintings allow her the freedom to express emotions and to experiment.
Meyer was born and raised in Switzerland and has been living in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley since 2000. Like many, she started out in a realistic manner, but soon wanted more freedom to express emotions – and to throw around vibrant colours in wild experimentation. The resulting free, abstract compositions was more to her liking. For Marianne, textures and images emerge spontaneously and seduce her to go further.
During the week of Sept. 13 to 19 The Avenue Gallery is featuring the work of glazier Ed Colberg, whose mastery of Murrini is mesmerizing. Feast your eyes on new paintings, jewelry, sculpture, glass – abundance abounds.
Colberg has been working with hot glass since 2005. He has exhibited in Canada as well as internationally, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. His work is held in private collections nationally and internationally.
The gallery’s latest arrivals include new paintings, ceramics, jewelry and a rare opportunity to add a highly sought-after Catherine Moffat watercolour to your collection.
in the gallery at 2184 Oak Bay Ave. Visit them online at theavenuegallery.com.
