Most people visit the Langley Township hall to pay their taxes or to attend a council meeting, look into permits or license their dog.
But for whatever reason you go, you might, in passing glance, catch the glimpse of some original artwork adorning the walls of both the second and fourth floor.
Those watercolour and acrylic paintings of bold, bright flowers, a woman in a red dress, bears, the rainforest and a plethora of others scenes and people all were created by Langley artist Sheila Patzke.
Drawn to the beauty of many things, Patzke said she’s always been driven to capture those wonderments of her world on canvas or paper. It’s been a lifelong affair with the paintbrush, and her collection of works is in the dozens now.
“I have a lifetime of painting to paint,” said Patzke, emphasizing that she is nowhere near done creatively. Living in small towns up north sometimes in trappers cabins as well as in Haida Gwaii, she has seen the Tundras and grizzly bears, watched First Nation fishermen ride the rapids by canoe and muchmore. All these experiences have shaped what she paints.
As a longtime member of the Langley Arts Council, it was past president Rosemary Wallace (also Langley City councillor) who mentioned to Patzke she could do a solo show at the Township hall.
The walls were currently empty of other artists’ work and Patzke’s collection is huge.
So last week, Wallace helped Patzke hang the solo exhibit. Her collection of B.C.’s bears hangs on the fourth floor together while some of her more current pieces stand near the front doors.
It’s exciting to have all her work featured in a solo exhibit, something she hasn’t done to this extent.
Patke’s painting, which are for sale, will be there until mid February, she said. There will be a reception on the fourth floor on Jan. 24 from 2 to 3 p.m.
There will be coffee and snacks for anyone who would like to join her and view her works.
