Eric Wicherts Visits KOAC

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Painter Lady

I was introduced to my new friend, Eric Wicherts, in the midst of a pandemic. I won’t forget that. It is a beautiful thing that something wondrous took place when times were unexpectedly difficult. Eric has lived and continues to live a very interesting life and conversations are always interesting, but not so much when both of us are wearing masks and unable to sort out the mumbles. Writing one another seems to be our most optimal form of communication and I look forward to hearing from him as he writes his advise, experience and his efforts on recent projects.

The day I met Eric, he spoke the entire time about his beloved wife, Andie, who passed away in May of 2019. Eric created a beautiful archive and history of Andie and her artistic journey in a book, aptly titled, Andie. This is such a thorough compilation of a life’s work. It is an incredible book.

As I experienced the beauty of Andie’s studio that day, I thought to myself, ‘this couple had an incredibly interesting life together’.

It is only through letters, since, and our few conversations that I am getting to know more about Eric Wicherts, without Andie. He is a remarkable story teller. I hope my readers will follow the link above in order to hear an interview. As time passed, it became obvious that I should invite Eric to see the amazing KOAC project and reconnect with Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe.

Yesterday was the day!

With Eric tucking into my back seat and dawning a mask, off we headed for the country, but by a very convoluted route. I took my cues from google maps, a system that was in no way as expedient as taking Eric’s verbal directions. The return to his residence at the end of the afternoon, was seamless and direct.

I would like to express a great deal of gratitude to both Harry and Katie for their generous welcome and their delicious conversation. It was a busy day, as a free tour was being offered at 2 pm, an exciting offering during Alberta Culture Days.

At a point, I left Harry and Eric to visit and engaged in a segment of the tour where a person can experience the convergence of art, nature, sculpture and story.

Tours are available every Saturday at 2 through September. Contact heidi@koartscentre.org.

It was early in the conversation that I shared with Katie how she, along with other strong female artists and my sister, had inspired me to return to complete my BFA.

Eric has attended one of the KOAC fundraisers at the Hotel Arts. Here, Katie is showing him some of the news coverage on one of those events.

Violets.

Sphere by Christian Eckhart can be seen at the right.

An early Alexander Caldwell to the left…I’m forgetting the title.

Katie’s Mother and Turtle in the foreground and 2 Crack, Pot Column Sculpture behind.

A close up of Sphere by Christian Eckhart.

The tour is listening to a description of the cement fondue piece, Woman Standing by Norman Sjoman. Bob Morrell is in the foreground.

Garden Sculpture by John Andrekson

A wee piece of ceramic pottery by Roy Kiyooka is sitting in the gardens…

An incredible story shared about Snakes by Elli Scheepens.

Zigzag by Claudia Questo

Earth Mother by Mich DeMuth

Two works by KO Arts Centre Resident Artist James Ziegler

Dandelion by Katherin Dobbins

Time spent, deep in conversation and deep in thought, with Eric and Harry. Harry shares such a rich collection of stories and remembrances. This part of the visit smacked of nostalgia and gratitude.

“What is a teacher? I’ll tell you: it isn’t someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Witch of Portobello

Thank you, Eric, for the beautiful afternoon. I like what you said as I left you at your door. “I hope that I will see you again.” I will, Eric.

Kiyooka Ohe Art Center (KOAC) on July 4, 2020

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Painter Lady

I was, just now, sitting on the red couch sipping coffee, Max sprawled out on the cool floor beside me. I was listening to an old Live From Everywhere session with Craig Cardiff on Instagram. He was writing a song for a couple from Milwaukee, as they shared their story of meeting and falling in love and staying in love. I got really emotional and as I came down the stairs, strangely, big tears were plopping down my cheeks and falling off my chin. What? What is going on? I think they were blessing-tears. I just feel so blessed.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a morning drive out to KOAC, in order to do some yard work with a group of wonderful volunteers gathered together by wonderful connector, Alice Lam. I was surrounded by mostly younger folk and it gave my heart such joy to see these people working so hard to make something beautiful even more beautiful. I hope to work alongside these people again. Thank you, Alice.

Alice is seen, here, on our lunch break, eating a fresh lively salad provided by a fantastic start up that has its own magical story. Through the pandemic experience, Inspired Go has been a company that stepped up and connected with community, in order to make things better. In April they announced the #feedthefrontlines campaign, providing free meals to local healthcare workers. For each box sold they donated a meal, for a total of 6714 donated meals. What an epic moment in Inspired Go’s history! It is a beautiful thing to see people in our community do great things. Over two volunteer work days, Inspired Go provided lunch, served up by my dear and respected friend, Wendy Lees. Thank you!

Upon arrival, Katie, Harry and Ricardo were there to welcome volunteers. We received a lovely overview of the studios and the expanse of sculpture garden, beginning with a gathering in Katie’s studio. There, she richly described her process as she works on pieces connected with the concept Cluster.

I was most intrigued by Katie’s description of the selection of materials and the process of editing, along the way. I loved her description of vessels that might contain the cluster and her process of discovery. In the raven piece above, I especially loved the creation of the nesting materials in the bottom section. All the while, Katie is holding strapping that will be required to pull a new bench into place. She is always and forever thinking and solving spatial problems.

Off we headed for our various assignments. I couldn’t wait to get to work.

Below, we head out, passing Queen of the Night, Michael Sandle.

Joe brought the gravel to fill up the space where the bench would be installed.

I enjoyed Katie’s back story on the evolution of the bench. My readers must take the opportunity to visit the Kiyooka Ohe Art Center. Sit on this bench! After shutting down mole/ground squirrel activity under the Ray Arnatt sculpture, Binder, and cutting out invasive weeds, we had our break for lunch. It was during this time that I had the opportunity to look at the gardens and some of the mid sized sculptures.

Thanks, Wendy Lees, for your homemade chocolate chip squares. They followed our Inspired Go salads. Yum! Then, off to the woods in our mosquito net apparel! What a fun bunch of hard working people!

It was at this point of the third huge pile of dead wood that the first loud boom of thunder began. Our day was cut a little bit short by the huge foothills storm that raced through. I’m sad that I didn’t grab a photograph of the dramatic sky at this point in the afternoon. I hosed down my footwear and hopped in the car. I had a chance to say good bye to Harry, but Katie was busying herself somewhere else on the property.

What an amazing day!

Through Covid-19, I have tried to support one visual artist, one musician and one gallery. It was all I could do, although I wanted to do so much more. As a result, I have purchased Janet’s Crown by Katie Ohe for my 65th birthday gift. I am also, over time, purchasing Weeping Bees 2007, Brother Pear 1996, Monsoon2, 2006 and Untitled, 1977. I’m over the moon about these acquisitions.

I don’t have a lot in the resource bin of life…but, I’ve always had enough. I’m blessed that I was able to give my three children and myself what we needed, that we had food and shelter and I was, as a teacher, always able to make ends meet. Often times it was the sale of my own art that provided us with what we needed at the end of the month and when things were really tough (I wasn’t always able to purchase art. lol), friends and family supported me. Regarding visual art, a lot of people don’t know that they can create an art collection if they budget a little bit over time. Arrangements can be made with galleries so that the collector can surround themselves with beautiful art. I have purchased works from various galleries in town including Gorilla House and Rumble House.

This has been the year of Katie. I purchased Katie’s prints through the Herringer Kiss Gallery. Katie Ohe’s retrospective exhibit is now available to view by appointment at the Esker Foundation, until the end of August. Do not miss this opportunity. I will always remember this year with gratitude. Strange times often bring to the forefront of our imaginations what is beautiful about life.

It was a fantastic opportunity to spend the day out at KOAC. What a privilege. I highly recommend volunteer hours spent at KOAC and thank you, Harry and Katie, for this day.

KOAC: Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Painter Lady

This morning, I’m celebrating Wendy Lees and the Love Art in Calgary tours that she provides, here in the city. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to enjoy the intimate and generous experience of visiting KOAC. Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe directed a magical tour of their property, studios and home and today I am still ruminating about the conversations, the practice and the encouragement received. Grateful!

Katie and Harry have done so much for our community and, both visionaries, they have a commitment to leave an amazing legacy for all of us. But right now, they need our support, both monetary and philosophically. Calgarians need to see themselves as both beneficiaries, but also contributors to this dream. I hope that my readers will take the time to visit the website and explore how they can be a part of this.

We began our tour with the wondrous drive out to the property under an amazing chinook arch. The light and arch contributed to the aesthetic experience of being on the edge of the city, looking west toward the mountains. Good conversation, laughter and shared philosophies are always a part of a Love Art in Calgary tour and this time, I reconnected with a like-minded woman, Sharon, who I had met on a previous workshop at the Esker Foundation and Melissa, who has a long history of Gorilla painting with me. So much fun.

Melissa and I went for a wander to look at a couple of the sculptures on the property before the tour of Katie’s studio began.

This one made a journey across the ocean in a crate…missed the sculptor’s name.

‘Dandelion’ a kinetic sculpture created by one of Katie’s former students.

Treasures.

Walking to Katie’s studio, we stopped and had fun, listening to Katie’s stories and being present to her larger-than-life energy!

I think this woman is such a role model for us. She is so full of warmth and has such a generous nature. And…she says that she writes a lot of reference letters! :0)

Katie Ohe, when speaking of her sculptures, touches them in such a special way and speaks about them in that manner, also. It is evident that she has a very close relationship with the materials and knows and loves the process of creation in a very intimate way. I cherish listening to her speak of her art.

Next, we went to Harry’s studio, a treasure trove full of discoveries and large canvases.

Harry is such a gentle and kind man, with such enthusiasm for the vision that has been forming over such a long period of time…a vision and partnership shared between Katie and him. He is a huge promoter of KOAC and has announced that tickets are available for the next big fundraiser.

Next, the two artists invited us into their home and we sat and snacked and shared a coffee break, while being surrounded by amazing works of art, as well as an extensive collection and library! Phenomenal!