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daytripper Isle of Art Pender's creative scene makes painterly progress by Tyee Bridge LEADING LIGHTS Though she is perhaps better known as a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist, Pender artist Mae Moore is fast gaining an equally dedicated following for her radiant, impressionist paintings: (left) Moore's Medicine Beach. (above) Eha Onno's Mudita — just one of the lively, abstract works attracting art lovers to her new studio. T he post-and-beam studio in Eha Onno's front yard is a former tool shed, remodelled by her partner Lisa into a working gallery. The "working" part means some of the paintings displayed are ready for sale, while others, like the canvas of a blue whale staring down a striped lionfish, are in progress. "That one still needs something, I think," Onno says, stepping back. But the exuberant abstract above it is complete, and compelling. Mudita combines the undersea sway of anemones and bull-whip kelp with a burst of pink fronds – part octopus's garden, part spring meadow. It's an upbeat fusion of worlds, and full of movement (pictured, above). Salt Spring may be more widely known as the Gulf Island destination for artists and art lovers, thanks to its more than 100 resident artisans – including wildlife painter Robert Bateman and landscape watercolourist Carol Evans. But Pender has its own claims to fame. Victor Reece, the late Tsim(top) Mae Moore, (top right) Eha Onno p24-27_Daytripper.indd 25 shian carver and mask-maker, made his home on Pender, as did famed Canadian abstract expressionist Peter Aspell, who Onno studied with in the early '80s; before his death, they became friends and fellow Penderites. "He was a real influence," she says. "His work and colours would almost make you cry, they were so beautiful." Onno's recent expansion into a new studio is a handy symbol of the island's booming art scene – and increasing interest in its rich vein of visual art, which veers from landscapes toward impressionism, fantasy and abstracts. It's a scene that has bloomed over the past 10 years in the island's offbeat way. Where Salt Spring has many commercial art galleries, Pender has only two, including Red Tree, an artist-run coop. Artists' works are found mostly in studio spaces such as Onno's, little sanctuaries hidden amid the cove beaches and Douglas firs; two dozen are noted on the island's gallery map alone (see sidebar for where to find). Blood Star, perched near a cliff at the bottom of South Pender, is one such whimsical space. Its red walls are hung with originals and prints of Susan Taylor's close-ups and her partner Frank Ducote's vibrant still lifes. One wall features a triptych of cutlery – part of an entire series on silverware, from forks and knives to measuring spoons. "They're the things close at hand, my inspirations when I'm stuck indoors all winter," says Taylor with a laugh. "I have some of nail polish bottles as well." Mostly, though, Taylor's work reflects her love of the natural world, and she is particularly well known for her images of Gulf Island marine life – like the eponymous blood star. One of her most beautiful creations is an acrylic-on-paper painting of white moon jellies against a deep blue background; the original has been sold to a private collector, but even the aluminummounted print is startlingly alive. In contrast, Ducote tends toward electric hues and WESTWORLD >> S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 25 1/27/12 8:15:48 AM

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