Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/225045
(top) Mohawk Brothers by Kevin Michael Witzke; (above) Nearly Home In The Canadian Arctic by Ian Semple; (below) One of Witzke's time-based painting apparatuses. 26 p24-27_Art.indd 26 w i n t e r world, including resource-rich parts of British Columbia. His Working Wilderness Heritage Series is a collection that reflects many of those places, as well as the interaction between humans and nature. Semple rejects the notion that the depiction of a human figure or any signs of human activity within a landscape somehow diminishes its beauty and the value of the artistic thought. "We are also part of nature, and a balanced interaction of man and nature is part of the natural world," he says. Exploring The Bunster Plateau is a subtle example of such interaction, with only canoes signalling a human presence. This serenely beautiful landscape demonstrates the "three C's" – composition, colour and contrast – that govern Semple's work. Exploring The Stump Lake Area also captures a tranquil B.C. landscape that is not diminished by evidence of human interaction with nature. Semple has other collections that include urban landscapes with strong natural elements, but some of his most interesting works are depictions of exploration scenes in the style of contemporary impressionism. He believes that no painter can out-compose nature, no matter how realistic the style of painting might be. Yet he captures the reality of exploration in memorable ways, with an example being Turning Final To Bronson Creek Airstrip. Anyone who has flown 2 013 into B.C.'s Iskut River region will recognize the muddy churning waters and rugged mountain landscape. Some of the paintings reflect mineral exploration of past decades when conditions were more primitive than today. A Race With Darkness and Better Late Than Never! capture that era by telling a story through evocative imagery and bold use of colour. To view the Working Wilderness Heritage Series and other collections in Ian Semple's portfolio, visit ian-semple.com. Kevin Michael Witzke Nature and time provide a source of materials and inspiration for Kevin Michael Witzke, a contemporary Canadian artist specializing in experimental painting. His current work documents the history and culture of the Okanagan Valley (where he was born and still resides) and beyond, using time-based processes applied to natural pigments on large-scale paintings. His painting style reflects an interest in archeology and history, among other diverse studies that exposed him to systems of time analysis and measurement. His field experience in mineral exploration and his degree in fine arts have obviously helped him bridge art and science, nature and technology. Witzke developed his first time-based painting apparatus in 2006, consisting of Ar twork: Kevin Michael Witzke ; Ian Semple 13-12-04 12:43 PM