In the Main Gallery
Mixed media artist Marilyn Bifano describes herself as a very private person, so people may not realize what she has been creating behind closed doors.
She has lived in 150 Mile House for 30 years and doing art since about 2009. Using nature as an inspiration, Bifano works on canvas, combining a range of materials with bright, bold colours. She also builds her own “dolls” out of found natural objects from driftwood to pine needles to fur, and other oddly delightful creations, together she has put together her show titled Revealing Hidden Realms.
“I’ve just been enjoying doing this on my own,” she said, of the variety of art which includes painting with oils and using things she finds during nature walks with her dogs.
The show also includes a number of her pine needle baskets, which she began making after gathering ponderosa pine needles with her grandchildren, with hand-dyed needles beautifully formed.
The show has been a vision of hers for a long time, and the pieces include works she had made over the past 10 years.
“I’ve just been working out of my home, experimenting and having fun,” she said.
Putting the show together and putting herself and her work out there is new to her.
“It was a bit of a challenge but it was really rewarding,” she said.
In the Upper Gallery
Littles and educators from Exploring the Puddle, Early Learning Centre have created a “collaborative and interactive display of creative inquiry.”
The show is called A Creative Exploration of the Telephone.
Faren Lozier, one of the owners of the centre, said the show was a natural extension of what they already do at the centre, which is long-term projects with documentation and exploration.
The show is perfect timing, coinciding with Child Care Month in B.C., said Lozier.
“We’re always looking for new ways to connect the children with the community,” she said, noting how incredible their community of learners, families and staff are.
“Staff put their heat and soul into everything that they do,” she said, also crediting the families of their students as the first teachers.
Staff had begun the telephone exploration project back in September of 2023, after they noticed children using telephones in dramatic play quite a bit. For supplies, they then put out a call to the community for telephones to borrow or donate and staff would search out telephones in thrift stores whenever they could.
With old telephones and mock phone booths, and text exploring the telephone, the exhibition is an interesting deep dive into the telephone and dialogue. Including everything from how people around the world answer the phone to the inner workings of a land line telephone, the show invites you in to explore the telephone and talking on one, through the eyes of a child.
Both shows will be on display in the Station House Gallery at the foot of Oliver Street at Mackenzie Avenue from May 3 until May 25. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and admission is always free.
READ MORE: Williams Lake Station House Gallery presents trivia, art and pub eats event
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