In honour of David Suzuki’s 79th birthday on March 24 and 80th year on this planet, Main Street’s Hot Art Wet City gallery hosts an exhibition showcasing the work of roughly 40 local artists that pays tribute to the noted broadcaster and environmentalist March 13 to April 2.
Artist Melissa Thorpe Bernardis’ favourite childhood memory of Suzuki was when he was a guest on Sesame Street in the 1980s. “Watching him interact with the puppets made him accessible to me,” she said.
At the time, Bernardis remembered thinking: “He has ginormous hair.”
The 37-year-old saw a “call for artists” posting on the Alliance for Arts and Culture’s website and decided to submit. “I wanted to pay homage to the person and the personality. As Vancouverites and as Canadians, we recognize David Suzuki’s ability to draw awareness to important causes, especially environmental ones.”
As a professional artist for the last eight years, Bernardis says it’s rare to see art and science intersect and she looks forward to seeing the contrast this Friday at the exhibition’s opening.
For artist Thalia Antonio, the upcoming Suzuki show is an opportunity to display her work.
The exhibition is also an opportunity for Antonio, who’s originally from Mexico, to celebrate her newly minted Canadian citizenship. “I wanted to be able to be a part of Canada. The reason to be part of the show is to feel integrated,” said Antonio, who once applied for a job at the David Suzuki Foundation for a graphic design position.
Gallery owner Chris Bentzen, 40, said he was interested in hosting a Suzuki-themed art show because he felt like he grew up with him, especially Suzuki’s television show The Nature of Things.
“It’s part of your life, part of pop culture,” said Bentzen.
The Hot Art Wet City gallery is no stranger to tribute art shows. Past themes have included David Bowie, The Big Lebowski, Star Trek and sheep, in honour of the Lunar New Year.
The feedback from artists and friends has been positive, said Bentzen. “Everyone loves David Suzuki.”
Most of the art submitted are portraits and not really experimental, Bentzen says. “It was more like they found an image of David Suzuki on the Internet and drew or painted him.”
So, will the real Suzuki make an appearance at the art show held in his honour? Bentzen isn’t sure, but he says, according Suzuki’s book publisher, he’s aware of the event. On top of that, those who attend the opening reception dressed as Suzuki are eligible to win his autobiography or a copy of his chapbook. The exhibit is free with artwork ranging in price from $6 to $750.
The opening reception takes place this Friday from 7 to 11 p.m. at 2206 Main St. Details at hotartwetcity.com.
