R & R...

On Thursday, I had the rare opportunity to take a leisurely trip to the city for the day.

I had a few specialty shops to go to for wool and tea but my main purpose

was to go to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

It's been years since I've been, and I was remembering my teenage days

when my friends and I would go quite regularly at lunch hour when 

it was still free to get in...the good old days!

The main modern part of the building is attached to the old Spencer mansion...

Nestled in amongst a lovely old grove of Garry oaks, this is the back of the mansion.

If any of you are familiar with Emily Carr, then you'll know that she is 

one of Victoria's more well known and loved daughters.

 The gallery is proud to have a permanent collection of some of her best works.

This exhibit was my first stop...

She was a very independent and quirky artist who, quite often, would pack up

her caravan, (she called it the elephant) her many dogs and monkey (seen here on her lap) and head

into the woods where she was inspired by the world around her...

Her paintings of the rain forest were full of movement...

She also spent a lot of time with the natives on Haida Gwaii (The Queen Charlotte Islands)

and painted extensively of life there...

When I saw this painting of Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, I thought  immediately of Lucinda over at

Cobalt Violet and her landscapes...

It just so happened that the main exhibit at the gallery right now is called 'Flora'.

A tribute to the garden in art.

How perfectly exciting!

So many beautiful works to see and take in...photos can't do these works justice,
but to give you an idea, here's some of my many favorites...

Each of these pieces I could have easily taken home.

But one piece which really grabbed me was this life size pastel work of 8 panels 

of french doors leading to a garden...it gave me the idea of making one for my own wall...yeah sure...one day!

...incredible pottery pieces...

...intricate lace work from Edwardian times...

Of course there were numerous Dutch painters who did the most pastoral landscapes...

Then there was this 25 foot long panel in the Asian garden section...depicting pond life after a spring rain...

Ink on paper...one piece of paper...

Towards the back of the gallery there are some beautiful examples of Chinese carving in practical pieces such as a giant carved bowl and a rickshaw...

 Anyone tired yet? O.k...let's keep going...only a little bit more...
Through the doors, you enter a beautiful courtyard / Asian garden...

 ...complete with Shinto Shrine...

This took a year to carve by hand...the detail is amazing...

Of course, no Asian garden is complete without bamboo...

...and Japanese maples...

A peaceful, calming place to end the tour...
Sometimes I am in awe of so many beautiful things in the world...
it inspires me not only to create, but to look, listen and absorb it all.