23 September – 13 December 2022
GVPL sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay Branch, 385 Menzies St, Victoria, BC V8V 0C2
MTWFS 10am-6pm / Th 10am-7pm
We are pleased to restart our library satellite galleries with an exhibition of prints by local artist, Dave Skilling at the sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay Branch.
The Cabin Series is a collection of linocut prints created over three summers at Dave Skilling’s lakeside retreat on Quadra Island. The hand-built cabin is accessible only by boat (a red canoe) and without electricity, phone or Wi-Fi.
While at the cabin Dave chose to keep his studio practice simple, bringing pre-cut 4”x4” and 6”x6” blocks to carve. He packed only black ink and printed test proofs of each block by hand.
Upon returning to Cecelia Press Studio in Victoria, Dave selected the specific blocks he wished to include in the series, made minor modifications if required and printed the series on the press, again choosing to use only black ink and print each block in an edition of 5 prints.
Dave’s lively graphic work captures the spirit, elegance and natural movements of his surroundings through his use of bold physical mark making, often carving freeform following his intuition..
The Cabin Series celebrates Dave’s close to 50-year attachment to this remote location… invoking its quiet solitude as well as the energy and patterns of the natural cycles, the water and sky, the birds and wolves.
About the Artist:
For as long as he can remember, Dave Skilling has been drawn to the black ink woodcuts by artists such as Thoreau MacDonald found heading up chapters in books or as illustrations to the text. In addition, he has had a life-long love of basic hand tools and ‘making’ by hand.
Dave picked up a gouge and carved his first piece of lino six years ago. He quickly became hooked on the physical aspect of the tool use and the simplicity of the materials. The step-by-step aspect of printmaking appeals to him as well; the planning and carving of the block, the sizing and preparing of the paper stock, the mixing of inks and inking of the block, making the print by hand or on the press. All stages in the process must come together to make a successful print.
At Cecelia Press Studio Dave shares studio space with artists Lorraine Douglas and Susan Underwood and has access to a large press and fully equipped printmaking studio. His practice is also very portable, allowing him to create small work in remote locations or when travelling.
Dave studied photography at the Banff Centre and printmaking at Ground Zero Printmakers and MISSA (Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts) and is a member of PRINT, the Victoria Society of Print Artists.
As an active member of the Victoria arts community for many years, Dave has served as Executive Director of MISSA and as a board member with organizations including the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Theatre SKAM and MISSA.
Instagram: @dave_skilling
