Philip Stephen's blog

Come in costume and you will be entered into a draw for an art print by Phil!

The Drift is an annual weekend local arts & culture festival taking
place along Vancouver's trendy Main Street in artists' open studios and
participating local shops, cafes and restaurants.

Come on by Arts Off Main Gallery at 216 East 28th to see art by Lee Sanger,
Julie McIntyre, Joan Taylor, June Hunter and many other local artists
and artisans.

We will be renting the gallery next door and have art in the boulevard to
offer Drifters even more exciting sights to see during The Drift weekend

Drift along Main Street and see an eclectic variety of fine art and original
handcrafts from established and emerging local artists including
ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, woodcarvings, collage,
mixed media, glass works, jewelry, film, clothing design, textiles
& multi-media compositions.

be well,
Phil

"When We Were Young" is a show that celebrates a sense of play and
wonder that I remember from my childhood. Maybe you remember that
feeling too.

I am quite excited to be showing my work at the Station House Gallery in my home town of Williams Lake.I can still remember taking art lessons in the upper gallery when I was in Elementary School. And later, when I was in high school, I joined the Cariboo Art Society and took part in their group shows at the Station House.

Besides showing my art at Youth Art Shows at the Noopa Boys and Girls Club, the Art Society was my first experience of being part of an artistic community.

Since then, I have continued to create and show my work in Victoria, where I went to University, and in Vancouver, where I now live.

When are we young? When we remember that it is a joyful thing to be alive.

be well,

Phil.

Arts Off Main Gallery is having its annual fundraiser for the Vancouver Food Bank from February 8th to 14th. Our artists will donate 10% of their sales to the Vancouver Food Bank.

We will also have a drop-box for non-perishable food items and will accept cash donations to the Food Bank as well.

This year we have added a draw for "Art by the Basketful" and for a minimum donation of $2 you can put your name into a draw for a chance to win a basket full of art contributed by our artists.

You can find the gallery at 216 E 28th Ave, Vancouver, BC. 

FOOD BANK FACTS:

1. Over 40% of the people who benefit from the Food Bank are children.

2. Many are families of working poor - folks who work hard but don’t earn enough to feed their families.

3. Every dollar you donate give the Greater Vancouver Food Bank 3 dollars worth of buying power with wholesale distributors.

I hope you drop by Arts Off Main Gallery and have a Happy Valentines Day!

much love,

Phil.

It’s that time of the year again!

Arts Off Main Gallery is having a 10% off Sale on Saturday December 2nd and Sunday December 3rd.

Our partners have been working hard and have all kinds of new work for you to feast your eyes on. If you are looking for gifts, this is the place to find them!

So come and join us this weekend for hot apple cider and goodies.

Find the gallery at 216 E. 28th Avenue.

www.artsoffmain.ca

I have found an excellent print company, and am now able to offer my images on wooden wall plaques of various sizes and depths.

Currently there are 12 designs in 3 size ranges, which you can find in my Merchandise Gallery. The sizes are approximately 4x6 for $20 each, 5x7.5 for $30, and 8x10 on a deeper plaque for $50.

 

I am able to have images printed in a little over a week's time. If you are interested in any of the images I have in those or other size ranges, do not hesitate to contact me.

Take care,
Phil.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world took part in a Global Free Hugs Day yesterday. Many Vancouverites took to the streets with signs reading “Free Hugs” to spread the message of human affection and connection. This is all in response to a global call that originated on facebook.com from a high school student in Connecticut. They were inspired by the Youtube video of Juan Mann, an Australian who first brought Free Hugs to the streets.

Worldwide Free Hugs Day is in response to the anniversary of September
11th, which is a date remembered for terror, tragedy, and human
suffering. A global Free Hugs campaign brings the focus back to
community, connection and caring – which are forces more likely to
counteract terror than any solution that relies on force.

I started the day out alone at English Bay, and was joined by a dozen people of at various times to give out Free Hugs to anyone who would take them. (Some came back more than once!)

If you would like to be involved in the future, just look for groups on tribe.net, myspace.com, and facebook.com to organize a time and a place to meet with others to give Free Hugs. This very simple action can leave people feeling empowered, cared for, and hopeful. (And, by the end of the day, you feel awesome and blessed for having shared so much care with so many people.)

For further inspiration, look to the fellow who started up the Free Hugs movement: Juan Mann.

JUAN MANN'S OFFICIAL FREE HUGS HOME: www.freehugscampaign.org

JUAN MANN: "The campaign is an example of a random act of kindness, a selfless act performed by someone for the sole reason of making others feel better. The purpose is not to get names, phone numbers, or dates." – www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_hugs