Requiem for Osbourne Bay (Fountain)

Gary Cherneff
Salt Spring Island, BC

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Requiem for Osbourne Bay (Fountain)
Gary Cherneff

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Size

30.5" x 15" x 13"

Medium

Wood, copper, glass, waste slag, plexiglass

Osborne Bay is located at the seaside town of Crofton. A copper smelter on the water’s edge was built around 1905. The resulting waste slag was dumped into the bay. The brick ruins were clearly visible until they were replaced with modern waterfront homes about 20 years ago. Glistening black “sand” on the beach still reminds us of the profit driven, callous disregard for the ecology of the Bay. This work was inspired by a recent development proposal which, at this writing, threatens a portion of the Booth Bay Estuary on Salt Spring Island which is directly opposite to Osbourne Bay.

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Requiem for Osbourne Bay (Fountain)

Gary Cherneff
Salt Spring Island, BC

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Requiem for Osbourne Bay (Fountain)
Gary Cherneff

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Buy artwork About the artist
About the artist

Gary Cherneff
Salt Spring Island, BC

Gary Cherneff earned a degree in human geography from UBC in 1968. Influences of this course of study kindled an interest in the “Back to the Land” movement of the 1970’s. A serendipitous enrolment in a pottery course in 1970 suggested a means to establishing a rural livelihood. In 1975, he and his partner Beth moved to Salt Spring Island to build a creative life on acreage overlooking the Salish Sea. Building a home, studios and a garden they continue to live there, 50 years later. In 2012 Gary had an important solo exhibition at the Crafts Council of BC. The same year he was honoured to be included in “Back to the Land “Exhibition of Ceramics at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

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