The founder of Port Coquitlam's Art Focus art association will return to the place he helped to build to show 40 years worth of paintings and poetry.
On Thursday, Colin Craig will launch a retrospective exhibit, titled A Silent Voice, at the Leigh Square Community Arts Village, located behind city hall.
The display of some 80 landscapes, animals and boats is on until Oct. 27 and includes a number of activities during its run including a guided tour with Craig on Sept. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. during Culture Days, an opening reception on Oct. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. and a community sing-a-long and tour on Oct. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Craig told The Tri-City News he wanted to have song in his new show, just like he did a few years back when he had an exhibition at the Blackberry Artists' Gallery at the Port Moody Arts Centre.
He asked his longtime friend, Bruce Opp, to bring his guitar so the pair could interpret a few folk songs. "People really enjoyed it so I thought we could do it again," he said.
Craig said he loves to tell a story, no matter what the medium. And Silent Voice is his way to express a narrative with acrylics, watercolours and words.
The PoCo resident took up the brush seriously 44 years ago as a form of therapy after he got injured at the ship yard.
Now, the Scottish native paints when the mood strikes - sometimes working in a fury. For his latest display at Leigh Square, Craig finished 10 pieces in less than six weeks. "This will be my life on show, with lots of visuals and colour," he said.
