When Mike Haugland answered the phone on his second day of work at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) he didn't imagine he would be working his day off to give an EcoVenture Elderhostel group a tour of Miyuki Shinkai's Floats and Message Bottles exhibition.
Being a gallery docent among other responsibilities is OK with Haugland. He's thrilled to have landed the GPAG summer job that's being generously funded by donations from local businesses and individuals. Since its opening in September 2003, the GPAG has been operated entirely by volunteers. Board members dipped into their own pockets and hired an Emily Carr curator to teach them how to install exhibitions. The results have been an evident success. Now they're establishing a central office to streamline operations. Haugland, a graduate of Malaspina University College, has been appointed administrative assistant at the gallery until September when he heads back to college for an advanced digital media technology program. Last year Haugland volunteered to design and maintain the gallery's website. That and his considerable computer and office management skills made him the right choice for this summer job. A second summer job at the gallery is being funded by a Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's summer work experience grant. Elphinstone Secon-dary School grad Dayna Scodras was the successful candidate for the program assistant position. Dayna's interest in art, her youthful enthusiasm and experience tutoring children made her an ideal candidate to teach GPAG's summer art classes.
Learn more about the public gallery at www.gibsonspublicartgallery.ca. Better yet, drop in to 271 Gower Point Road between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. any Thursday through Monday. You'll be greeted by a delightful display of children's art, and you can meet both of these students, sink into the cool reflective beauty of Floats and Message Bottles, write a message to be released into the Pacific at the end of the exhibition and, if you hurry, enroll your child in one of the few remaining spaces for August ArtDaze.
