Over four days during the May Day long weekend, members of the Fort Langley Artist Group (FLAG) displayed their works at the Fort Langley heritage community hall in what is now called the “Olde Library Space” on the ground floor, the former location of the local public library.
FLAG president and founding member Margo Harrison said the artists were “profoundly grateful” to the society for inviting them to use the renovated space as a pop-up art gallery.
This year happens to mark both the 100th year of the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society, which takes care of the hall on Glover Road, and the 30th anniversary of the artists’ group.
“It [FLAG] was founded so that artists, who often work in isolation, can exchange ideas and support one another, and bounce ideas off one another,” Harrison told the Langley Advance Times.
“We are really a support group, and we like to support the arts as well [generally] in the community.”
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Aldergrove representational oil painter Robin Bandenieks was one of nine FLAG members to exhibit in the former library space, showing original art, cards, prints and pottery.
“Each artist specializes in different kind of work,” Bandenieks explained.
“I do a lot of florals and birds and portraits, other people do watercolors or pottery. Everyone has their own medium and things they like to specialize in.”
During the renovation of the former library space by the society, a support beam was uncovered with the builder’s name written in large script across the top.
James Souter began construction of the iconic building in 1930 and the grand ballroom upstairs opened to the public with a dance on March 6, 1931, with an orchestra coming in from Vancouver.
On Saturday, June 1, the Olde Library Space at the hall will host a solo exhibition hosted by the Fort Gallery with artist Sang Chul Nam titled “Hacking The Third Wave II” incorporating sculpture, projections, and abstract paintings.
For more information about bookings at the hall, email info@fortlangleycommunityhall.com or phone 604 897 5155 or visit www.fortlangleycommunityhall.com
For more information about FLAG, visit www.fortlangleyartistsgroup.ca.
