Holland College Digital Archives

Check it out - now over 200 items related to the history of the School of Visual Arts - original art posters by Henry Purdy and lots of other items that help tell the story of a great time at a great place !! Holland College Digital Archives

Use a search term like Visual Arts to assess the full listing of items.

Ben Smith featured on Provincial Tourism Site

As featured on Provincial Tourism website, this article on Holland College School of Visual Arts graduate (and Mayor of Victoria) - Ben Smith is a great item.

Get to know us...Islander Ben Smith

Ben Smith is a sociable fellow. Over the course of his lifetime in Prince Edward Island, his work has often been both hands-on and convivial. Now, as the founder and official "greeter" at Enchanted Candles in Victoria-by-the-Sea, Ben Smith seems to be in his element. "Most of our customers are return customers," says Ben. "They just seem to enjoy a nice visit." That unhurried atmosphere in the tiny charming confines of the Enchanted Candles shop is certainly attractive to many visitors to Victoria, who find the village is perfectly suited to wandering from cafés and pubs to craft shops and galleries. "Victoria really is my favourite place," says Ben. "When I lookat the changing light on the waves in the harbour, and I see the villagers out in their yards or making rounds, I know I live in a special place."

Victoria-by-the-Sea, as the name makes clear, is located on Northumberland Strait just a mile from the TransCanada Highway. Ben first moved toVictoria after brother Erskine became involved in the summer theatre, Victoria Playhouse. Ben's family is now active in the candle business, and as "greeter" he may be found, in his words, "dawdling and making more friends." People come back year after year, and one customer last season even transported her five-year-old candle all the way from Alberta for some minor repairs. Maybe the candles really are enchanted...

Ben's Tips!

Well, I would recommend a visit to Victoria-by-the-Sea. It really is a fine place to just park your car and take a walk around town, and of course visit me in the candle shop! Also take in a show at the Playhouse – you can easily spend a whole day in the village. How to Make an Enchanted Candle: It's possible to create your own candle at Ben's shop. By "a mysterious power of physics" (in Ben's words) the blanks are created from hot wax fused with red sand from the Victoria shore. Customers carve their own designs, then pick their filler wax colour and scent to create a candle that can be repeatedly refilled and last forever.

More Pictures

And here are some more pictures for the School of Visual Arts - Craft Reunion 2007.

Cheers,
Ian

Pictures of SVA Reunion 2007

Thanks to the efforts of Diane Gaudreau we now have pictures of the reunion available. Check it out here on the Picassa site or on the Flickr location.

Reunion Registration

The SVA reunion is planned for Saturday Sept 22. beginning at 1:30 pm -- at the Culinary Institute on the Charlottetown harbour front and as we need to know numbers for food - please contact Barbara Henry to register for the reunion prior to Wed 19th at 9 am when she will be finalizing numbers with the Culinary Institute.

You can contact Barbara by email
flinders@pei.sympatico.ca or by phone at (902) 368-2343

Gaudreau launches new SVA blog

Diane Gaudreau the PEI representative on the Canadian Crafts Federation, if not busy enough with Craft Year 2007 and Gaudreau Fine Woodworking (along with Jacques), has found time to launch a new blog School of Visual Arts/Craft - Check it out

Holland College School of Visual Arts Reunion, Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Craft Year 2007 Committee of the P.E.I. Crafts Council is moving forward with its plans to hold a Holland College School of Visual Arts Reunion. All across Canada crafts are being celebrated through an initiative of the Canadian Crafts Federation "Craft Year 2007 Année des métiers d’art".

It has proven to be a challenge to find the mailing addresses for former graduates, for a mail out and ask that any former graduate contact us with their current mailing address. The school ceased operations in the 1990's. It is important to note the school was a major force in the professionalizing of the craft industry on the Island.

Some of the events we are planning are:

• Kite Flying - you remember the fun -- so dig out anything that will fly -- even a frisbee, for an afternoon of fun with old friends.
  
• “Then and Now” Show Participants will be asked to bring a piece of their work from the past and a recent piece of work.
• Slide Show - Ian Scott will put together a slide show. If you have any old photographs and are able to scan photographs send them along to Ian scotts@pei.sympatico.ca for more information
  
• Barbara Henry or bhenry@hollandc.pe.ca - and put 2007 SVA Reunion in the subject line
  
• Ian Scott scotts@pei.sympatico.ca 902-892-5796

Help Us Make Your Reunion the Best Possible it can be!!!!!