Arts Wells

We started the second leg of our journey at Arts Wells, the greatest little art fest going, deep in the heart of the Cariboo Region of central BC. It was an amazing weekend of music, painting, spoken word, theatre and so much more and a chance to hang out with old and new friends alike. The entire town of Wells becomes one large carnival like playground with 9 separate venues and close to 100 different performances spread out over 4 days. There is so much going on that it is difficult to take it all in.

For our part, Glenn and I painted a mural of one of our pipeline scenes from Kitimat on the side of our painting van affectionately know as the Great Grey Whale. The intent of the project was to bring awareness to the proposed pipeline project and to give people the opportunity to sign the van as an expression of their opposition to the pipeline. We completed the painting live on the street and even had the Vancouver based band, Fraser Union, perform a pipeline protest song up on top of the painting platform on the van while we painted. Way too much fun.

The Great Grey Whale with a fresh new paint job and friends. (L to R Glenn, Crystal, Peter and Jade) Photo C. Tremblay.

With over 400 signatures of support for our project on the reverse side of the van we reluctantly headed out of Wells and into the wilderness of Northen BC, back on the pipeline trail. It was going to be hard to fly under the radar now that the van was fully decked out and after the warm and loving reception of Wells we pondered what our fate would be as we headed north into the BC heartland.

Wells from Across the Bog (8x10) oil on panel, P Corbett

Kispiox and the Native Experience

We arrived in Kispiox at the totem pole site down by the confluence of the mighty rivers. We only just began to get set up when we were greeted by a group of locals natives. Word spread quickly and shortly we were joined by a collection of native carvers and painters.  Conversations began slowly and with some trepidation on their part but in due time we all realized we shared a common plight; our opposition to the pipeline. The locals all agreed that once again the Canadian Government was not listening to them and that this development was going to be forced upon them with dire consequences to their way of life.

Peter Corbett, Kispiox Totem Poles (8x10) oil on panel

After our warm welcome in Kispiox we headed towards the Morice River, a watershed in which the pipeline will parallel for many kilometres with numerous stream and river crossing proposed. These waters hold a special place in my heart as this is where I caught my first steelhead on a fly many years ago, a memorable experience for any fly fishermen. After many miles of dodging loaded logging trucks we eventually made it back to the headwaters of the Morice, where the pipeline would enter the steep and rugged wilderness of the Coast Mountain Range. Once again, we were struck with the shear magnitude of this project and the vast area of wilderness and wild rivers it would potentially impact.

Peter Corbett, Morice River Valley (8x10) oil on panel

After numerous days of painting in the Morice River watershed we headed to Burn Lake where the pipeline has been proposed to cross the highway and head across the Fraser Plateau then on towards the northern Rockies. Once again, everyone we spoke to was in opposition to this project. Most notable was the opposition from the local mountain biking community that have spent thousands of dollars and volunteer hours developing a world class riding area on Boer Mountain. The proposed pipeline would bisect right through their trail network. From the top of Boer Mountain, we could see for miles, looking at the expanse of lakes and swamps the pipeline would have to navigate through.

Peter Corbett, Burns Lake from Boer Mnt. (8x10) oil on panel

At this point we have been on the road for 3 weeks and have completed over 90 paintings between us. A certain amount of satisfaction and fatigue is beginning to set in and we agree it is time to head for home for a much needed break and get ready for our second leg of our journey to the Northern Rockies.