Motoko donated watercolour painting of "Iona C" to Pender Harbour Coast Guard Auxiliary

On Thursday, May 7, 2009 the Pender Harbour Coast Guard Auxiliary was pleased to have noted local artist Motoko attend their Annual General Meeting at the Lions Club in Pender Harbour to present an original watercolour painting of the “Iona C”, their new Coast Guard rescue vessel.   Alan Skelley, the Deputy Unit Leader of Auxiliary 61, introduced Motoko, welcomed her to the meeting, and expressed his sincerest thanks to her for accepting this commission and for donating the painting.

Skelley affirmed how thrilled the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to be the recipient of this work and expressed his appreciation that one of Pender Harbour's local artists was able to capture the essence of their new vessel underway at speed with beautiful west coast scenery as a background.   The first print of the “Iona C” was presented by Motoko to Jack Dennis, the former unit leader, as an expression of the Auxiulliary's gratitude for his hard work and the lead he took in securing the Iona C for the Unit.

Motoko explained that donating this painting was her way of expressing gratitude to the volunteers for their work on this coast.  Motoko's husband, Rex Baum, who is also a mariner by profession, indicated how pleased he was that Motoko was able to contribute in this way.  The donation included not only the original painting but also the right to sell and use the giclée prints to benefit fund-raising efforts.

Motoko's early work was inspired by her desire to portray the natural beauty which surrounds her and often ended in floral art or a local landscape or marine painting.   Her art has evolved into more contemporary work where the beauty and diversity of nature and human emotions are her main subjects.  Motoko takes a deep interest in using colour, shape, line and texture as her tools to express the essence of that beauty.  She allows these forms and lines to take their own course, resulting in a truly non-constraining and intuitive expression.  Her source of inspiration comes from events which she experiences, or perhaps a place she has been to, or sometimes someone she meets.   Her Japanese cultural background often shows through her art.  Whether she plans it in her design or not, it always seems to be there as part of who she is.

In 2005, Motoko opened her own gallery in Garden Bay and in 2008 expanded the gallery by adding another floor to showcase her work.  This beautiful, contemporary art gallery is located at 4590 Sinclair Bay Road, Garden Bay (Pender Harbour) and is open in June and September from Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5:00 pm and in July and August seven days a week from noon to 5:00 pm.  Motoko also welcomes appointments outside of open hours with just a phone call.

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