Three generations of a prominent Fernie family will come together to share their passion for art and building with the community.
“The Art of Building” is a multi-generational exhibit by six members of the Hornquist family who use different techniques and styles to explore the notion of building.
It opens at The Arts Station in Fernie on Thursday, September 27.
“Since we all experiment with a range of mediums, it was important for us to find a common ground within our work,” said third generation family member Erika Hornquist, 26.
The Hornquists have been in Fernie since 1945 and have remained in the area over the years, apart from short stints away for post-secondary education.
First generation family member Verne is a retired surveyor and draftsman, who is affectionately known as “papa”.
For more than 40 years, he has been using watercolour, acrylic, ink and pencil to capture the natural landscape and historic buildings around the Elk Valley.
When he is not painting, the 83-year-old can be found in his garden or workshop making elaborate bird houses.
“My grandfather was a carpenter and my dad studied architecture, so I’ve been around art and building my whole life and it became a hobby for me but also influenced my career as a draftsman/surveyor,” said Verne.
“I have always had an appreciation for all the different styles of architecture and that became my focus for painting.”
Verne has passed his eye for detail and artistic flair onto his children and grandchildren, who have gone on to forge their own creative careers.
“I am inspired by papa and his love of painting,” said Verne’s daughter Char, who is a graphic designer and owner of the Fernie Printing Company.
When she’s not working digitally, Char’s mediums of choice are watercolour, ink and charcoal.
Her brother Darren, 58, is a retired electrician and the owner of West Fernie Woodworks, where he specializes in creating custom picture frames using carefully selected wood from old structures.
The Hornquist grandchildren also inherited the creative gene.
Brock, 29, is co-owner of Wild Wolves Design, which offers a line of laser cut and burned wooden goods handcrafted in Fernie.
He was joined by his sister Erika after she finished her Master of Architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., in 2017.
Their cousin Sean Janzen, 23, also enjoys woodwork and recently graduated from the Fine Woodworking program at Selkirk College in Nelson, B.C.
He dabbles in other mediums and techniques, such as watercolour, ink and pointillism.
“Looking back, all of us grandchildren have grown up in a creative and inspiring environment,” said Erika.
“Someone was always making something, whether it was painting, building cabinetry or even building a house which made it easy to be curious about art and building.”
The Art of Building will feature 15-20 pieces in a range of mediums, including watercolour, acrylic, charcoal, wood and engraving, and opens at The Arts Station on September 27 at 7 p.m.
Erika said the process has brought them closer together.
“We have always been a supportive family but I think this experience really allowed us to find time to share our work with one another, learn from each other and bond over a shared passion,” she said.
