Make a lantern and shine the light

In keeping with its mission to host off-island artists with expertise in less common areas of the arts, the Olga Strawberry Council has invited Jeani Reynolds of Victoria BC to present a two-day lantern making workshop on Sept. 20 and 21. Participants will learn how to construct lanterns out of bamboo and wire, then cover and bedeck them with whatever their imaginations conjure up.

September 8, 2008 8:41 pm
A Buddha made from wire and cellophane. One of the more than 1000 lanterns at 2008 Luminara Victoria.
A Buddha made from wire and cellophane. One of the more than 1000 lanterns at 2008 Luminara Victoria.

In keeping with its mission to host off-island artists with expertise in less common areas of the arts, the Olga Strawberry Council has invited Jeani Reynolds of Victoria BC to present a two-day lantern making workshop on Sept. 20 and 21. Participants will learn how to construct lanterns out of bamboo and wire, then cover and bedeck them with whatever their imaginations conjure up.

“This unique workshop should appeal to both those who have no experience and to accomplished artists who may wish to stretch their artistic boundaries in a traditional or contemporary way,” says Strawberry Council Committee member, Madie Murray.

“Our theme, ‘Earth – Life, Growth, Beauty and Survival’, was chosen to inspire participants in what they might wish to create.”

“Shapes simulate the eco systems (wind, rain, sea life, etc.), animals, plants, insects, organisms, cycles, growth. Colors could include anything from earth tones to shiny and translucent; coverings from cellophane to silk; and adornments such as drawings, flowers, leaves, bark, kelp or whatever seems to fit. Even rope, string, seeds, grasses, can be used to either decorate or wrap your unique creation.”

“When you make a lantern, it has to be lit to see how really beautiful it is,” says Reynolds. Orcas workshop participants will decide where to light their creations at the end of the workshop.

Jeani Reynolds studied Visual Arts at the University of Victoria, is a painter and multimedia artist and has spent 20 years in theatre stage design. She is versed in lanterns of all shapes, sizes and types and is now in her ninth year as the visual arts coordinator with Luminara Victoria (www.luminaravictoria.com.) Under her direction, nearly 25,000 people walk among more than 1,000 lanterns from floating illuminated water lilies to an eight-foot glowing Japanese Gate at Beacon Hill Park where the festival occurs every year in July.

The workshop will be held at the Eastsound Fire Station on Sept. 20 and 21 is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. It will be limited to 15 participants for space reasons. The cost is $95 for both days and includes all basic supplies. More information is available at www.olgastrawberrycouncil.org/workshops.html or by calling Madie Murray at 3064 or 3371.