Fueling the creative fires

VANCOUVER, B.C. — There's nothing like seeing the work of other creative people (or seeing them at work) to stoke one's own creativity. Mine certainly got a jolt by visiting artisans at Vancouver's Granville Island.

There are 54 artists, craftspeople or cooperatives located on this tiny spit of land (that isn't a true island at all, but hangs by a sliver of land) who purvey handcrafted items ranging from paintings to furniture, coffee to boats. Potters, jewelers and glassblowers are particularly well-represented here.

New-Small & Sterling Studio Glass (right) has a delightful mix of work by studio artists and other Canadian glass artists. Pieces range from elegant ikebana vases to platters in Sixtiesesque patterns to glass "slippers" that would take Cinderella's breath away. The "hot shop" is right next to the gallery, and visitors can watch the artisans at work.

I hope to indulge my inner Imelda at the Ken Rice Shoe Studio. "Handmade fashion footwear," as the Granville Island Artists site says, is quite an inadequate term. Art for your feet, I say. What caught my eye were the wooden-soled sandals that reminded me of Bare Traps from my teen years, but with artistry. Workshop and sales shop again are on the same premises. Since I actually hope to have my own pair of these, I had a chance to chat a bit with Mr. Rice. He comes across as a gentle, quiet man who loves his work. Hopefully he'll have his Web site up and running soon so you can love his work, too.

I found the most personal inspiration at Object Design Gallery, home to more than 100 Canadian jewelry artists. In particular, I found works by two that were close cousins to work of my own: knitted (or perhaps knotted) wire (right) and patterned/printed paper. If I weren't a thousand or so miles from home, I'd get busy.

Speaking of getting busy, Maiwa Supply would inspire anyone remotely fond of textile arts. Dyes of all sorts, stencils and patterns, books, fabric, you name it. Maiwa's main store, also on the island (in the Netloft building) features a variety of ethnic crafts.

Check out these and other craftspeople at the Granville Island Artists & Artisans site. Better yet, check out artists and crafters in your own community. Visit your local open studios and art fairs. Let their work and their passion inspire you to create something of your own.

Visiting Vancouver!

Greetings from Vancouver!

We've gotten away for a few days and will be checking out all that Vancouver has to offer. We are staying near Commercial Drive, a street with a fabulously eclectic array of shops and eateries. It's similar in feel to San Francisco's Valencia Street or, to some extent, Berkeley's Telegraph Avenue (minus the Cal students). More on that later.

Also planning a visit to Granville Island, which is home to many of Vancouver's craftspeople. Also home to a year-round public market (guess it's comparable to Pike Place or Ferry Plaza).

Off to see stuff!