Toni Onley (1928 - 2004) with Robert Murray	Toni Onley Artists' Project (Formerly The Wells Artists' Project) Island Mountain Arts is very pleased to announce that the 'Wells Artists' Project' is to be renamed the 'Toni Onley Artists'' Project'.    World renowned BC artist Toni Onley (1928-2004) very much embodies the spirit of the Wells Artists' Project.  He had a great passion for going into remote areas in order to gain inspiration, he was also very savvy in the business of being a successful Canadian artist.  In re-naming the project we hope to honor these aspects of of Toni's artistic career and spirit.   The renaming is the first step in a long term vision to develop an eight-month artist development program in Wells called the Toni Onley School where participating Artists will live and work in the remote hamlet of historic Wells in order to create a body of work for exhibition. ____________ Toni Onley Artists' Project Saturday July 21 - Sunday July 29 Artist Mentors: Chris Cran, RCA & Michelle Forsyth Fee:  Eight-day Session $800 + GST Four-day Session $410 + Gst First offered in 2000 with distinguished artist Norman Yates, The Wells Artists' Project (now the Toni Onley Artists' Project) has had a tremendous impact on the artistic development of those who have taken part.  Participating artists will spend nine days in Wells (eight days of instruction, July 25 is a self directed day) painting in the IMA studios under the mentorship of two senior Canadian artists.  This is a forum for artists to explore and develop their ideas in relation to visual arts practice.  With hands on experimentation as the starting point, artists will engage in an exchange of ideas aimed at better understanding the possibilities of the creative act.  The artist mentors, with their vast knowledge and experience as working  professional visual artists in Canada and internationally, will give valuable insight to those artists keen to promote their artistic practice in the visual arts and spur production of new bodies of work.  A shorter four-day session(July 21 - July 24 or July 26 - July 29) is also available.
Chris Cran's Piece Titled 'The Physics of Admiration'	Chris Cran, who teaches at the Alberta College of Art and Design,  has been described by the New York Times as a painter who "...has built a career on tampering with people's perceptions."  Widely exhibited across Canada and internationally recognized, Cran's paintings have to do with visual tricks, images that appear one way but have been made another way.
Michelle Forsyth's Piece Titled 'Undulating Surfaces'	Michelle Forsyth, who was born in Vancouver, currently teaches painting and drawing at Washington State University, but has also taught at the Pratt Institute in New York  and at Brooklyn College.  She has received many accolades including residencies at the Banff Centre, Emily Carr and most recently a Canada Council Professional Artists Grant.  An artist who works in many mediums, Forsyth uses painting, needlepoint and paper-crafts to counter the dehumanization of rapidly transmitted, digital images. The Sonia Cornwall Scholarship In honor of Cariboo artist, Sonia Cornwall (1919 - 2006) IMA is pleased to announce the new Sonia Cornwall Scholarship, which will provide one emerging Cariboo artist with a full eight-day scholarship to the Toni Onley Artists' Project.  Visit www.imarts.com for details on this and other scholarship opportunities. Application Process: Applicants must submit 12 images of their work (digital format on CD is preferred), CV and artist statement to IMA by June 1, 2007 to be eligible.  As the course can fill up quickly, it is advised to submit your application as soon as possible. Send To: Toni Onley Artists' Project Box 65, Wells, BC, V0K 2R0 or media@imarts.com  _____________________________
Reel Youth Founder and Director Mark Vonesch	Youth Video Production (Ages 12 - 18) Saturday, June 30 - Monday July 2 Instructor: Mark Vonesch   Early Bird Fee: $299 (if paid by June 1st) Regular Fee:  $335   This 3-day video-making program is an opportunity for young people to learn to create short films about their vision for a better world.  It is a journey into the process of creative collaboration and an opportunity for youth to speak up about the change they want to see in their lives, their communities and the world.     Mark Vonesch is a film maker, a VJ, and a media based youth facilitator.  He is the Founder and Director of Reel Youth and is the principle of Mobius Media.  Mark is passionate about using the creation of media for both a creative outlet and a vehicle for positive change.  Mark's workshops are based around supporting young people to make films about the issues they care about most. __________________ Island Mountain Arts: Important Partner in Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy for the Cariboo The District of Wells, with assistance from Island Mountain Arts, is coordinating a development strategy for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector in the Cariboo Chilcotin for the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (CCBAC).  CCBAC is developing a number of sector strategies that will form part of a plan to assist the region when the impact of the pine beetle epidemic becomes apparent in the next few years.  Island Mountain Arts has provided technical assistance in the project coordination and has participated in the Industry Advisory Committee.  The final report is due in May and will become available on the CCBAC website (http://www.c-cbac.com/) after that time. _________________________
	2007 IMA Brochure Our beautiful 2007 brochure is almost ready to be sent out!  The brochure will outline our many workshops, events and exhibitions that make up our 2007 spring & summer programs.  If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure, but are not already on our mailing list, please forward your name and mailing address to info@imarts.com and we will gladly send you a copy.