Wildlife & Art Demos

Watch master artists at work demonstrate their techniques and learn about art and their conservation work.  

Also enjoy daily visits at VanDusen Botanical Garden from 1pm and 4pm with birds of prey from Delta's O.W.L. Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program. O.W.L. will also be present during our preview weekend at Maplewood Conservancy.

Each day during the AFC Festival at VanDusen Botanical Garden, artists will be demonstrating their artistic techniques in painting, carving and sculpture. In addition, artist and woodcarving demos will run during the opening weekend of the Pacific Coast Portraits exhibit at Maplewood Flats. Details to be posted in the online program guide approximately a week before the event.

 

Artist Demonstrations

Portrait of artist | Member of Artists for Conservation

Guy Combes

Bryan Coombes

Vicky Earle

Aga Elliott

Janet Hanofee

Doug Hiser

Mark Hobson

Rachel Ivanyi

Emily Lozeron

Michelle McCune

Kim Middleton

Ken Nash

Susan Neilson

Alexandra Saunders

Joyce Trygg

Gregory Wellman
 

Woodcarving & Sculpture Demos (In-Person)

Robin Roberts (In-Person)

Born in Prince Rupert, BC, Robin has been carving since 2009 in a northern Haida style, with a focus on Northwest Coast masks in yellow cedar, making about three-four per year. In 2017 Robin graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree from UBC and  is an Indigenous Education Teacher.  

Xwa-lack-tun & Friends

Xwa-lack-tun (aka Rick Harry) gained his skills and education from Emily Carr College of Art and Capilano College.  In September, 2012, Xwa-lack-tun received the Order of British Columbia in recognition of his work as an artist. Xwa-lack-tun and friends have been part of the AFC Festival since 2012. 

Visit Xwalacktun

 

 

Wildlife & Natural Heritage Presenters (In-Person)

OWL Society (In-Person)

OWL is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of raptors (eagles, falcons, hawks, osprey, owls, and vultures). Our facility and staff are equipped for the unique needs of these beautiful birds, offering them the best chance of recovery. OWL has an active outreach program with their multiple resident (unreleasable) live birds of prey.

Visit OWL

 

Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (In-Person)

The Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program’s mission is to prevent this species from becoming extirpated from Canada by releasing captive-raised spotted owls back into habitat protected for the species in the province. NSOBP has an active outreach program with their "Small Eyes" - an unreleasable Northern Spotted Owls and "Forrest" - an unreleasable Barred Owl.

Visit NSOBP

 

 

We acknowledge that the Artists for Conservation Festival takes place on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

2023 Program