Sole Train

Detail: For the Love of Shoes by Rose Cowles.

Sole Train to the Night Market

A partnership between Fluevog Shoes and the Arts Community of Victoria.

Night Market with vendors at Fluevog Shoes, 566 Johnson St, is 5-9pm on Nov 15, 2018

Sole Train Opening is Nov 15 7-9pm. Show runs until Nov 30.

Visual artist April Bending and writer Linda Rogers share a passion for shoes. While swapping stories about shoe quests and the ones that got away, they decided to invite others to participate. Now, close to thirty local artists have jumped on the Sole Train. The exhibition welcomes all ideas and viewpoints on the sculptural wonder of footwear. An unbound bevy of beautiful images greet guests.The fabulous sole-in-motion theme is designed to induce a wealth of laughter and lively conversation.

The opening event on Nov 15 at 7pm promises to be one to remember. “We’ve added dance, music and spoken word to the visual art,” says Linda Rogers. The former Poet Laureate of Victoria reads One Thousand Shoes, an original, insightful poem that honours community and a musical friend. David Ferguson from Suddenly Dance gives an improv response to Rogers’ reading. Other writers inspired by Sole Train’s imagery are invited to wax poetic in a future chapbook. The sweet sounds of a mandolin maestro serenade guests.

Sole Train found a perfect venue at Fluevog Shoes, the company founded by Vancouver native John Fluevog in 1970. Fluevog now operates 25 stores in North America and one in Amsterdam. Wayne Parrish was hired to manage Victoria’s store when it opened 18 months ago. Parrish is a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design and pleased to connect with the local arts community. “This is a good fit,” he says, “as our company nurtures creativity in products and design.” Fluevog shoes are hand crafted by skilled workers in several countries. The company is eco-friendly and furthers a green philosophy for its international clientele.

Wayne Parrish manager of Fluevog Victoria.

Beaded Beauty by Jean Taylor, 16 x 20 in, acrylic on canvas, 2018

Femme Fatale by Michael Lewis, 26 x 32 in, acrylic on canvas, 1995

Stepping Stones by Sidney Bending, 8 x 10 in, photo-haiga, 2018

Wishful Thinking by Dale Roberts, 14 x 8 x7 in, needle felting with Angelina Fibres, 2018.

Shoe Fly by Rick van Krugel, shoe & mixed media, 2018

For the Love of Shoes by Rose Cowles, 24 x 24 in, acrylic on canvas, 2018

Raven on Shoe by 2 Clamorous Rooks, (Janice Brown and Pat Wilkes) 10.5 x 3.25 in, acrylic on recycled wood, 2018

Boots by Victor Bosson, 15.5 x 24.75 in, (matted) Archival Digital Montage Limited Edition 1/10, 2018.

Sneakers by Doug Lafortune, 17 x 11 in, serigraph, 2018

Heel Me by Nancy Slaght, 12 x12 in, mixed media, 2018

A sincere thank you to the Victoria Arts Council for their generous lend of six free-standing walls for the exhibition.
Visit the VAC at their new location 1800 Store Street.

They came; they admired: they imagined; they performed: they shopped!

Sole Train Opening happened Nov 15 7-9pm. Show runs until Nov 30.

April Bending (left) and Linda Rogers at Opening Celebrations.

Link below contains two videos of performances: Suddenly Dance duo David Ferguson and Andrea Robyn Bayne.
Karen Lee White on guitar and Rick van Krugel on mandolin perform a song about moccasins.
To open: Highlight link, right click, go to...

https://photos15.smugmug.com/Kates-photos/n-MGqT2m/Sole-Train-/

Web Design, Content and Selected Photos
by Kate Cino
Kate is an arts writer published in Focus,
Yam and Boulevard.
She has a History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from UVic.