LIFTing the Community
Retired Catskinner Chairs Find New Life As Works of Art with LIFTing the Community
Outdoor Exhibit: Whistler Village and Upper Village | FREE, all ages | June – August, 2021
Auction: LIVE ONLINE | On now – September 7, 2021
Whistler Adaptive Sport Programs & Vanessa Stark
Proceeds will benefit: Whistler Adaptive Sport Programs
WASP provides year-around, sport and recreational programs for people of all ages with physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities. We are committed to introducing as many individuals with a disability as possible to sport, recreation and therapeutic programming.
Artist: Vanessa Stark
Vanessa “Nes” Stark was born during a mid-winter snowstorm on Canada’s West Coast.Her life has been shaped by her love for the mountains, adventures in nature, animals, snowboarding, mountain biking, family, friends and community. Nes’ bold and unique “Mountain Contemporary” style has organically evolved, reflecting her life’s passions.
Would you like to see this chair in person? Look for chair #11 on the map.
*As this is an outdoor exhibit, all chairs will be touched up by the artists before going to their new home. Find our more about the auction
Bid on this LIFTing the Community chair!
Discover the story behind the chair and find out more about the artist and organization:
Paired with artist Vanessa Stark
Vanessa “Nes” Stark was born during a mid-winter snowstorm on Canada’s West Coast. At 17, Nes followed her passion for snowboarding and found her perfect home in Whistler B.C. Fifteen years later she moved up the road to beautiful Pemberton. Her life has been shaped by her love for the mountains, adventures in nature, animals, snowboarding, mountain biking, family, friends and community.
Nes’ bold and unique “Mountain Contemporary” style has organically evolved, reflecting her life’s passions (including her passion to share and spread positivity).
Speaking in the ancient, instinctual language of creative art, each of her pieces hold a story. They often capture the magic, power and emotion of Earth’s fierce beauty while speaking of the universal connection between all things and beings in Nature.
vanessastarkart.com | facebook.com/vanessastarkart | @vanessastarkart
Whistler Adaptive Sport Programs
WASP is a not-for-profit society that provides year-around, sport and recreational programs for people of all ages with physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities. We are committed to introducing as many individuals with a disability as possible to sport, recreation and therapeutic programming.
whistleradaptive.com | facebook.com/WhistlerAdaptiveSportsProgram | @whistleradaptive
LIFTing the Community
Local artists have transformed 15 retired Catskinner ski lift chairs into works of art, reflecting the theme of belonging as perceived by 15 community groups that actively contribute to community life. LIFTing the Community has been created to enhance the sense of belonging in Whistler and the Sea to Sky. Whether Whistler is home for a season or a lifetime, a sense of belonging benefits us all. In our ever-growing and changing community, wellness, connection and a sense of home needs to be fostered, practiced, discussed and experienced by our community.
With support from Vail Resort’s Epic Promise fund, in partnership with Tourism Whistler and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, Arts Whistler has paired some of the Sea to Sky’s most exciting artists with 15 community groups to reimagine trusty old Catskinner lift chairs into compelling works of art. Tourism Whistler recently provided space for the artists to work in the Whistler Conference Centre.
The reimagined chairs are on display throughout the summer in Whistler Village for people to explore, experience and discover their own spirit of belonging. Chairs will be auctioned off with the funds going to the community organizations to support their programs that support community belonging and wellbeing.
Learn more about all of the participating community groups and creative artists paired with them:
- Arts Whistler | Anna Lynch
- Audain Art Museum | Dave Petko & Liz Thomson
- AWARE | Ben Poechman
- Kids on the Move | Kris Kups
- Mature Action Community | Tonnja Kopp
- The Point Artist Run Centre | Sherry Klassen
- Squamish Arts Council | Kendra Hicks
- Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre | Taka Sudo & Dominique Nahanee
- Whistler Adaptive Sport Program | Vanessa Stark
- Whistler Blackcomb Foundation | Mike Tyler & Bob Van Engelsdorp
- Whistler Community Foundation | Stan Matwychuk
- Whistler Community Services Society & Laura Scarr
- Whistler Museum and Archives | Alyssa Bruijns
- Whistler Public Library | Michaela Ivancova
- Whistler Youth Centre/Alphabet Soup | Ace Mackay-Smith & Mercedes Nicoll
Take yourself on a tour and discover all of the chairs for yourself!
Save the map to your phone | Download the full printable brochure
With thanks to our sponsor Epic Promise, and project partners:
Thanks to Neutron Factory Works for production support.
Accommodation provided by:
