Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous year of the Fire Rooster!

 

Painting by Yvette André (Delbosco Y)

2016... The Year Flew By!

Yes, the year flew by!

We settled into our new offices and enjoyed the larger spaces!

In August we celebrated 55 years of creating exhibits that tell unique and memorable stories as Jean Jacques Andre opened his studio on Government Street in 1961!

The year started as we embarked on new journeys with Jones and Jones Architects out of Seattle in creating the Concept Design for a new Cultural Center for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and in creating an exhibit upgrade plan for the Yakama Nation.




We enjoyed working with our friends from Grand Ronde and helping them create concepts for their new exhibit space within a repurposed school building.  Workshops were inspirational and moving.

This year we've also had past clients come to us to enhance and update their exhibits. What a treasure it has been to look back and remember what we created together all those years ago.  What a privilege it is to look forward and help them revision their story and exhibits for the next generations.  Our friends at the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways and the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute are keen to increase their relevancy to the changing attitudes of our times.

Upgrades should build on the exhibit strengths and enhance and update the storyline to incorporate more current issues, change of emphasis or point of view, using appropriate technologies.
Media and lighting upgrades are always top of the list as we assist clients (past and present) with museum conservation best practices and far more maintenance friendly methodologies.

Closer to home we have had the pleasure to help develop a master exhibition plan for the Qualicum Beach Museum and Archives and was able to develop further the Palaeontology Exhibit.  A real enjoyment to work with Wendy and Graham and help tell Graham's story as a local Qualicum Character and mover and shaker.

Relevant and remarkable has been working along side the White Mountain and San Carlos Apache through Fort Apache's Nohwike' Bagowa Museum to help develop their new Nest'an Exhibit teaching about Apache Health and Food.  Watch for its development in the new year!

Passionate for her community and the stories she and her team present, Kathryn Gagnon and the Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives are an example for small local history museums.  It has been an inspiration to work with Kathryn to help develop her storyline and a plan for the renewal and upgrade of her exhibits. We look forward to partner with her in early 2017 as our internship program assists in making part of her vision come to life.  Keep an eye on this little jewel!

As well as having the privilege of working on such exciting projects we have met new green goals with the majority of our team either biking or bussing to work!  We have also donated staff time and resources to a number of local projects.  One great pleasure was working with Kevin Neary, Jean Jacques and Joan André and Tom Palfrey as we all assisted in gathering and sharing essential information for the Royal BC Museum's History Project.

Yes, 2016 has been a remarkable year.  As artists and designers, storytellers and sculptors, we wish you all a peace-filled and creative 2017!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”  

                             —Pablo Picasso

19 Local Artists...

A weekend of mingling with old friends and new, celebrating creativity, and cherishing the opportunity to experience a non-commercial approach to Christmas.

 

Winter Celebration Art Show 2016

Once again we present the varied accomplishments of our artist friends with an exhibition of the talents that surround us.  

For two days in the first weekend of December we assemble a collection of objects and images created by our 'family' of artists.  

Local visitors to Fireweed Studio will have the once-a-year opportunity of seeing and purchasing one-of-a kind objects available nowhere else.  

An added bonus is the opportunity to meet old friends and colleagues and to make new friends in the friendly atmosphere provided in the studio by Bill and Bianca.  

So brave the elements (sometimes it has actually snowed) and trek to Central Saanich for a truly celebratory beginning to the Holiday Season.

What follows is a selection of images created by JJ Andre followed by a single image by Tom Putnam...these are only samples of what will be  on sale.

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Andre & Associates New Studio-Grand Opening!

Between project deadlines, packing and unpacking boxes, we've finally settled in to our new office space!  We are thrilled at the location and are enjoying our largest studio space yet!

June 10th was our Grand Opening and we enjoyed celebrating with family, friends and colleagues.  May thanks to all who came and especially to Jean Jacques and Joan André for sharing the following photographs.

Nigel and Brad enjoy paintings by feature artist Tom Putnam.

Joan, Dante, Carol and Andy catch up in the Kitchen Gallery. 

Bill and Stella, Joan, Dante and Yvette share stories in the Kitchen Gallery.

Lori, Nigel, Burt, Tom and Adrienne look at photographs in the Model Room.

Joan in the design studio.

Joan in the Board Room.

Joan enjoys the skylight in the studio welcome area.

Bill and Janis making plans.

Bianca, Francis, Jeremy and Kelly enjoy a laugh.

Michelle Poitras—Woman of Many Talents

We are so grateful to Michelle Poitras, a young designer who has dove into everything and anything we asked of her as we have prepared for, and completed our move.

From renderings to sewing curtains for our Kitchen Gallery—not to mention packing and unpacking many boxes!—Michelle has simply been a Godsend to our team as we moved 30+ years of files and equipment!

Michelle's work ethic, organization skills, sense of humour, and clear communication are exemplary. Thank you Michelle, from all of us!

Merry Christmas!

A Painting of the Broken Group Islands from Ucluelet by Jean Jacques Andre beautifully depicts our West Coast...

From our office to wherever you are in this amazing world, Merry Christmas from the Andre and Associates Team. May your Christmas and 2016 be filled with peace, laughter, and love.