Issue #32 :Friday January 22, 2010

Art restoration expert Jan Huk and his wife Milada, owners of Renaissance Gallery, savour a moment as he meticulously cleans “Portrait of A Lady,” a work by Canadian artist extraordinaire John Wentworth Russell. A personal friend of Russell’s widow Anna, Huk is thrilled to offer an exclusive showing of Russell’s works to visitors. Renaissance Gallery is located at 3302 Port Washington Road on North Pender. Though the work of Russell is on show at this time, a special opening entitled “The Group of One - The Paintings of John Wentworth Russell” will happen on February 13th between the hours of 2 and 7pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend. (Photo: John Bagshaw)

Mystery of the Nudes at Renaissance Gallery

Pender Island’s own Renaissance Gallery currently has a show that has attracted the attention of the National Gallery of Canada.
Milada and Jan Huk, owners of Renaissance Gallery, have mounted a show of hundreds of works by Canadian artist John Wentworth Russell. Russell spent most of his life in Paris, where he was regarded as one of the best of his generation. During his painting life in the first half of the Twentieth Century, Russell painted two Canadian Prime Ministers and the King of England. His works were displayed in Paris and in Canada, and are now housed in some of Canada’s most prestigious galleries, as well as many private collections.
Russell died in 1959, and his widow, Anna Russell, kept most of his painting as a memory of her late husband. As a result his reputation has been diminished because his work was not on the market. Milada and Jan became friends with Anna Russell in Toronto in the 1970s and ‘80s. They tried to convince her to sell the paintings, but she couldn’t part with them.
When Anna Russell died ten years ago, the works were offered to the National Gallery of Canada. They took some but left many because they needed restoration. Anna Russell’s executor offered them for sale to Milada and Jan as they had been close friends when Anna was alive. The Huks have worked hard to restore, stretch and frame all of the works. Now Pender Islanders can have the pleasure of enjoying the works of a historical Canadian painter, right their own Pender Island.
The Huks invite Penderites and all other islanders to a special opening for the second part of the Russell show, entitled “The Group of One--The Paintings of John Wentworth Russell,” on February 13 between 2 and 7 pm at Renaissance Gallery, 3302 Port Washington Road. The gallery is open every day between 11am and 5pm.

Hefty fines and demerits attached to driver cell phone use starting February

Laurie Kay

The month of warnings and brief reprieve regarding cell phone use is nearly over for BC drivers as February 1st approaches. The Government of British Columbia law prohibiting use was introduced in a press release dated October 21st, 2009 by Solicitor General Kash Heed who indicated the law would take effect January 1st, 2010.

Heed stated: “We’re taking action today because British Columbians have made it clear they support stronger restrictions on cellphones (sic) and other devices that take a driver’s hands off the wheel and their eyes from the road.”

Though the new ban may seem draconian to some BC is actually the seventh province to enact the ban through the Motor Vehicles Act. The first was Newfoundland in 2003.

Hefty fines, demerits

It’s likely the full impact of the new law will come as an unwelcome shock to many. Infractions will result in a $167 fine and the addition of three demerit  points to driving records.


It is the responsibility of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia to record point penalties on the driving record of all offenders. As opposed to one demerit for minor driving infractions such as driving over freshly painted lines or unsafe lane changes, driving while using a cell phone carries the same penalty as driving without a licence, failing to stop for a school bus, or a host of other infractions long perceived as serious by drivers. Ten demerits are allotted for driving drunk and causing death among others. Learners are allowed only two to six demerits and Class 1 to 5 drivers areallowed only 15 to 19 demerits before losing their licences.

Necessary or habitual

For many, especially young people who are also making texting on cell phones an integral part of their lives, a habit that can take both hands off the steering wheel, a traffic ticket will come as an unpleasant shock. Most cell phone owners habitually use their phones in their cars while disregarding the
potential danger of distraction.
Drivers will be forced to recognise that most cell phone use is not necessary when driving and would do well to acknowledge few calls are genuine emergencies that will be considered exemptions.
According to Heed, since drivers’ use of cell phones has become rampant, nearly 120 people have died each yeari n BC with at least 1,400 injured.

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