Shifting Focus
Oct. 30 to Dec. 2, 2006

Often we find beauty in the obvious - the petals of a flower, the sunbeams through a forest, the glistening of morning dew. Ever think to avoid the clichés and shift your focus on those things less obvious - the space between two blades of grass, the grain in soil, the grooves in a tree trunk?

For artist Ken West, Shifting Focus, an introspective on 22 studies, is something he challenged with his new work, and is also the title of the exhibit now displayed at Art Works Gallery. West's first painting in this series has been donated to Art for Life 2006 - an annual art auction that benefits those with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Art for Life curator Ann Carlson says a feature artist is chosen based on three criteria - the strength of the artist's graphic ability, the level of support from the artist's gallery and the ability to produce an original piece. West was chosen this year due to his striking graphic abilities," says Carlson. Art Works Gallery has remained a strong supporter of Art for Life for years. In 2003, Art Works Gallery was the recipient of the Friend in Deed Corporate Partner Award, presented by Vancouver Friends for Life Society.

Carlson recalls passing by the gallery when she noticed West's work on display. "Originally, I had another artist in mind for this year's feature artist, but changed my mind," says Carlson, who gives feature artists free reign to produce what they want. 

"West's work is on the leading edge," adds Carlson, "He surprised himself with his work." 

West says he broke a lot of his rules with this painting. 

"Compositionally, [the painting] was about stimulating people rather than just making them feel good," says West. 

In his previous work, he says he spent more time striving to please his audience, working towards achieving a feeling of comfort. Now he hopes his work will inspire his viewers to look at the minor, neglected details rather than the whole object - something that "people usually don't do because we're more comfortable in getting a framework," he says. 

For Shifting Focus, West painted sections found in organic life so it became a work of abstract - less recognizable in the perspective of a whole. West also describes his work as landscape - "it's not a traditional landscape, yet to a bug, a leaf is a landscape."

In recent months, West had gone through personal shifts, which helped catapult the theme of this show. He was forced to reinvestigate the world around him, break away from notions - what will the painting look like in the end? Will it sell? - and instead take a chance on something new, moving away from the traditional. This ideal shows through in this show that is a bit more provocative and more challenging than his previous works.

West hopes his viewers take what they can from this exhibit. One thing it has done for West is to allow him to be more courageous and to look at the world in a different, more acute way.

"It's okay to take chances sometimes," he says.

Ken West is the solo artist for Shifting Focus, an exhibit held at Art Works Gallery from October 30 to December 2. 

Art Works Gallery is located at 225 Smithe St (corner of Cambie). Gallery hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 to 6. Call 604.688.3301, email info@artworksbc.com or visit www.artworksbc.com for more info.

For more on Art for Life, go to www.artforlife.net