Spores of Joy part of BC Culture Days in Prince George

Sebastian Nicholson

BC Culture Days are coming up September 27-29 and Prince George will in the thick of events planned across the province.

Local emerging artist Sebastian Nicholson will be presenting Spores of Joy in the city to celebrate Culture Days.

The Spores of Joy, is a community treasure hunt which involves searching urban areas in Prince George for units of tree fungus casts painted by the community itself. Between now and August 30, Nicholson will be offering free painting workshops to get the spores ready. All fungus casts are made of concrete in silicone molds and have a screw in the back which will be proofed with tape. Each participant will receive a card with information about the art project as well as a number to identify their unit when the treasure hunt launches on September 27-29, for the BC Culture Days Weekend.

“The importance of installing the fungi in units is to reflect units of family and friends,” he says on his Culture Days web page. “The purpose of The Spores of Joy is to invigorate a sense of connection and ownership in our community as well as supply a fun activity for years to come. I will be collaborating with various organizations across Prince George, but if your organization (or family!) is interested in participating, please feel free to contact me”

This event is free.

Since his childhood at Ness Lake, British Columbia, Nicholson has always shown an insatiable interest in art, nature and dreams. His intent observation of bugs and wildlife lead naturally to drawing.

He took art classes as a child and developed his skills through to high school and became very active in the schools’ art club. He assisted in leading the Young Associates artist group at the Two Rivers Gallery where he took part in his first group show: Out of Tune (2012).

Nicholson has since volunteered for numerous events around the community including ones held by the Gallery. He is a graduate of the Fine Arts program at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) and continues his passion in the creation of art as a practicing artist and academic in Prince George.

“An original map detailing the locations of the spores will be available at Two Rivers Gallery on the BC Culture Days weekend and online through my website,” he said. “During the event, I encourage anyone who successfully finds their spore out in the wild to tweet, instagram, or facebook a picture of it using the hashtag “#SporesOfJoy” so we can see all the beautiful spores out there”

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