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Art lovers check out local and regional creations in a village retail shop during the 2008 ArtWalk opening reception.

Art is often a solo pursuit, so it makes sense that some artists would be shy or perhaps not the most social of beings. But as local jewellery and textile artist Ruth Stewart knows, sometimes you have to get over that — or at least put it aside at times — to get your work in the public realm.

That’s one reason she’ll be out in front of Ruby Tuesday on Friday (July 3) with a table full of her creations, mingling with people and celebrating the start of another ArtWalk season. The evening marks the first of two free, festive ArtWalk receptions, kicking off a summer full of art in Whistler Village and the new addition of guided ArtWalk walking tours.

Stewart admits she’s “a very shy person,” but interacting with people to talk about her creations actually feeds her creativity. It’s rewarding to see someone pick up a piece that meant a lot when she was making it, and to see that they understand and feel the same excitement. Artistic expression is a kind of conversation, she said.

“It’s very rewarding to talk to people face to face,” she said.

This is Stewart’s third year taking part in ArtWalk, and she is also in attendance each Sunday connecting with people over her work at the Whistler Farmers’ Market. She said ArtWalk is a worthwhile venture for local artists because it’s good exposure, it helps drive traffic to the Village, and it connects artists with local business operators.

“It’s an opportunity to have your work seen,” Stewart said.

In fact, it was through connections during ArtWalk that Stewart came to have her work for sale in the accessory shop Ruby Tuesday year round. She said she’s heard similar stories from other artists.

ArtWalk offers the chance for the public to see the work of more than 70 artists from across the Sea to Sky in a range of unexpected “galleries” such as retail shops, cafés, hotels and other commercial locations. Everything from paintings, photography and pottery to jewellery and mixed media will be on display through July and August.

Stewart’s display in Ruby Tuesday focuses mostly on her intricate jewellery creations, which incorporate gemstones and weaved silver. But her artistic pursuits started with textiles when she was a young child learning to sew and knit.

It wasn’t until about five years ago that she started experimenting with jewellery, creating her own pieces because she couldn’t find anything she liked in stores. Now, she experiments a lot with colour in her hand-dyed yarns and takes it to the next step with woven scarves and hand-painted silk, and expresses nature and shapes through her jewellery.

“They seem like disparate disciplines, but they really do complement each other,” Stewart said of her textile and jewellery art.

Her business is called Impulse of Delight, and she’s sold her work internationally. Stewart has lived in Whistler for three years with her husband and kids, but said she feels profoundly connected to this place. Her work continues to evolve, and she said she’s exploring ideas of sense of place in her recent work.

People can discover Stewart’s creations and help spark more of them by talking with her outside Ruby Tuesday on Friday (July 3) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for the ArtWalk opening reception. The first of two receptions, artists, entertainment, food and drink will be stationed in and around 13 venues starting from TD Canada Trust in Marketplace and following a route along Main Street and the Village Stroll up to Ruby Tuesday.

For more information on Friday’s venues, participating artists and performers, visit www.whistlerartscouncil.com.

Thanks to Cultural Capitals funding, this year’s ArtWalk is also featuring free tours guided by local artists every Wednesday and Saturday starting at 1 p.m. from the Visitor Info Centre. Stay tuned to The Question for more upcoming ArtWalk events through July and August.

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