Opening Reception May 17 | 4-6pm
Join Birgit and Robert Bateman, with special guest speaker Hwiemtun (Fred Roland,) for an introduction to this rare collection at ArtSpring.
Open daily from May 18-30, coinciding with Salt Spring’s own legendary Canadian artist, educator, and conservationist Robert Bateman’s 95th birthday, comes an extraordinary never-before-seen exhibition Confluence: The Bateman Collection at ArtSpring.
While Robert is best known for his prolific body of work of highly realistic depictions of wildlife and nature, wife and artistic partner Birgit Bateman is also a venerable and much exhibited photographer. Together, they have been a life force not only in the art world, but in fundraising for and awareness of environmental causes.
Partners in life, in the studio, and in world travels, they have amassed a fascinating private collection from fellow artists who inspired the artistry within themselves, as well as cultural artifacts from adventure and advocacy journeys to Africa, Asia, both Poles, and here in the Pacific Northwest.
Hundreds of paintings, prints, sculptures, Indigenous pieces, fine art photography, personal family photos and story-filled artifacts have been meticulously curated by Zoe Zafiris-Casey and are being moved by hand from the Batemans’ home and storage to ArtSpring’s gallery for the first and only time.
Thank you to Seth Berkowitz Photography for sponsoring this exhibition.
