Season 2 of ART ISLAND continues with the visionary Michael McNamara, co-founder of Blue Sky Design, at his Hornby Island studio. Filmmaker Zsofin Sheehy explores Michael's 50-year journey of integrating design and building, creating spaces with a deep spiritual connection to the landscape and community. Michael shares his experiences and insights into responsive architecture and the collaborative nature of his work.

[About Michael McNamara]
Michael McNamara was born and raised in the American mid-west, close to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Taliesen. He studied Art and Sociology in Indiana and later pursued Sociology and Architecture at the University of Oregon during the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 1969, he moved to Canada, and found his true home on Hornby Island in 1971. There, he co-founded Blue Sky Design in 1974 with Ed Colin and Bo Helliwell. Michael has spent over 50 years creating responsive architecture and building community on the island.

[Art Island: Perspectives from a Creative Community]
Who are the individuals that comprise the vibrant artistic community of Hornby Island? This docu-series looks into the personal lives and artistic perspectives of local artists — our community members. Expanding on how they became artists, what inspires their art, challenges they've encountered, and how they persevered, Art Island is a deep dive into why artists feel art is important and how it has the power to affect us all.

[Credits]
A Film By - Zsofin Sheehy
Associate Producer - Emma Walter
Location Sound - Nathan Evans
Camera Assistant - Ella McMechan
Sound Mix & Design - Matt Copeland
Title Animation - Grigorii Kniagnitskii
Colour - Bogdan Mykytenko

[Music]
Pangal
CAPE
Sebastian Pangal
Ardie Son
Marc Atkinson
Michael McNamara

[Photos courtesy of]
Bob Cain
Michael McNamara
Hornby Island Community Archives
PICRYL


ART ISLAND was created on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.


Funding for this episode of ART ISLAND is provided by the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and the Province of British Columbia.