In Episode 8 of Art Island, filmmaker Zsofin Sheehy meets painter Elaine Savoie on her Hornby Island homestead and Studio. An unapologetic iconoclast, Elaine uses her painting practice to question the norms of her Catholic upbringing and human-centred society. The conversation follows Elaine's life of making, raised by the community of island artists and shaped by her process, connection to the land she stewards, and using art as a tool to play and explore oneself. In addition to her creative practice in painting and drawing, Elaine also uses writing and poetry to humorously and fearlessly delve into the intricacies of island life and reflect on her Metis heritage, interweaving themes of personal identity and the complexities of intergenerational processing.

[About Elaine Savoie]
An artist and farmer born on Hornby Island, Elaine Savoie's upbringing within the early farming settlements of the Savoie family, the Catholic church, and the island's unique natural landscape laid the foundation for her creative journey from a young age. In her nationally recognized Icon series, she seamlessly merges canonical and imagined saints, creatively embodied as roosters, seabirds, and other local creatures.

[Art Island: Perspectives from a Creative Community]
Who are the individuals that comprise the vibrant artistic community of Hornby Island? This 10-episode 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 - Andrew Mark, Liam Wheatley
Sound Mix & Design - Matt Copeland
Title Animation - Grigorii Kniagnitskii
Colour - Bogdan Mykytenko

[Music]
The Kids
Galapaghost
Big Trees
As Tall As Pine
Buzz Gravelle

[Photos courtesy of]
Elaine Savoie
Bob Cain
Debi Lorenc
Angela McIntyre
Emma Walter
Faron Crowe

For more episodes follow the links below:

E1: Alina Milek    • Art Island S1E1: Alina Milek - Flower...  
E2: Tom Burrows    • Art Island S1E2: Tom Burrows - Sculptor  
E3: Moragh Eilish    • Art Island S1E3: Moragh Eilish - Mixe...  
E4: Michelle Nyberg    • Art Island S1E4: Michelle Nyberg - Pa...  
E5: Tony Wilson    • Art Island S1E5: Tony Wilson - Musici...  
E6: Alpen Kelley    • Art Island S1E6: Alpen Kelley – Paint...  
E7: Gordon Payne    • Art Island S1E7: Gordon Payne - Artist  
E8: Elaine Savoie    • Art Island S1E8: Elaine Savoie - Pain...  
E9: Tom Knott    • Art Island S1E9: Tom Knott - Artist  

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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.