Cross Canada Trekking - Part 24 [A visit with the Artist Himself 👨‍🎨]

Here we are at the long-awaited continuation of the Cross-Canada Trekking Series. It's been a while. I know right? But I am setting out to finish what I started. Here is a link to the last part of the series if you wanted to check out where we left off. At this point in the journey, it was time for my parents to venture off on their own and leave me with the trailer, the famed bitcoin express. I was doing this sort of Herb Gathering Conference and they wanted to see some more of the island... sof off they went leaving me behind.

This was actually my second time on Vancouver Island. "The Island" as it's called (it's a pretty huge island indeed.) The first time I was with this girl I was with and we were vanlifing around after going to Burning Man. So from 2015-2022 I guess it was about Seven years to return. That time. It's funny how "Time Flies." I had been a fan of an artists work; The mans name is Bryan Kemila and he has some very interesting perspectives on I guess life the universe and everything you could say. These perspectives really shook me to the core and honestly rocked the foundation of how I see the world. In some ways, it wasn't anything new, it was like I had just been finding some long forgotten information, that in reality I knew all along but I couldn't put my finger on just exactly how I knew it. I'm not going to get into the details here, it's quite an in-depth topic but let me say that it is one that a lot of people simply cannot tolerate, it becomes rejected... in a very knee-jerk fashion once some of the more challenging topics are presented. I think that the entire human condition comes down to this basic sort of "bipolar fundamental behaviour" basically we are prompted into action or inaction by two primary forces - desire and aversion. We are in a state of constantly running towards what we want and running away from what we don't want, the things that make us uncomfortable. Of course as conscious humans we can to a large extent decide whether or not we choose to just give in to our simple pleasures and run away from our aversions, things that make us feel bad or some sort of pain... The thing we don't realize about all this is it's just reactions we are experiencing but not so much to the outside world - to sensations within ourselves. But we are so caught up in the externalizations of this world we don't even pay attention to what's happening within and we are so oblivious to how the entire process unfolds, all within. This is stuff that Bryan Kemila kind of touches on but also seems to be a sort of recurring theme in certain spheres in the whole non-attachment/non-duality spheres... he takes it a step further and kinda questions the entire validity of this 3d life experience but I would argue that a lot of the whole non-duality/non-attachment schools of thought profer those types of questions as well.

Describing this stuff is a bit of an artform in and of itself, to which this artist has certainly developed his craft. Alone, painstakingly. Basically I found him because of his controversial blog and like I alluded before, it really shook me to the core in a lot of ways. For the vast majority of people even simply the consideration of what is on here will bring up all sorts of emotions, and I've often even seen it met with downright hostility. He has a disclaimer saying 'don't read if u don't want to have every assumption you've ever had mixed up' and I was like YEAH YEH BRING IT ON BIG BOY you've got all the universe's secrets figured out, haven't ya?", Having no clue the ideas and absolute sheer questioning of everything I had ever known I was in for. I'm not saying he is right or wrong but it seems like a lot of people just simply cannot handle considering the ideas on that site and just revert to 'what they know.' One of the most provocative ideas I have found on that entire blog, and perhaps a lot of his 'philosophy' boils down to, is this notion: The Ego only Thinks it Knows something. I guess this opens up all sorts of philosophical epistemology debates like how do we truly know what we know and the "true" funamental nature of reality... but at the end of the day, Mr. Kemila has stumbled onto some most interesting observations on the nature of reality, the thinking mind, what we call the ego... which... IS us...And where do these thoughts come from, are they really our own thoughts? Or have they been put there, subliminally... we "think" our thoughts are our own but can we say with some certainty that they are our own true original ideas, or have they been put their, by family, by schools, by society, by media) And we quite vehemently attack other ideas and notions that go against our own, good vs evil, science vs religion, atheist vs 'believer' our own beliefs always being of course superior and right... without a doubt ... we are all reacting to our thoughts.

It's funny how philosophical this got, I can understand how that happened given the man that I am introducing. So in 2011 I had stumbled upon his blog which he started probably around 2007. In 2015 I was on the Island, and I knew he lives in Courtenay. It makes perfect sense because Courtenay and the whole Island are known for its vibrant artistic scene. That time, in 2015 even though it was only about a 2 hour drive I decided 'we didn't have enough time' when really if I was honest it would have been 'I'm actually kinda nervous to actually meet this guy this seems crazy lets go find something else to do." And so for like seven years I got to sit on my hands thinking well I could have met him but chose not too. However in 2022 when I knew we were not only going to be on the island, buy actually going to the Vancouver Island Herb Gathering Conference(More on that later) which ... was IN COURTENAY ... the city where the guy lives... so I was like okay if this is a sign u should go talk to the guy then it's pretty clear. I had emailed him before and he seemed friendly enough so why not? I was in for a totally wild and unexpected ride.
He asked if I could come at 10am for our little meet/interview, I told him I had some questions and wanted to meet the man himself. Basically I did like his artwork but the absolute sheer depth of it didn't hit me until I could see it in person. I mean, I guess I must not be a huge art buff but that was my first experience of thinking I was familiar with some works. I mean I had seen most of them on his blog and his website gallery. But it really paled in comparison... I mean of course an original painting is gonna look better in person than on a screen but man oh man, I remember walking up to his studio door, which had a glass windowpane in it and I could see inside right away, and my jaw just absolutely dropped. I understood why this man was asking $175 000 for a painting right away.

It abolutely BLEW MY MIND that such a gem like this is just hiding tucked away, languishing in relative obscurity, undiscovered by most of the world beyond it's doors? Admittedly, what humans are capable of artistically is quite exceptional, as a species we have known this for hundreds of years now. But for sure to witness it, and even withness a bit of it's creation is an amazing thing. The colours, shading, detail etc. absolutely stunned me and I'm not sure if he does it on purpose or not but those details just don't come through in his online presence. He even told me he really doesn't even WANT to sell his art, but he has priced it accordingly so that if someone does want to pay for it he couldn't say no. I half jokingly said if I ever had that kind of money to spare I would love to own one and he rightfully said you never really know what life brings.

That was all on a rainy Thursday morning, when I biked back to the farm I was staying at, I was completely soaked. I was shivering, an ATM had stolen $80 from me (Never gave the money but charged my acct.) Had just biked really far with a lot of weight... But I was so thrilled. I had also bought like $200 dollars of the guys artwork, just some small prints but since then have enjoyed having some art on my walls! I wish I had recorded the whole conversation because there were still some things I wasn't completely clear on - even though we had spent a solid three hours just sitting and him patiently explaining things as best he could. Perhaps I could have more clearly worded my questions. But of course I did gain some clarity. I thanked him profusely, and asked if I was ever in the area again if I could return for another visit and some more questions and he seemed happy to oblige. He said I was his first real visitor from 'the blog' I guess at one point he was getting some attention, good AND bad but has died down mostly in recent years. He said "with what I've uncovered, you'd think they'd be beating their way inside my door..." and I agreed... but the sad likely reality is most people simply can't begin to comprehend. It is in all likelihood, his proper genius, be it truly that, won't be recognized in his lifetime... I thought likely with the way things are going, he is certainly an older man with less and less years to live, most of his recognition is to come posthumously. He thought himself that most of his artwork is just going to become part of his estate - for his kids to cherish or do as they see fit.

Actually, kids were the bit of conversation for a little bit on our discussion of life, the universe and everything and he remarked how much he enjoyed animals and children as being the simple pleasures of life (Bryan is a father of 5.) I also did very briefly me his son, who I assumed to be his son actually. During my curiosities regarding Mr. Kemila I googled him and found his sons youtube channel, I wish I had sort of made a better introduction but his son pointed me to his studio space with a "he's wating for you in there" as I arrived. I also met his wife, at about hour two of our conversation she came in and introduced herself, they are a very nice couple. Regardless, enough talk, check out some of Bryans artwork with me there ... I really sort of put the guy on the spot a bit with some of the photos admittedly. And I kind of felt like I didn't want to be a nuisance to him since he had basically just given a complete stranger almost 4 hours out of his life and me running around with my camera and flashes... My biggest regret is not taking more pictures, this is often my regret and I am having to work on this aspect of my photography - becoing obsessively thorough and maybe a little bit unapologetic. I'm sure he really wouldn't have minded an extra few minutes at the end of the day.

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^{An Artists Tools}

^{Infront of the incredible piece called Wag the Dog. The price tag was at $145 000. He said it still needed to be updated to the new price of $175 000, the going price of many of his works at the time of my visit.}

^{In front of his DELILAH Painting, depicting Delilah having cut Samsons hair, with the rubble of the twin towers in the background. I should have taken myself out of these pictures some more but it was like I wanted to be in the pics too :S}

^{I kinda felt awkward putting him on the spot, I imagined he was thinking what the heck is this guy want with all the photgraphy gear. But this was a nice moment, he really is a sweet old man.}

^{Lady Solomon - Queen Helen of Troy - Shania Twain}

^{Lady Solomon Statue - Pediment Featuring the twin towers and the rubble}

^{Here is me once again outting Bryan on the spot 😝 I'm pretty sure we both had a good time though.}

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The Lady Solomon statue is modelled from Shania Twain's actual measurements (Not just height of course) and the one thing that really strikes you, is just how TINY Shania Twain actually is... I guess she is just 5'4"! But the statue really did look amazing as well, I was informed it was made with Automotive Body Filler which isn't really a 'typical' artistic medium to create these types of things and he said it was an incredible amount of work but that the finish product spoke for itself.

Later that night as I was falling asleep I honestly just was still in amazement to what I had witnessed, I kind of still am to this day these pictures don't do it justice either. I just remember having this image in my head that night, of that old man, just spending hours and hours and hours in front of those canvasses, just SLAYING it with each brush stroke, measured, meticulous and deliberate... all while just tucked away in this tiny little beatiful corner of the world he had escaped from Saskatchewan with his wife to. "The Island is pretty much a different country!" When I laughed at that, he replied with an "I'm Serious!" He said he took one trip out there back in the 90's and that was it, they decided and made the move. I can understand completely that sentiment and he really did fit in to that beautiful little nook of the world I long to see more of myself. Maybe I will, maybe it's why I didn't take that many pictures after all 😊

If you are interested in seeing some or even buying some artworks mentioned here please feel free to visit: Bryan Kemila Fine Art Experience I do note that currently the prices listed on his site have gone down from before. Not sure why this is the case, I believed him when he said he wasn't in a rush to sell. Hopefully everything for him is going great.

If you made it this far, congratulations... This is a BONUS HIVEBAE ROUND: if you happen to be the first person with "OH SYNRG BE MY HIVEBAE" on this post you will be awarded 5 Hive SBI. But only one shall be the winner.

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