A little #WATN: Where are they now for you 1980s Canucks fans.

Vancouver on a Friday night  can be a fun town, that is, if you know where all the cool events are happening. For nearly a decade now, Vernard Goud’s Luvngrace Entertainment Events : Beauty, Art, Music & Fashion have been the events to attend. Their diverse visions in the arts and fashion usually have brought out some of the best Canadian celebrities the west coast can offer, like Pamela Anderson, Raphael Mazzucco and last Friday night, Richard Brodeur. I was asked by Vernard if I could do a write up about Richard’s art show and share some of my thoughts and Richard’s to a hockey audience that still adores him. I was honoured and humbled, especially after talking to Richard Brodeur. He is as wonderful and gracious as a person as he is as talented as an artist and as an NHL goalie.

Walking into the Chali-Rosso Art Gallery on Howe Street, I felt a little overwhelmed and a little out of place. I dressed for the part, I knew the procedure, but I’m a sports girl, and although I do love and appreciate the arts, I haven’t been to such an event in a long time. I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, both the organizers, Vernard Goud and Georgia Primar, along with Richard Brodeur made me feel right at home. So much so, King Richard, granted me an interview.

JG: Thanks for inviting me to your wonderful and successful event. It’s great to see many fans of your hockey days become fans of your art. How long have you been painting?

RB: As an active professional artist since 1990, although I have been painting since the age of 18.

JG: That’s fantastic, you became a professional artist just three years from retirement. You’ve had a few collections over the years. Couple questions now, first, what differentiates this collection from the previous ones and how long did this one take for you to finish?

RB: This load of work for me represent a more decisive and confidence in my accomplishments. It took me 3 months to finish the collection.

JG: I usually hear of artists taking a year or even more to finish their collections, three months is machine-like! This is a pretty sizeable collection. That’s impressive. Explain your favourite piece in the collection and why?

RB: The childhood memories series is an emotional feeling to create nostalgia and happiness. The “I ” series is exploring and challenging my own creativity. Its not fair to ask me that, but there is one that leaves a strong message about our world, Mother Nature is Crying, the Red Lilies is a statement in moving forward and challenging myself. Of course I love all my little kids playing and not having any worries about life.

JG:How does being a goalie show similarities to your approach to your art?

RB: Being a goalie you train yourself to be focused but aware of your surrounding and every time you play it is a new canvas and a new challenge physically , emotionally and mentally. Meditation and staying within yourself is so important.

JG: I guess being a goalie has given your art an approach of rapid movements and reactions, does that have much to do with how you finish your collections so quickly?

RB: Yes, when you put it that way, that’s a part of the process. I don’t really want to dwell on a piece. I want to feel it in the moment I am doing it. I usually am working on three to four pieces at a time.

JG: One last question. Do any of your old teammates come to the art shows and/or commissioned you to do some art?

RB:My old buddies don’t understand what it’s all about.

JG: Thank you so much for doing this for CanucksCorner, the three main writers on here are all big fans of the Canucks presently and in our youth. I can speak for Bruce and Brian, you played an integral part of our hockey childhood.

RB: I thank you for your support. Cheers. 

Here are some pieces and event shots from Richard Brodeur’s latest collection “The King and I” Solo Art Exhibit.

Photo Credit: Carly Robertson for CC

Showcasing some of Richard Brodeur’s bigger pieces. Picture courtesy of LUVNGRACE ENTERTAINMENT & Georgia Primar

Crowd at the King and I Art Exhibit at the Chali-Rosso Art Gallery. Photo courtesy of LUVNGRACE ENTERTAINMENT & Georgia Primar

Photo Credit: Carly Robertson for CC

Photo Credit: Carly Robertson for CC

Photo Credit: Carly Robertson for CC

As we move forward in our lives, we hope to explore different aspects of ourselves. Richard Brodeur has moved on from the world of professional hockey, but it resonates deeply in his art and in his spirit. He has inspired many young boys and girls to be Canucks fans in the early 1980’s, myself included. Today, I see Richard inspiring many artist to find what is true to them and to evolve but remain true to what drives their work. Thank you Richard, it was my honour.

G. Justine Galo

Richard Brodeur and I posing in front of his childhood hockey paintings. Photo Credit: Dorothy Wong Photography.