Well, we are coming to the end of 2019, and I know everyone is busy with a new season of activities, and getting ready for the holidays.  In looking back at this past year, it’s been very full. I also recognize that I haven’t been active on this blog in the past year.  I seem to have shifted my time for online updates to be more on Instagram and my fb business page.  I invite you to follow me on both those pages, just click on them in that sentence to take you there.

Anyway, I’ll list off some highlights here, and post some selected photos from these below.

• I had a few pieces touring in an exhibition in Germany themed along rivers which had stops at various cities along the rivers there.  
• I participated in a very cool project combining Indigenous land activists and musicians performing at Smithers’ Midsummer Festival in June, and I brought in a recent student to make a collaborative live painting at this event. Also created a crazy hang-gliding sculpture creature for installation above one of the stages at MIdsummer, complete with laser beams.
• I presented at the International Society for Education Through Art World Congress at UBC in Vancouver in July, facilitating some creative workshops, sharing a slide show and paper presentation of my secondary school project “Honouring Our Elders” bringing together youth and elders of Witsuwit’en and non-Indigenous communities.
• I got to host my good friend, artist Phil Irish and his family, up here in NW BC. Phil and I have known each other since we were art school students in the early 90s back at the University of Guelph. It’s great to have ongoing artistic discussions with someone who shares a long-term artistic trajectory!
• participated in the 2nd annual Bulkley Valley Studio Tour, opening up my creative space for curious visitors.
• I was included in the 2nd Annual Skeena Salmon Art Show, held in Terrace & Smithers BC. This is an annual display of all kinds of art related to salmon. As part of this initiative, an image of one of my salmon-inspired paintings was reproduced onto a large sign in Terrace. 
• I also launched a new section of my website to create a safe online encrypted shop to purchase originals and high-quality prints  https://shop.perryrath.com/
• …. and now, it’s holiday season! If you happen to be still trying to figure out what to get for your special someones this year, I have plenty of art options! On my shop site I’m offering 25% off everything until Dec.25 – that’s originals, and reproductions of all kinds (on paper, canvas, metal), cards, books, and now gift cards if you’re not sure what to get. I also have art and cards and reproductions for sale in the Smithers Art Gallery, Stone Moth, & Mountain Eagle Books in Smithers & the Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George if you live in these parts. Or contact me directly for a studio visit too! In any case, please try to buy your loved ones some unique creative items from some artist or artisan you admire. There are so many wonderful artists out in the world!

Thanks for your interest and support of my work!  And we shall see what unfolds for 2020!
On my shop website, you can sign up to be on my mailing list.  I send out periodic emails of updated new work and special offers or giveaways.  They are not too frequent and so you will not feel bombarded! Just go to my shop site to sign up!!

Stay tuned for some future giveaways, so be sure to follow me on Instagram here, and on Facebook here.

And congratulations to Kelly K. of Ottawa Ont. for winning my dozen art cards giveaway last month!

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you enjoy some quality times with people who you love to be with. And if you can add in any ways to help serve your community or better the world, then that’s worth including!

Perry