In this, our third and graduating year, we created the Vancouver 2004 calendar. As artists, I hope that all of you will find something of interest in this unique look at our beautiful city, as seen through the eyes of student painters.

A three-year intensive program, IDEA aims to develop and prepare students as visual communicators in today's marketplace. Past graduates have gone on to successful careers in advertising, editorial design, marketing, packaging design, painting and illustration. Exposure to design professionals, and a dual focus on both digital and traditional skills are emphasized in the IDEA program to ensure students learn as much as possible about all aspects of visual communications before deciding on their specific career path.

The Vancouver 2004 calendar is our most recent fundraising effort. Throughout the program, IDEA students are expected to raise funds for our Graduation Show, held in April of our final year. The show officially introduces us to the design industry as 'professionals', and serves as our first step towards a career.

Further fundraising is required for an educational trip to New York City in the last semester of our graduating year. The trip exposes students to world-class designers and illustrators and gives them the opportunity to visit leading design firms, galleries and museums. This trip is an integral part of the graduating year in the IDEA program and without assistance and fundraising, rising tuition expenses can put this portion of the program financially out of reach for many of us.

As a major part of our continual fundraising effort, the graduating class of 2004 has designed and produced the Vancouver 2004 calendar. The artwork in the calendar offers a distinctive vision of Vancouver as interpreted though student paintings. Each student chose a Vancouver scene and rendered it in the style of a painter who was working or studying in 1904, a time of great change and exploration not unlike our own. The students then collaborated on the design and layout of the calendar, holding a competition for the best designs.

On December 5th-7th, Harrison Galleries will host a show of the 22 paintings, 14 of which were used in the calendar. All paintings are oil on canvas, 24" x 30", and were framed at OPUS. If you are interested in purchasing one of the original paintings, please contact us via email at calendars@idea.capcollege.bc.ca

All proceeds from the sale of the calendars and paintings will go directly to the IDEA program at Capilano College in support of our fundraising efforts. Calendars are $14.99 each.

This is a worthwhile cause and truly a worthwhile investment, ideal for Christmas presents or even as a personal reminder of what a beautiful part of the world we live in. Please visit the North Vancouver or Granville Island Opus locations to take a closer look at Vancouver 2004 and to support your local student artists and designers.

Contributed by Kate Gilbert
IDEA Program Third-Year Student
calendar@idea.capcollege.bc.ca