A B.C. hockey legend and artist will soon open a new gallery in downtown Parksville, appropriately named Gallery 35.<\/p>\n
Richard Brodeur (No. 35) has been painting professionally for more than 30 years, known in particular for his nostalgic paintings of backyard hockey rinks reminiscent of childhood memories.<\/p>\n
Before he became known as \u201cKing Richard\u201d for his goaltending heroics in the Vancouver Canucks\u2019 underdog run to Stanley Cup Final in 1982, Brodeur had already caught the painting \u201cbug.\u201d<\/p>\n
His early inspiration came from meeting the artist Claude Picher and painting together on Picher\u2019s farm.<\/p>\n
Brodeur learned some of the basics of painting, as well as the importance of finding his own style.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said at one point \u2018stop asking questions\u2019. I\u2019m very nice with way I\u2019m saying that because there\u2019s a few swear along the way. He said, \u2018You know how to paint just find yourself and find the colour of your heart\u2019,\u201d Brodeur said. \u201cIt took me a while, but I understood it\u2019s like, don\u2019t paint like him, don\u2019t paint like the teacher \u2013 paint like yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hockey paintings came later, he said, and he started with landscape, contemporary and a bit of abstract.<\/p>\n
It was during a class at a gallery in Fort Langley, when he was told to paint \u201csomething on ice and snow\u201d that prompted Brodeur to draw on childhood memories of the backyard rink his dad used to make.<\/p>\n
He has sold his famous hockey paintings across Europe, and even to buyers in Asia and Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is childhood memories and for people they remember nowadays the life is so different. There was a more simple time then, right?\u201d Brodeur said. \u201cWe played outdoors. We didn\u2019t have computer, we didn\u2019t have games, we played outdoors. And I think there\u2019s a lot of people through Canada refer to that, \u2018Yeah, I remember it was like that when I was young\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brodeur also paints a lot of more abstract, contemporary pieces. Often they are based on a person he sees, at a pub for instance, and wonders what they are thinking about.<\/p>\n
Gallery 35 will also include a range of art from half a dozen other artists.<\/p>\n
He says the gallery will be full of activity, serving as a venue for lots of events such as classes, paint nights, private functions, exhibitions and artist demonstrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got to stay up to par to what\u2019s going on and make people come in \u2013 and want to come in,\u201d Brodeur said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you have the tourists during the summer, but there\u2019s not only the summer, there\u2019s 12 months right.\u201d<\/p>\n
While he was a professional goalie in the NHL and WHA (World Hockey Association), he kept his love of painting to himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you turn pro it\u2019s not something that you talk about a lot, because I mean you\u2019re a goalie. For them, you\u2019re crazy, right? And then you\u2019re going to tell them you\u2019re an artist on top of that? Yeah, no, I didn\u2019t want the aggravation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept that for myself for many, many years. At the end of my career, guys started knowing it about about me, but not a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brodeur played in all seven seasons of the WHA\u2019s existence. When the league merged with the NHL, he briefly played with the New York Islanders, but soon found himself on the Canucks roster.<\/p>\n
In his second season with the team, the Canucks made their improbable playoff run \u2013 and although they fell short of the Stanley Cup, Brodeur had secured his place in B.C. sports history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat year was kind of special because we weren\u2019t expected to be there. And then we all put it together the last 10 games of the year and we start winning, winning, winning and then we got into the playoff,\u201d he said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t care about anybody else. We\u2019re going to win this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another of his best hockey memories is the genesis of the \u201ctowel power\u201d tradition, which began with Canucks coach Roger Nielson\u2019s frustrated waving of a white towel on a hockey stick in mock surrender, a reaction to the officiating of a game in Chicago during the Campbell Conference Finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was one of my favourite games. Really, we lost, but it was one of my favourite games,\u201d Brodeur said. \u201cWe won the series right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
After years of traveling for his art, he said it\u2019s nice to be able to stay in one place near his son, Dan Brodeur, and paint.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy to be back,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great town and I need quiet in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gallery 35 will open on May 30 at 129 Alberni Hwy.<\/p>\n