Valerie Arntzen, Assemblage Artist, Vancouver

Owner/Artist Paneficio Studio, Strathcona, Vancouver, Canada

Executive Director, Eastside Culture Crawl

Not many people in mainstream society would be familiar with the term Assemblage Art. A visit with Vancouver's Eastside Strathcona neighbourhood would astonish, astound, and amaze as found objects, odds and ends collected over the years, are assembled with a themed three-dimensional artistic composition. Arntzen's journey to this point in her career as an artist, and Executive Director of Vancouver's Eastside Culture Crawl for more than a decade, demonstrates how naturally this form of artistic expression is to her.

Arntzen's natural talents for pieces, objects, and creating found her pursuing an education and career behind the scenes in film and theatre productions. Attending school in Los Angeles in 1985 to study theatre, Valerie Arntzen was hired by the school upon completion. Working on everything from wigs, make-up, costumes, sets, and props, she also worked for other production companies as well. Growing tired of the LA life, and missing family and friends in Vancouver, Valerie and her husband, Arnt Arntzen, came back to Vancouver where her career in the Arts continued.

The first couple of years, 1988-1990, saw Arntzen working on props and set decoration with amazing and creative people for Vancouver's Theatre scene. As theatre companies started collaborating more with co-productions, the job-market for props people shrank. This saw Arntzen work on Commercials with props, set decoration, and costumes, including live-animal props – if you can imagine!

During one commercial shoot worth note, a herd of cows was brought in for an oil additive commercial. The cowboy who brought the cows explained how to keep the cows corralled without having fencing to keep them penned.

"Just stand in front of them and stick out your arms. They'll think you're a fence and stop," he told them.

Dubious, occasions arose that called for the cowboys bluff to be called. Sure enough, when they stuck their arms out, the cows stopped cold in their tracks. This was one of the most hilarious memories Valerie has from her short time working commercial-shoot sets. From there, she worked many television series for many prime-time programs most of us are familiar.

As Set Decoration Buyer, Valerie Arntzen would buy or rent props and decorations. This required a great deal of research to create the right look for the decorator and designer tasked with creating an environment suitable for shooting the film-footage. They acquired everything, including lights, rugs, furniture, and more. On one X-Files production, Valerie bought the tail section of a 737 and had it shipped to Vancouver from eastern United States. The only props not handled in this role, are the props used and touched directly by the actors; props people took care of that.

Working and researching as Set Decoration Buyer taught Arntzen a great deal about what people use in different countries and cities, particularly for sets calling for period or location sets. Her most enjoyable challenge was creating a room for a character in the script. Very personable, Arntzen expressed her gratitude and enjoyment having worked with her teams, and all the people involved with creating the right look and feel, finding the right objects, and even creating their own, in order to create the correct look for a film-set.

Listening to her explain her career, it is easy to see that her Assemblage Art has been a key component of what she did professionally. Her career, Assemblage, and her close ties to the Vancouver Art scene, Valerie would often be invited over the years to include her art in Gallery shows, and other artist shows. Occasionally, a group of Artists would combine forces and create their own show, and Arntzen often found herself invited as an Artist participant. More often than not, artists combining forces would create a show, get a venue, and display specific works created for the show. Valerie has also worked closely with another very reputable artists, craftsman, and fine woodworker, Arnt Arntzen, her husband.

It was during these collaborative ventures during the early 90's that the Culture Crawl came into being. Valerie's passions, business experience, desire to give back to the community, and see the Vancouver art's community grow and her own dream of being an artist realized, saw her roll up her sleeves and become an instrumental organizer of the Eastside Culture Crawl, volunteering more than half her time.

"I believe volunteering in your community [arts community and the Strathcona, Eastside community] is important and this is where I think my skills are most suited," says Arntzen. "The most important part of the Crawl aside from a fabulous event, is watching the community of artists work together on so many levels to create this festival. The friends and co-workers I have met and enjoyed during the past 11 years has been wonderful." With the increasing levels of success in the arts community, the urge to quit her job to follow her art continued.

Following her last stint in film, Valerie Arntzen retired from her professional occupation to really become who and what she always felt called to be – an Artist.

"It was during my last year with the film industry as a set decorator when I knew I was coming to the end. I wanted to work 3 or 4 months and then take time off. Instead I got a series and spent 8 months on my last assignment," tells Arntzen. "On the last day I was cleaning out my desk and supplies, either giving away or recycling my catalogues and research books, when my boss asked me why I was doing this. When I replied, 'I really am retiring,' it really sunk in that I wouldn't be back."

Leaving one path, one of financial stability and security, to venture upon another uncertain path, with no guaranteed wages on the table, took courage, commitment, and passion. Asked if she ever doubted her choice, Valerie Arntzen replied, "I went on a 3 month trip to Fiji and New Zealand with my husband Arnt. The only time I looked back was on the flight home from New Zealand. I turned to my husband, Arnt, and said, 'Have I made a mistake. I won't have a paycheck anymore for the first time in my life.' Arnt just smiled and said, 'it's okay, we'll be okay.' Ten minutes later I was over the doubt and I have never looked back!"

Landon MacKenzie, a good friend, encouraged Arntzen to get her own studio. Now co-owner and resident of one of Strathcona's recognizable and reputable studios, Paneficio, Valerie has never been happier.

"Between hanging out with Arnt and friends, and organizing the Eastside Culture Crawl, and my own art, I am fulfilled."