Shamsi Ashti

Shamsi Ashti stands for everything her last name represents in her native language, Persian. Ashti means peace, not as in the opposite of war, but as in achieving tranquility and rekindling a friendship. Shamsi, a Richmond resident for over 30 years, spent most of her childhood in a tranquil family garden in northern Tehran, just beneath the majestic hills and range of the Alborz Mountain. Her father, a former high court judge, chose a secluded life for his family to focus on his children’s upbringing. He instilled in them a love for poetry, teaching them to recite verses and encouraged curiosity.

Poetry gave Shamsi a tool to express her feelings and hopes. Her poetry books encompass Shamsi’s reflections on life, interpersonal relationships and her feelings about the turbulent and socially challenging place of women in Iran since the emergence of the Islamic Republic. Besides being a poet, Shamsi is also an accomplished sculptor. Her works of art have been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Gallery and the Golestan Gallery and has also been featured in Doors Open, ArtRich and the Federation of Canadian Artists. She is an active member of Richmond Pottery Club and teaches art classes through the Richmond Art Gallery.

Jenifer Gustavsen

We are thrilled to welcome Jenifer Gustavsen back into the pop up space. Jenifer has been oil painting for the last 2 years. From 1996 to 2006 she worked as a classical animator, which is hand drawn animation. Her film credits include Dreamworks films such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Road to Eldorado, and Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas, as well as the indie film The Triplets of Belleville. Once the animation studios stopped making classically animated films, Jenifer left the industry and returned to University and earned a master’s degree in archaeology majoring in art from a variety of cultures. Her studies focused on research into the brain’s response to making realistic art that drove her directly to trying her hand at oil painting.

Each month the SHS features different artists. Come by to view this amazing work. A portion of all sales supports the work of the Steveston Historical Society.