GALIANO WOMEN & CARS

"Galiano Women & Cars," is a series of black and white portraits, documenting an array of women and their relationships to their automobile. Each portrait symbolizes aspects of island life exposing clues of local community innuendos and historical context. The collection of portraits expose the beauty and complexities of living on Galiano Island during the mid-1990s when times were “simpler”.

In a world where gender stereotypes still pervade many aspects of society, the series challenges conventional notions of femininity and strength. Furthering themes of womanhood, empowerment, and liberation, “Galiano Women & Cars” is a celebration of women from different stages of life.

Ex Mail Car 1995 | Pam

This car is an ex-mail car. It was used to deliver mail in Alberta before Pam scooped it from the auction. Pam remembers “It was always fun parking at The Market. Staff and/or Lony wondered if Postal officials were checking up on the Galiano Post Office.” Which was at the market at the time.

Since this series documents women and their cars, the play on words in the title is ironic. Is it ex -male or ex-mail? Perfect ambiguous gender reference, you don’t know which is the intended use. Vehicles are stereotypically masculine, an extension of the male ego. Typically, women use cars as a means of transport- here to there, reliability, fuel efficiency, and comfort. Pam said that this was her least memorable car, but it was “the most sensible transportation to get kids to school.”

‘59 Chevy Biscayne | Muraco Driving

Melinda’s car was epic! It was a flaming hot red and white, but so cool and majestic. The ‘59 Biscayne takes the classic car design of the late fifties, then pumps it up on steroids. The body is beefier-wider, longer, heavier with a giant front grill, four headlights, and big bat wings on the rear. The Chevy Biscayne is a work of art on wheels, a cult classic; the kind of car that would feature in an epic road film. The car was the perfect vehicle for Melinda and this series, I absolutely had to photograph them.
When I arrived at Melinda’s house to photograph her and her car for the series, she and the kids were having a spa day and doing facials. Even though Melinda had a mud mask caked all over her face, she was super keen to pose for me. The kids wanted to join in on the shoot too. I loved the connections and interactions between them all. I also love Muraco’s pre-teen girl power.
Although Muraco is a pre-teen and not old enough for her driver’s licence in the photo, she is ready to take the wheel and go for it. It’s emblematic of rites of passage, a symbol of independence and moving toward adulthood.

1968 GMC Truck | Eva and Family

Eva’s nephew, Patrick Wilson, reached out to me to ask for a copy of this photo, he said “… this makes me so proud to be from Galiano and be a part of this family, so thank you for taking it...”. He inspired me to revisit “Galiano Women and Cars”.

I stopped at Mary’s house when I saw Eva parked outside; I definitely wanted to include Eva in the series. Since there were several others from the Wilson clan at the house, I asked everyone to join the portrait and gather in and around the truck. It was nothing formal or organized, just life as it evolved. As everyone began to assemble for the portrait, I documented the interactions as they moved into place for the portrait.

In this photo, everyone is in the truck, but no one’s really going anywhere, just hanging together. John-John is sitting out the passenger window. Star, Maria, Randy with baby George, Bobby-Jo, and Derrick are all in the back. Grandma/Mother Mary is walking behind. Eva is front and centre showing Stu the tire. Eva’s superpower is her connection to her family; everyone is related in the photograph.

'56 Imperial | Camille & The Great One

This image is of Camille (my daughter) and her grandmother, Rosemary Georgeson (aka the Great One). Camille is sitting on her Grandfather George’s ‘56 Imperial. I believe it drove Princess Margaret in a parade. George had intended to fix it up to escort his queen, but never managed to finish it. Rosemary is Galiano royalty and her granddaughter, Camille is wearing her “princess dress” from Value Village. Now nearly 30 years later, Camille is an adult, life/the world has changed immensely, yet this photograph seems strangely timeless.

’69 Valiant | Val

As soon as I spotted the ‘69 Valiant in the auction lot, I knew it was the car for me. (I mean c’mon… a slant 6… black with red interior? What wasn’t there to love?) I lucked out and got it for $300.00.
I was rather surprised to find myself so attached to a vehicle, but she served me well with trips to town, going to work and hauling kids around the island.
Life was good as I cruised through my 40’s behind the wheel of my little Black Beauty.

Val Kambeitz

Honda Civic circa 1979 | Melody on Betsy’s car

Melody didn’t have a car, so she walked everywhere. Although Galiano is a lovely place to walk and hike, it’s not an easy place to be without a car. There’s no transit, or taxi’s, no Uber (didn’t exist when I created this series, but there’s still no Uber). But on Galiano, there is an informal ride share service. The good ol’ thumbs out way. But everyone knew Melody, so she didn’t have to hitch a ride much, people would just stop for her.

You can see the exhaustive worry in Melody’s eyes and posture. Many of these challenges still exist today.

Melody was a vibrant, sharp, outspoken, and complex character. And a vital member of the Galiano community. Her insights and wisdom are dearly missed.

At the time of this photo, Galiano was at a turning point in history. MacMillan Bloedell (logging company) had recently put their island lands up for sale; that was over 50% of the island. The community was in tumult. There were worries about change, worries about the unknown, worries that our precious little island was up for grabs… worries that our community was disagreeing and disintegrating.

'73 VW Van | Laurene, Betsy & Melody

A prairie girl by birth, I was blessed with a wise Grandmother who retired to Galiano in the late 60’s. Enamoured with the west coast, my family embarked on the trek to the coast every summer of my childhood. It was the highlight of the year! I felt so at home amongst the cedars, sandstone shores, and the colourful, eclectic, and welcoming community of Galiano.
I bought my camper van in my twenties to travel between university and working summers on the island. Oh, how I loved my van! I savoured the freedom and independence that it offered me: transportation, shelter, and entertainment all in one (first thing I did was buy a decent sound system). I felt powerful, seated high and working the standard steering and 4 speed clutch like a seasoned semi driver. The putta-putta-putta of the engine offered familiar comfort as my van laboured up and down Galiano’s twisty island roads. My van fit in well with the assorted collection of island beaters, other VW vans and classic oldies that graced the island roads. Like life, my van weathered bumps and breakdowns, and I came to rely on the stealth of island mechanics who could fashion parts out of coat hangers and twist ties. For 22 years, my van carried me down all sorts of roads and saw me through good times and bad.

In the photo Donna took, I see my younger self during a bleak winter season… parked outside Burrill Brothers, showing friends a sneak peek of some of the latest Ixchel finds- my van a makeshift warehouse on wheels. I remember I was feeling pretty worn out. Seeing this picture and the weathered Official Community Plan bulletin board circa 1994 subtly captured, reminds me of a somewhat bleak and tumultuous time on the island...But that’s another story!

Laurene Stefanyk

'85 Dodge Colt with a stick shift | Jen & Baby Caelen

Mine from 1988 to 2000 * The Moment Oct. 8,1994 First drive out as a new mom with my sweet son. He's two weeks old here . We'd just parked at the Corner Store. It was actually his due date . He'd share the backseat with two sisters before the turn of the millennium. So many adventures in that little reliable car. Before, during, and after bringing the kids home.

Late in the summer of 2000, she sputtered to a valiant end, climbing up a steep island road. While bringing us home from the beach once again. Her mission most definitely fulfilled.

Jennifer Hughes

1965 Chrysler 300 | Yvonne

My ’65 Chrysler came on Easter weekend, thanks to Brook for finding it along with a big old dog named Shane, abandoned, and left to die. I was thrilled with my Easter presents from the Universe; two oldies that needed a good home. I loved them both. The car was big enough for the whole family, it felt as big as my living room. I loved the freedom it gave me and how fun it was to drive that old classic car.
Special memories: how lucky I felt, I was protected through all kinds of situations. Whether it was losing the breaks on the way home from Saltspring Island with three kids in the back; getting on and off the ferry and maneuvering the hills in first gear ‘til we made it home, safe and sound.
Then I didn’t realize what the big metal plate was that popped through the trunk until the rear end was dragging too low as we boarded the ferry… “oh, leaf springs! Gone?” Along with all the holes in the floor, there was just too much bodywork to repair, even though the engine had been rebuilt and would have kept on going forever. I had to reluctantly retire my big blue beauty. As for Shane, he lived out his days happily ‘til the end, we found him floating in the water hole with a little green frog perched on his back, it was his time to go too.

Yvonne Creamore

F.O.R.D. Ltd | Marg

Marg is sitting in the passenger seat of an old broken-down Ford truck that was left to die in Tom & Marg’s back yard.
Tom and Marg were my neighbours, they rented Harvey Winter’s cabin next door. That’s an important point, because they accumulated dozens of old cars and trucks over the time they lived there. It was really hard to get rid of derelict cars on Galiano back then. If someone asked Tom if they could leave their car to die in his yard, he would oblige.

People used to buy cheap old beaters to drive on the island; the city used to have emissions testing, but the islands did not. Rural communities are much more forgiving and accepting of island beaters. They would literally be driven to the ground, and then to Tom and Marg’s yard.

Volkswagon Love | Glenda

Glenda rescued me in her blue Volkswagen station wagon. One weekend when I was thirteen years old, bored, and hanging with friends in Bellhouse field (now the Lions field). I wanted to ride the horse who lived there, so I brazenly hopped on. The horse didn’t want me, or anyone riding her, so she bolted for the road.
Moments later, Glenda was driving along in her blue Volkswagen station wagon (a previous car, not pictured here) and saw me lying there. She peeled me off the road and took me to find a doctor. Since there were no doctors on the island, Glenda kept driving until we found Charlie Wells and Bob George who took me to the Lady Minto Hospital by sailboat.

Glenda was a strong-minded single mother of two and stopped everything to help me. Thank you, Glenda, for rescuing me. Thankfully, the horse was fine. I, however, have lifelong injuries; my penance for not being respectful of the horse.

Chevy Chevette | Mimi

I asked to photograph Mimi for the Galiano Women and Car series, because she had a big “W” on her driveway gates, and let’s face it, she had a distinctive style. Mimi Wishart was one of those self-sufficient, independent Island women. Her husband had died several years before, so she lived on her own. He had been a photographer, so Mimi offered up all sorts of advice on how I should take care of my gear. Her advice has resonated with me; I often think of her when I clean my lenses.

Yellow Wagon | Patti

I took this photo at night lit by the headlights in a film-noir-ish style at the Pub. Patti and I used to work late nights at the Hummingbird Inn during the summer. Patti affectionately describes those days as “Anguish, and those were the good years!” She went on to say, “I loved our team. So scary. And so fun.”

I really enjoyed working with Patti, she was so insightful and witty. Patti speaks fondly of her Pub days with humour “I always said it was like being a cross between mother and hooker. Gun Smoke and Anne of Green Gables.”

Believe it or not, before she started working at the Pub, Patti had never been in a bar before. Then Berg asked her to be the night bartender. David New watched her work, and told her “you’ll never make it.” In short time, Patti pretty much ran the place.

Patti fondly remembers the time her oldest son, Simon swiped her station wagon while she was at work. The next thing Patti heard, Simon was getting pulled out of the muck by some cheerful bar flies.

Patti Laite & Donna Usher

Green Maverick | Mary

Mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, elder, and matriarch to a large extended family, Mary was a gentle human and humble holder of history, and wisdom. Born as Mary Head, Mary’s lineage spans generations to Galiano’s First People. These relations run deep, deeper than roots, deeper than blood: understanding, acceptance, responsibility, loyalty, and love from time immemorial.

'59 Biscayne | Melinda & Kids

The ‘59 Biscayne takes the classic car design of the late fifties, then pumps it up on steroids. The body is beefier-wider, longer, heavier with a giant front grill, four headlights, and big bat wings on the rear. It’s a work of art on wheels, a cult classic; the kind of car that would feature in an epic road film.

Melinda’s car was epic! It was a flaming hot red and white, but so cool and majestic. The car was the perfect vehicle for Melinda; I absolutely had to include them in the series.

When I arrived at Melinda’s place to photograph her and her car for the series, she and the kids were having a spa day and doing facials. Even though Melinda had a mud mask caked all over her face, she was super keen to pose for me. The kids wanted to join in on the shoot too. I loved the connections and interactions between them.

In the photo, Melinda’s looking like she’s at the end of her fuse, shooting that universal “I mean it” glance to Jesse in the back seat, or is she looking at us? Muraco is looking at her mom laughing, or is she nervous? The window obscures and separates us from them, adding another layer.

Cars can be a wonderful vehicle for family time, to connect while shuttling to soccer practice or lessons, to inspire those heart to heart conversations. There were so many great shots of Melinda and the kids in the car, I included two in the series. Melinda and the kids were so willing to just be themselves together in that big, beautiful car and interact while I photographed them.