PEPPA MARTIN sees the world through the frame of a photographer’s lens. “I am perpetually hungry to delight the eye,” says the former advertising agency owner. “I needed to step aside from that and pursue my own love of photography that began in the alchemy of the darkroom when I was 15.”
Peppa, now VP of the BC Association of Travel Writers and recently appointed Chair of the Global Chapter of the Association of Women Art Dealers, opened her photo gallery, Truth and Beauty, in Vancouver in 2005. It has been exhibiting international photographers both digitally and in group shows, including Henri Robideau in November, ever since.
“There is so much good work to choose from,” says the innovative gallerist who is continuously travelling, writing, portfolio reviewing, curating and just seeing. “I’m a culture vulture, and I just need to keep shooting, looking and thinking.” Peppa takes one day a week for a photo-shoot field trip in her nearby environs. And she’ll be doing much more of that when she takes a self-designed sabbatical in London in 2020.
MOREEN COBB and MACREE, her Cockapoo companion, spend one afternoon a week at Vancouver’s BC Cancer Agency, visiting patients and staff as volunteers with their Pet Therapy Programme.
“I’m doing this because of the incredible treatment I received at the agency,” says Moreen, a cancer survivor. “I wanted to give back.” She tells of the joyous exchanges between her pet and both patients and administrative staff who invite the connection. Ten volunteer dog-and-owner teams are screened and well-trained, both off and on site, prior to starting their visits.
Since retiring as an educational specialist with the Surrey School Board some years ago, Moreen has also followed a childhood dream of building, decorating and furnishing her own dollhouse.
“It’s an ongoing project,” says the San Francisco native, explaining that she keeps a spreadsheet of all the inventory. “It’s easy to pack a miniature candelabra in Finland, or a tiny clay pot in Mexico, so my friends are all involved in this project.” Moreen further incorporates her home interior design skills by working part time with Estate Property Services, a professional service for seniors and estate executors who are downsizing or moving their loved ones’ homes.
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Reboot is always an inspiring read! Thanks!!