René Farwig’s name has been synonymous with skiing in the Rockies, South America and Europe, and now his name as a painter is moving front-and-centre.
During his 40-plus years in the ski industry, Farwig, who was born in Spain, grew up in Germany, moved to Bolivia, represented Bolivia on the World Cup circuit and at two Winter Olympics, served as general manager at Nakiska and Marmot Basin and as base area manager at Sunshine Village, to name just a few of his accomplishments.
During all of that, Farwig painted.
“I was pretty good in school,” he said Monday (April 22), “but it was mostly when you’re involved in ski areas, skiing, guiding and helicopter skiing and all of that, the time that you go drinking or do something else. I ended up painting and sketching.”
He described his passion as a long-standing hobby and as a result he often gave his paintings away to people he met while working or to non-profit organizations to use in fundraisers.
Farwig has also had his work in galleries and group shows, but next weekend (May 3-4) the Banff Boutique Inn will host Farwig’s first solo show, along with two artist receptions from 6-9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday (May 3 and 4) and an artist demo on May 4 from 1-3 p.m.
Lee O’Donnell, owner of the Banff Boutique Inn, said he wanted to host Farwig and his work at the inn as part of his goal to build an artist-in-residence program.
“My experience with art comes largely out of operating Num-Ti-Jah Lodge for about 10 years and from having a flourishing artist-in-residence program,” O’Donnell said Tuesday (April 23).
“We started putting the word out to artists and started having artists coming up there and having amazing group shows and I really discovered a passion for art. But because my passion for art was discovered really through the relationship with the artists and less about the art on the wall, I find just seeing a piece of art on the wall is perhaps less fulfilling.”
As a result, O’Donnell said he wants to create a venue for other art lovers to have an opportunity to build relationships with artists, as well.
O’Donnell said he chose to host Farwig for his background, his art and the simple fact that he’s “unpretentious and accessible.”
“He’s really grounded and he gives a lot. He’s got an awesome attitude that just carries him through,” O’Donnell said.
The festivities throughout the weekend are open to everyone, not just guests staying at the inn, O’Donnell said, adding the door is open throughout the day.
The exhibition will include 20 Rocky Mountain landscape paintings, all of which both Farwig and O’Donnell want to be affordable in keeping with Farwig’s philosophies – not expensive, simple and relaxing to produce.
“Because it was a business, painting or sketching the beautiful place you live in, we have a tendency to do business so much we lose sight of everything else,” said Farwig.
“So painting gave me the out. I remember everybody would worry about traffic flow and every 18 seconds a car would arrive with two people and parking. How do we park all those cars…” Farwig said.
“What I’m trying to say is it has nothing to do with money or real estate; the mountains will talk to anybody and it is a wonderful thing having the national park here and that we have these ski areas. It’s the wonderful Canadian Rockies; the landscape and the friends I made in the ski industry worldwide has been terrific,” Farwig said.
