Artist Collections: MERLE SOMERVILLE

Renowned BC artist, Merle Somerville, has entitled this collection “Woodstock on Wheels”. These images are reflective of the Festival Express - a chartered Canadian National Railway train consisting of 14 cars in which many of the Woodstock performers, including Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead, traveled; the Festival Express journeyed with the performers across Canada stopping in Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary and become a continuation of non-stop jam sessions and partying.The train was dubbed "Woodstock on Wheels” and in many ways was better than the formal Woodstock festival, according to the performers. Somerville has chosen the last stop in Calgary for his imagery, and captures the essence of everyone who was anybody in the days of Rock’n Roll during the late 60’s and 1970.

Merle's artwork has been exhibited in Galleries, published in magazines and enjoyed by many private and corporate clients.  In 2014, he was honoured to become one of fifteen Professional Photographers in Canada to achieve both his Canadian and American Masters in Photography.

"I believe the art of photography is in seeing the image. The love of photography has allowed me to travel the continent photographing people and places of interest….life is good"