aut 5 B10 Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 6, 1990 Who are... Cn ee oe oe ea Matt and Kay: Ehses? | by Betty Barton Matt Ehses is an artisan in his own right. He likes to create ~. things with his hands, as proven by his: skills in woodworking and stained glass. Matt was brought up in the village of Koblenz in Ger- many. There he trained as a pastry chef and worked in hotels and coffee houses throughout Germany. When Matt felt the urge to travel and see the world, he hired on with the M.S. Frankfurt, a luxury oceanliner. For one year, he worked as a pastry chef on this luxury liner and explored ports of call that included Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and India. Last year, afler 36 years away, Matt and Kay returned to Thailand for a holiday. Matt says it has changed unbelievably, but he still has a soft spot in his heart for that part of the world. Matt decided in 1954 to emigrate to North America. Because a guar- antor was needed to get into the United States at that time, Canada seemed like an interesting alterna- _tive. He moved to Vancouver and worked as a baker throughout the city. In 1959, he opened Super- Valu’s first-ever bakery. Matt and Kay Ehses met when Matt adver- tised for a housekeeper for his two children and Kay applied. Kay was | an artist herself and they found they had much in common. - Kay was brought up in Wiscon- sin. She moved to Toronto in 1964 and worked as a graphic artist. She - dabbled in painting and still has a love for art and. music. Matt used to sing. Kay used to play the string -_. bass and has just recently joined the Terrace Community Band after many years of not playing She was greatly influenced by a Zen instructor. in Toronto. Kay says "He got me out of Toronto --and into Zen." - She explains that her. approach to Zen.is her per- sonal life philosophy and a meet: ing with nature. Matt and Kay eventually built a’ house in Ocean Park where Matt had one of two, restaurants. The other was in Surrey. They needed a five-foot-by-10-foot window for -the house. And Matt decided to - pulld it himself. | That was the beginning of their stained glass business. Matt took two courses and Kay designed the window. Finally, after 30 years in ‘the food business, Matt decided he needed a change. In 1977, on very short notice, they “decided to experience the north". The whole family piled into the car, drove up and looked around, When they arrived in § ‘Terrace, they immediately felt at home and stayed. Matt says it was a real adventure for them aii. - Matt got a job building founda- tions. He remembers, "I was used § _ to having seven employees in his J restaurants. I wasn't used to work- aid he § ing — physically.” Matt s ‘sometimes came home so tired that he'thought, "I should be shot. How ‘could. beso crazy?” Matt wasn’t a quitter, though. He'd been used | to hard. work-in his earlier years ' and quickly got back into it. Oe ii Matt worked at other .construc- tion jobs, drywalling, and painting, and he started a small stained glass shop in the evenings. He taught stained glass classes on weekends in Prince Rupert and Kitimat and did steady evening courses here. Matt did special orders, including the ones in the Skeena Mall. He was also the director of Skeena - Youth Works for two years. By then, he had "a little exper- ience at everything”. In the early 1980’s Matt and Kay opened Northern Light Studio and Gallery, where Matt continued to teach Stained glass, Kay did picture framing and they both looked after, their gift shop and gallery. A few years ago, they made the striking addition of their Japanese garden, Kay says, "The garden has taken on a life of its own.” The totems, added last year, are a tran- sition from Canada to Japan. Murphy Stanley and his sons carved both totems. Many of the Japanese symbols closely resemble the art of our northcoast natives. The posts of yellow cedar at the entrance to the gardens are also carved by local native carvers. Each year, the Ehses have made further additions to their gardens including a waterfall, bridge, and pagoda. This year, they are building a new pagoda. The old one is being moved to the back of the woods to be used for shelter from inclement weather and perhaps as a change room for wedding parties who frequent the gardens for photos. Posts of yellow cedar at the exit to Northern Light and the begin- ‘ining of the pathway to the Japan- ese Gardens are carved by local native carvers. The new pagoda will be built with traditional Japanese construc- tion techniques by a friend of the Ehses from Pender Island. Con- struction will: commence this month. Kay explains that they had always talked about a Japanese garden. "Tourists especially are ‘ often so intent on their destination ‘that they don’t take the time to appreciate the nature around them. For many, this may be as close to the natural forest as they get when they visit the area.” Matt and Kay Bhses hope that the Japanese gardens will bring a good feeling to visitors. Kay says, "] want people to have an experi- ence that will calm their day." SLASHBURNING: Good or Bad? Come to the “Women In Timber” meeting on June 12, — at 730 p.m. Northwest Community College Room.2002 and LEARN THE FACTS! | Speaker Sonny Jay, the pros and cons of | SLASHBURNING. RPF, will speak about | Matt and Kay Ehses have established a Terrace institution ‘with their Northam Light shop and gallery and the ever-growing Japanese gardens behind it. _THE SIGN OF A GOOD BUSINESS NEIGHBOR ... THE SIGN OF A MERCHANT WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE... This emblem identifles the civic-minded businessmen, who. sponsor | in the community. ‘Erlinda —.635-6526. | Brenda-Lee — 695-2608 . - Karen. —:638-0707 :: : ‘Katharin — 635-7504". ‘3 a Satone Wig. 7 - — Due to popular — demand we extend -the-whole fresh | Jobster special for the month of JUNE. Whole fresh east coast LOBSTER flown in weekly 7 Look What’s Cookin’. on for your pleasure. Don’t Forget: Dad!. Book now for Father’s Day SPECIALS Whole Fresh Lobster — $19.95 Roasted Wild Boar — $19.95 Stuffed Leg of Lamb Florentine — $14.50 Lobster Crepes Newburg — $14.95 Ask about our Banquet Facilities! We cater in our downstairs location from . 60 - 160 people, MUSIC AND LARGE DANCE FLOOR A SPECIAL FEATURE! ~ For more Information and reservations call: 635.9161 4, Basarian dun Restaurant The’ friendliest “inn townl ‘Moke our place "Your Place” to enjoy an “evening of Intimate dining and reasonable prices! SRS are E we etebes UR net age ‘path DAP ALE SEE ree