“Through the Lens: A Vancouver Doctor’s Journey of Art and Adventure”

On Friday, Jan. 3, Struxness was present at the Second Story Gallery’s art opening for her “Transformation Through Travel” photography exhibition.

The exhibit, which continues until the end of this month, showcases numerous travel photos taken by Struxness, organized by region on the gallery walls. She highlights a picture of an elderly woman peering from her doorway. The individual was confined during the COVID pandemic, Struxness clarifies, and could not exit her residence, yet was cautiously peeking her head outside to disperse birdseed and breadcrumbs for her pigeons.

This photo reveals a glimpse of life in Guatemala that most will never have the opportunity to witness, but capturing portraits doesn’t come easily to the Vancouver physician. Generally, Struxness, who currently works part-time performing robotic surgeries at the Vancouver Clinic and is gearing up for full retirement at the end of this year, does not tend to focus on photographing humans or even animals. Instead, it is the landscapes — the untamed and ever-changing essence of the natural realm — that enthralls her and captures her gaze.

“The group I was with in Nepal requested that I take some portraits of people, but I don’t consider myself skilled in that area,” Struxness mentioned. “I remain more fascinated by landscapes and street scenes.”

The Second Story Gallery exhibition showcases the pinnacle of Struxness’ travel photography, including numerous breathtaking landscape images captured during her journeys to Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Chile, Nepal, and even to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where her mother resides in McMinnville, Oregon, and where Struxness and her husband of 25 years, Les, who manages his family’s century-old farm, cultivate a variety of wine grapes, hazelnuts, and timber trees.