art of the peace | issue #4
DESCRIPTION
Jim Stokes: The Universe in a Blade of Grass Jewellery as Art Iconography: Why do you keep doing that? A Matter of PerspectiveTRANSCRIPT
contents
Editor: Jody Farrell
Editorial Commitee: Trenton Perrott, Karen Longmate, Dale
Syrota
Design, Layout & Advertising: Image Design
Contributors: Jody Farrell, Susan Thompson, Sarah Alford
Publisher: Art of the Peace Visual Arts Assoc., c/o The Prairie
Art Gallery, 10209 99 St., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 2H3;
Ph: (780) 532-8111; [email protected]
Printing: Menzies Printers
Cover painting ‘Fields and Sky’, Jim Stokes. Inset, video still, ‘Jim Stokes’ DVD, by
Steve Burger
Art of the Peace Visual Arts Association acknowledges the financial assistance of:
City of Grande Prairie Arts Development Fund Peace Region Economic Development Association
A Matter of Perspective
Artists who work intuitivelysay they’re merely putting anobsessive thought or idea intothe physical world. Thosewho’ve had little formal educa-tion and schooled types alikeoften appear surprised that anaudience “gets it.” That theaudience may actually find rel-evance other than what theartist intended is sometimesoverwhelming. And that wemight find salvation in theartist’s perspective is, well,bordering on the uncomfort-able.
We’ve said it before in thesepages: The world is ready tolisten to the artist. That voicethat for so long has appearedout of sync with the fast-pacedreality we’ve produced is oneof the few we’ll look to foranswers in the years to come.Why? Because the artist hasspent time exploring what therest of the world has not: Theuniverse within.
Scientists too, are beginning totake a second look at theoriesthey’ve applied to the exteriorworld, and recognize their mas-sive potential when applied tothe individual. Physicists in thenewly-released film ‘What theBleep Do We Know’ addresspossibilities the artist dealswith daily. What with the cur-rent state of world politics, theeconomy, and terrorism on ourvery roads as well as abroad,the notion that by merelychanging our perspective, wemight create a new reality, issounding better all the time.
It’s perhaps presumptuous toassume artists intend anything.But, wittingly or otherwise,they offer a different perspec-tive. And they appear to be hit-ting on something that evenscientists are suggesting mightsave us.
Jody Farrell, Editor
art out there . . . 4
C.H.I.C.K.S. Of The North 7
Jewellery As Art 8
The Business Of Art 10
Iconography: Why Do You Keep Doing That? 12
Jim Stokes: The Universe In A Blade Of Grass 14
Artist Profiles: Three Peace River Artists 18
artists directory 19education & opportunities 22where it’s all at 23
Light Drawings: Stories Of Light 26
©All rights reserved Art of the
Peace 2005
Reproduction in whole or in part is
strictly prohibited.
Art of the Peace makes every
effort to ensure the accuracy of
the information it publishes, but
cannot be held responsible for
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errors or omissions.
art of the peace 3
National Recognition
Grande Prairie watercolourartist Dale Syrota has been
accepted into the CanadianSociety of Painters inWatercolour. Selectionrequires that a portfolio be sub-mitted and juried. One ofSyrota’s works was chosen forthe national society’sPermanent Collection, and shewill participate in its nationalexhibitions.
What’s Tim Doing Now?
In the Spring 2004 issue ofArt of the Peace we featured
Tim Heimdal’s artwork, includ-ing his spectacular murals. Heis currently painting a series ofmurals at the Grande PrairieMuseum as part of its expan-sion and renovation. The newlook of the museum will beunveiled on May 1, 2005, buthere, (left), is a little preview.
Series, Seriously!
Yes, it’s official. August 1stto 5th, 2005, the Grande
Prairie Regional College willhost a series of artist work-shops based on the popularweek-long ones that happenannually in Red Deer.Landscape artist DaleKirschenman, bronze casterPaul Leathers, fabric artist LynPflueger, are just a few of theinstructors offering courses. Toregister, pick up a form at eitherthe GPRC Fine ArtsDepartment or The Prairie ArtGallery. Series information canbe accessed online athttp:extension.rdc.ab.ca, or bycalling toll free, 1-888-886-2787.
Also that week, you’re invitedto participate in a Plein Airnon-instructional painting pro-gram. So far, the plan is togather daily at a to-be-deter-mined Beaverlodge area loca-tion, with Edmonton landscapeartist Sophia Podryhula-Shawfor self-directed painting orsketching. The cost is $175 forthose who require GPRC
accommodations, but only $25for those who are coming fromthe area. For more details, con-tact Sophia at 780-462-2555, orpick up a Series brochure aslisted above.
Road Trip
The Prairie Art Gallery ishitting the road to Peace
River to meet its artists. Theplan is to take a busload ofinterested arts enthusiaststhrough Fairview and PeaceRiver. So far, the day-long touris scheduled for June 11, 2005.Please contact Jennie Biltek atThe Prairie Art Gallery at (780)532-8111 for more informationand to register.
art of the peace 4
art out there . . .
Dale Kirschenman, ‘Fields #2,’ acrylic.
‘Maligne Lake,’ Dale Syrota
Mural Site
Check out thewebsite for
updates on the col-laborative muralproject that is part ofthe AlbertaC e n t e n n i a lCelebration. ArtistsPhil Alain and LewisLavoie, along withmany Peace Area artists are featured in the 336-painting mural.Visit the mural, to be unveiled in Ottawa on May 7th, atwww.muralmosaic.com.
The ‘White on White’ exhibition (clockwise from above right); Doug Wills’ art history powerpoint;
silver gelatin photograph by Brenda Mansfield all added to the production of ‘Art’, the play.
TREX Exhibition
Robert Guest, (featured in‘Iconography’ page 12),
has been a godsend to aspiringartists throughout the PeaceRegion. Recently, he led hishometown group,The Grande CacheW a t e r c o l o u rSociety, through therigours of preparingfor a curated exhi-bition. AlbertaFoundation for theArts TravellingExhibition (TREX) will circu-late selected works of theseartists throughout the regionand province over the next twoyears in its exhibition ‘Out onthe Mountain, Deep in theWoods’. TREX is a provincial-ly-sponsored program thatsends original art and educationpackages into rural communi-ties. For more informationabout this travelling exhibitionand other TREX opportunities,contact Sue at The Prairie ArtGallery, at 780-532-8111.
AOTP Symposium
The Art of the Peace sympo-sium last October was as
successful as ever. ArtistsLyndal Osborne, Peter vonTiesenhausen, and Jack
Burman spoke of their work toa sell-out audience of 75 at ThePrairie Art Gallery. Art of thePeace became an official socie-ty, which will allow for grantapplications to further its man-date to connect and developPeace Region artists. Plans areunderway for the Third AnnualArt of the Peace Symposium, tobe held October, 2005, inDawson Creek. For more infor-mation, contact Ellen at TheDawson Creek Art Gallery, at250-782-2601.
McNaught Celebration
Preparations for the ThirdAnnual Euphemia
McNaught Visual ArtsCelebration are well underway.This year, because of summerconstruction, The PrairieGallery arts festival will hap-pen alongside The StreetPerformers Festival on 100Avenue. We’re looking forartists to weigh in here withtheir talent, and invite them tocreate a visual presencethroughout the city and down-town! Several projects areunderway to illustrate thisyear’s theme for the July 22-24weekend arts party.
Our slogan is ‘Come Sit WithArt,’ a theme that ties into ThePrairie Gallery’s summer exhi-bitions, ‘FurnArture’, and‘Play By Design’. We’re look-ing for one-of-a-kind ‘Chair’designs to be built and put outin the community in the monthprior to the festival.
We’ve scheduled workbees toget together and build massivechairs, and invite you to createyour own invention. Maybeyou’ve got an idea for the chairthat belongs in the library, thecity hall, or the local pawnshop! We’ve also got chairsready-made for those of youjust wanting to decorate. CallJennie at The Prairie ArtGallery, at (780) 532-8111 formore information.
Artists, Everywhere…
February, 2005, marked aparticularly gruelling
month for artists everywhere,as fundraisers drew largely ontheir talent. There was HIVNorth Society’s production ofVagina Monologues, with its
accompanying exhibition offemale genitalia as paintings,photographs, and mixed mediaworks… Another couple ofevenings in Grande Prairie and
Falher had artists painting to jazz music to raise funds forthis area’s Francophone cen-tre… And a fundraiser for ruralhealth centres in Nepal raised$29,000 from its auction ofpaintings by area artists…
art of the Peace 5
‘ART’ The Play Celebration
The Yasmina Reza play ‘Art’, which celebrated The Prairie ArtGallery’s 30th Anniversary, drew rave reviews during its stint
at Second Street Theatre in Grande Prairie. The production owedits success in part, to not only the 30 local artists with its ‘Whiteon White’ exhibition (some of the proceeds from the silent art auc-tion went toward The Prairie Gallery’s education program), but toSteve Burger’s wonderful opening credit video; Tim Heimdal’seditorial cartoons of actors and crew; and Doug Wills’ incrediblyfunny, and SHORT powerpoint pre-play feature ‘A Very BriefHistory of Art’.
Your Comments Please
What do you think of the Art of the Peace magazine and web-site? Please let us know online at www.artofthepeace.ca on
the ‘Comments’ page.
October 2004 AOTP symposium
‘Orgasm’, Wendy Stephansson
Matt Regan paints to jazz music
art of the Peace 6
‘The C.H.I.C.K.S. of theNorth’, reports one
member, "is like an AA groupthat meets at the pub over mar-tinis. Except that it's art notalcohol, and we don't ever wantto quit."
It was the Prairie NorthCreative Residency 2004, at the
Grande Prairie RegionalCollege, that provided incuba-tion for ‘C.H.I.C.K.S.’ TheGPRC residency attracts artistsnationwide and is a rarefiedenvironment, full of ideas, dis-cussions, and time. Two weeksin the studio are interruptedonly by catered meals, discus-sions, slide shows, critiquesand an essential field trip to theRolla pub. When Prairie Northwrapped up last May, and theplanes were boarded, localartists Sarah Alford, DonnaBarrett, Lena Gilje, Ruth
Heijne, Tina Martel, CathyStafford, Barbara Swail, andFay Yakemchuk didn't want itto end. They decided to keepmeeting every few months inorder to provide each otherwith constructive critiques andsolid support.
‘C.H.I.C.K.S.’ was hatched.The work in their upcomingexhibition (September 9th toOctober 16th at the Prairie ArtGallery) addresses the balanceone must strike between one'slife as an artist and the workone must do outside that life tosustain the former. Their workincludes painting, sculpture,photography, and installation.Each of these artists is highlyaccomplished and some haveexhibited nationally and inter-nationally.
However, between the eight ofthem, they hold eleven extrajobs. While they may notreveal how they do it in thisexhibition, they will show yousome profound reflections onthe relationships and environ-ments that both sustain andcompromise their art practice,often simultaneously.
As for why they call them-selves ‘C.H.I.C.K.S. of theNorth’, that same artist with themartini analogy offers thisinsight: "Well, we've neverreally delved into why we callourselves C.H.I.C.K.S, and Ican only speak for myself, but,really, if we took ourselves asseriously as we take our artpractice, we'd be insufferable!So, we're the C.H.I.C.K.S!"
art of the Peace 7
‘Cross’ Tina Martel
C.H.I.C.K.S. of the Northby Sarah Alford
Three Peace Region artists share their love of metal.
Joyce Lee, is a self-described collector, dreamer and designerliving on a 160-acre ranch north of Dawson Creek; a world she
describes as "filled with the potential for design." Lee considersher pieces as part of a cycle in which the illuminated world isuncovered and shared.
"Stones are captured energy, created by the earth over millions ofyears, brought to light so that I may use my hands and wire to sup-port and embrace them. A stone may be cold as you pick it up, butas you hold it against your skin and give it your heat, it then holdsand returns it".
Lee sees beauty everywhere, and jewellery is her vehicle for hon-ouring, and participating in, beauty's pleasure. "Beauty is beauty,whether on a gallery wall, in a song, in the sky, or in a finished cre-ation gleaming in my hand."
For Heather Forbes, the process of making jewellery is much likethe process of living a valiant life. "My favourite pieces began as'mistakes;' they didn't turn out as I had planned. When that hap-pens, you allow yourself to experiment and play with what youhave. You and the piece evolve; you learn how to work together.It can never be replicated."
Her introduction to jewellery was a workshop led by Edmontonartist Karen Cantine. "I was just Scottish enough that when theworkshop was over, I had to go back and make something with thescrap silver." Forbes' jewellery bench now sits behind the count-er of her store, Forbes and Friends, in Grande Prairie. There’s aroom in the back for the very messy jewellery procedures. "Silveris actually a dirty metal to work with," she smiles, "but when youfine tune it… buffing, finishing… it becomes a sensual, magicalexperience. It's a transformation."
NeKo discovered jewellery-making while attending the AlbertaCollege of Art in the 1970s. He had intended to study painting,but found himself lured by the technical challenges posed by thenewly-formed jewellery program. Since then, the Grande Prairieresident has made jewellery that expresses his generosity andrefined sense of design with delicacy, humour, and virtuosity.Sadly, NeKo recently developed an allergy to metal. After all thatfiling, sanding, piercing and torching, the metal has begun to biteback. While this is quite a blow to both NeKo and the jewellerycommunity, he welcomes it as an opportunity. NeKo's work dis-plays such discipline and creativity, it is certain that he will suc-ceed in whatever he chooses to do next, be it landscaping, stainedglass, or his first love, watercolour. "Leap," says NeKo, "and thenet will appear."
art of the Peace 8
JEWELLERY as art
Joyce L
ee
Heath
er
Forb
es
NeK
o
by Sarah Alford
Jewellers that work withmetal have a dizzying array
of tools that include chemicals,torches, big greasy machineswith spinning wheels, and sawframes with blades as thick as ahair. Jewellers work with pick-le, flux and liver of sulphur.They burn out, stretch, sink,rouge, vulcanize, and invest.Just what are these jewellersdoing? In most cases, they arerearranging the molecules ofmetal, either by heating it witha torch, annealing; subtractingthe metal by filing, sawing, orpiercing; joining it together bysoldering, fusing, setting or riv-eting; or hammering the metal,to create marks or to push the
metal into shapes like bowls orblades. For that, a jewellerneeds a small torch, a warmacid bath for cleaning surfaceoxidation and flux (the pickle),a jeweller's saw frame, blades,files, drill bits, emery papers,hammers, stakes, solder, a flex-ible shaft, a polishing motor;and each of these needs a myr-iad of blades, heads, gas, acids,buffs, and polishing com-pounds. However, it is possibleto supply an inexpensive, safeworkshop with everything oneneeds to begin cutting, solder-ing, and finishing.
An excellent resource for prac-tical tips and suppliers isCharles Lewton-Brain's book‘Cheap Thrills In TheToolshop,’ and the educationalwebsite www.ganoksin.com.I also recommend TimMcCreight's ‘The CompleteMetalsmith,’ a handbook ofbasic techniques. As well, keepin mind that the word 'jew-ellery' has never been a syn-onym for metal. The mostwonderful, modern jewellery,now in museums, has beenmade from such materials aspaper, monofilament, laminat-ed flower petals, painted tin,and recycled stop signs.Jewellery is an intimate andpowerful canvas for social andpersonal commentary. Yourtools are endless.
Sarah Alford studied jewellery at NovaScotia School of Art and Design. Sherecently had an exhibition entitled“Haute Glue,” at The Prairie ArtGallery, in which she turned that ever-maligned-but-essential artist tool, hotglue, into such luminous adornmentsas crowns, brooches, and medievaltapestry. Alford lives in Demmitt,Alberta.
art of the Peace 9
the artboxTools for Jewellery
by Sarah Alford
art of the Peace 10
The Art of the Peace region-al visual arts initiative got
its start in January of 2003when a number of like-minded"art" people from GrandePrairie gathered to "talk shop."The agenda focused on busi-ness-related topics such as artsales, marketing, promotion,professional development, net-working, and education. Bysummer 2003, a plan waslaunched to publish a regionalvisual arts magazine and bringtogether artists in the form of asymposium. In October of2003, over 70 regional artistsattended a weekend eventwhere the Art of the Peacemagazine was christened.Canadian painters Ted Godwin,Tessa Nunn and Tina Martelentertained, enlightened andeducated participants about the‘real’ world of art as they sawit.
Also presenting that weekendwas Nicole McMullan, fromthe Peace Region EconomicDevelopment Alliance(PREDA). As a major sponsorof the regional symposium,entitled ‘Painting the BigPicture’, PREDA’s goals wereoutlined, as was its interest inmarketing regional productsunder a new promotional initia-tive called ‘Branding thePeace’. McMullan spoke of aunique base of artists in thePeace Region that would bene-fit from both recognition andeffective promotion and devel-opment. Artists Peter vonTiesenhausen and Brian Jungenhave proven that the PeaceCountry can produce nationaland international caliber pro-fessionals. With other accom-plished artists such as Jim
Stokes and Robert Guestpaving the way for new andyoung artists, the potential isgreat.
Under a regional marketingplan, there is great interest indefining and packaging the keyselling points of the PeaceCountry. Cultural industriesmore often than not are consid-ered to be ‘cultural’ and not‘economic’. Whether it'sattracting professionals or busi-ness to the region, it is wellunderstood that quality of lifeis one of the most importantfactors in convincing individu-als to relocate. Next to health-care and education, arts andculture go hand in hand withsport and recreation towardbuilding the important factor ofquality of life in economicdevelopment terms.
In current marketing terms,"branding" is the name of thegame. With the financial andconsultative support of theregional Branding the Peaceinitiative and the Peace RegionEconomic DevelopmentAlliance, the Art of the PeaceVisual Arts Society is develop-ing a special brand for PeaceCountry artists. Through thepublication of the magazine,websites, symposiums andother development and market-ing activities, Peace Countryartists will continue to growand prosper while contributingto our community and econo-my.
The Art of the Peace Visual ArtsAssociation appreciates the financialsupport of PREDA in the production ofthe magazine, website and annual sym-posium. Visit PREDA online atwww.peacecountrycanada.com
The BUSINESS of Artby Trenton Perrott
art of the Peace 11
Vicki Hotte’s cow paintingsstemmed from her desire tocontinue her art once she’dreturned to her Beaverlodgearea ranch from a University ofVictoria arts program. “Weraised cows, so I’m used tothem. I know the way they lookin any position, the shape theytake. I recognize them as awhole, and as individuals.”
Her first images dealt withthese sensitivities to the ani-mals. They were automaticsketches, not planned.Gradually, she explains, hercows took on the meaning ofthe continuum of life. ”They’reso…cowlike. Placid. Fat. So“there”. I imagine that even10,000 years ago, they lookedthe same lying down as they dotoday. They have been aroundso long they’ve become part ofthe earth.”
Hotte began adding washes tothe background for a little“atmosphere.” These were pur-posely nebulous: they were nei-ther pasture nor fixed location,but rather a sense of air move-ment or dust. Later, the cowsadopted something of aBiblical reference. One of theHottes’ herds was skinny bynature, and got Vicki thinkingabout the Pharaoh’s dream of
thin cows that came out of theriver and ate the fat ones. Shedeveloped water-like back-ground washes, which eventu-ally doubled as skies. “The skybecame the universe, with thecow as part of that universe.”
The recent sale of the farm andmove into Grande Prairie hasHotte working the cow imageas more of a pattern, or motif. Amemory. She’s done cows inclay, and lately, has begun carv-ing a cow design out of plexi-
glass. The plastic medium’stransparent nature gives adreamlike, skylike quality tothe animal. “They’re a personalsymbol; my mark,” Hotteexplains.
Robert Guest’s recent exhibi-tion at The Prairie Art Galleryentitled ‘Symbols in theLandscape,’ featuredInukshuk-style markers theartist encountered while work-ing in isolated lookout towersfor Alberta Forest Service. Hislandscapes, done first as water-colours or drawings, not photo-
graphs, capture the incredibledetail of the changing weatherand surfaces of mountainranges few of us will ever see.
He is fascinated with symbolshe finds in nature, includingfull moons, Indian tipis, andforest fires. These too, fre-quently appear in his work.“Most people relate to objectson a symbolic level,” Guestsays. “To me, symbols in thenatural world stand for ideasand suggest stories or adven-
ture apart from the literal. Theyadd to the mystery. His painting‘Third Marker Along AdamsRidge,’ shows a structure madeto look like a traditional NativeInukshuk, located within threemiles of the North border ofWilmore Wilderness Park, nearGrande Cache. Guest figuresmarkers like this one wereprobably built after 1950 todirect the traveller across aridge. It can get foggy in thesehigher peaks, and people getlost or disoriented. Hunters andhikers follow the markerswhose sequence eventuallybrings them to a road.
art of the peace 12
Iconography: Why Do You Keep Doing That?by Jody Farrell
ico·nog·ra·phy n. theimagery or symbolismof an artist or body ofart
Vicki Hotte, (above right), ‘7 Bulls, Leaving,’
acrylic and ink. Jocelyn Morgan, (below), spiral
bracelet and earrings.
art of the Peace 13
Unfortunately, that third mark-er was toppled sometime lastspring by what Guest figuresmust have been lightning. Itsprecariously high domain left itopen to such forces of nature.The large pile of rubble thatremains pays homage to imper-manence and change.
“They talk,” Guest says of theInukshuks. “The wind woundthrough (third marker), sifting amusical sound. In hot weather,mosquitoes gathered behind it,making a loud hum. They did-n’t bite though. Maybe they’rejust partying.”
“The marker directs your atten-tion upward. It also casts anodd shadow. Like a person. Acompanion in what is otherwisea world of rock and fog.”
It’s hard for Grande Prairiejewellery artist Jocelyn Morganto pinpoint exactly when shebegan incorporating the spiralinto her work. It was definitelythere in her days at Emily CarrCollege in Vancouver in the1980s. “But I’d travelled a lottoo, and was always drawn tosymbolism,” she recalls.
Morgan, whose father is a con-sultant for oil companies, spentearly years abroad. Repeatedpatterns she encountered inAfrica, the Middle East, andlater, Ireland, influenced hercreative style. The spiral, inparticular, found its way intoMorgan’s world, its layers ofmeaning winding themselvesinto her everyday habits. Shecredits “working” the spiral forgetting her through some verytough times.
“That idea of a swirl that startsin the middle and moves out-ward can be seen as doing twothings. It can represent aninward and downward, orupward and open, flow of ener-gy,” Morgan explains.
A person facing hardships sointense as to feel on the vergeof implosion might envision aspiral of bodily energy drawingitself inward and down. But it
can, with conscious effort, beworked in the opposite direc-tion. Morgan finds that, workedinwardly, the spiral gets small-er, invisible, perhaps finite,where, worked outwardly, itwould appear to have no end.The possibilities in directingthat energy outward would belimitless. Years of consciouslyworking the spiral is not onlyvisible in her art, but has trans-formed Morgan into a sought-after yoga practitioner.
“I love the more whimsical spi-ral, too,” Morgan says of herchosen icon. “The whirlingdervish; the fern we find innature; the swirl in the ocean,and its shells. I love all of thoseimages.”
Paula Fiorini’s obsession withbears began with, of all things,her travels on board ships. Theceramic artist, now living inWhitelaw, near Fairview, spentmany childhood years sailingbetween Montreal and SouthHampton with her travel-bugparents. “I came to know a lotof the crew. You would standon deck and look at the wash,
and all that green foam.”Fiorini suspects that thesemisty water wonderlands,along with shipmates’ tales ofspotting the elusive “polar bear
on the iceberg,” infused herwith a lifelong passion for theanimal.
“I see so much fluidity, human-ity in the bear,” she explains.“People ascribe things to them,like left-handedness. Theirform, their wholebeing, speaks topeople.”
Her ceramic rakubears allowed fora hollow inside,a feature Fiorinifinds as impor-tant as the sculp-ture’s visibleexterior. “I’mfascinated bythat universewithin.”
Fiorini also holds the creatoraccountable for a work’s per-manence or durability. “Ifyou’re going to make things,you have to take responsibilityfor them. If the world shifts,they have to have what it takesto survive.”
This sense of duty for one’screations, along with a certain
character in author PhilipPullman’s novel ‘The GoldenCompass’ influenced Fiorini’sdecision to take up welding.
“I was sculpting bears, usingdifferent glazes, trying alwaysto make them bigger. In orderto make them as big as I’d like,I had to make them solid. Theywere too heavy though. Notright.” Somehow, the resultingclunkiness no longer gave thatfluid quality that, for Fiorini, isthe essence of the bear.
‘The Golden Compass’ bearwore armour. Fiorini identifiedstrongly with this character,and began toying with thenotion of incorporating metalprotection into her bears. Thearmour parts of her workswould be welded together; thevisible “bear” parts would beraku ceramics. The combina-tion would meet her desire toincrease its scale, while bothkeeping the animal fluid-look-ing and giving it that addeddurability should somethingshift in the atmosphere.
Fiorini is still getting proficientat welding. And the bigarmoured bear? It presents thekind of challenge that keeps herawake at night. She’s sketchingplans and thinking it allthrough.
“It’s all in my head, baby,” saysa determined Fiorini.
Robert Guest, ‘Third Marker Along Adams Ridge’. Below right, Paula Fiorini’s raku polar bear.
Jim Stokes is excited. He’smotoring around his garage-turned-studio, extolling thegenius of a recently acquiredremote for his dust collector. Itallows him to work away onone of his numerous do-it-
yourself projects, and, insteadof constantly having to crossthe floor to flick the switch thatclears the air, he uses theremote, and continues on,drilling, or sawing, or sandinghis work. And move along hedoes. He apologizes for whathe calls a mess, but it’s clearthere’s a method happeninghere amidst the racks and racksof half-finished canvasses,homemade printing presses andframing supports.“It’s out of necessity,” Stokessays with a wave to the wooden
lengths, some bought, somefound or recycled. “I’m not bynature a good framer.”
I’ve no doubt that by this word,necessity, Stokes is referring, inpart, to the grating reality thatart doesn’t pay. Not well, atleast. And that’s not because heisn’t well-known. He’s repre-sented in Waterton, Calgary,and Edmonton, where, accord-ing to Marianne Scott, owner ofScott Gallery, Stokes’ recentsolo show “left people clam-ouring for more.”
Stokes is also among thosebrave few for whom art is adaily job. He’s finding it a littleeasier these days, as his parallelrole of stay-at-home-Dad hasgraduated from toilet traininginto taxi duty. But he keepssuch a clipping pace, what withhis painting, printmaking,framing, photographing, andever-evolving knowledge ofcomputers, one gets the notion
that his term“necessity” alsoinfers an over-abundant needto keep busy.
My surprise atsuch energy inan artist catchesme offguard.Stokes’ workreads relaxed,while his per-sonality is any-thing but. Ibegin to realizethat Jim Stokes,the person, iss u b s t a n t i a l l ydifferent thanthe solitary,reflective type I
imagined back in 1991 when Ifirst moved to Grande Prairieand encountered his land-scapes.
The marks Jim Stokes makeson canvas eminate a quiet senseof clarity. The wide-cut expans-es of prairie he’s renown for areso fresh, so clearly meditative,it’s easy to imagine they’vebeen created by some lotus-seated painter whose state ofenlightenment produces mag-nificent horizons, each substan-tially different in the subtlestway. These works speak to theprairie in all of us; that unob-structed world of possibility.The open, airy, endless sky; theground, tilled, or dressed inflouncy scrub, and the ribbonof road, all evoke somethingonly prairie people know.
Jim Stokes, the person,required a shift. I reconciledthis wired bundle of energywith his peaceful panoramicprairies and came up with anew vision of the artist paintingwildly, either in his studio, orout on location, the enlightenedyogi coursing through his veinsas he channels pure prairieessence onto a canvas.
“People are overjoyed whenthey see his work,” Scott says.“I think Jim’s paintings openpeople to their own emotionalresponse to the prairies.”Stokes’ work stays fresh byleaving something to that imag-ination, she says. “He doesn’tdot all his i’s or cross all hist’s.”
Stokes wasn’t always as enam-oured of his prairie roots. ThePeace region native, like many
art of the Peace 14
JIM STOKES“The Universe in a Blade of Grass"
by Jody Farrell
"People are overjoyed when they see his work . . . I think Jim's paintings open people to their own emotionalresponse to the prairies."
Landscape monotype by Jim Stokes
young people, had to travel farand wide to discover that eventhe beautiful and fast-pacedcities of Europe and New Yorkcan breed loneliness anddespair.
“I came home to the everydaythings, and found a sense ofpeace and well-being,” he saysnow. “I try to communicate thatnotion of place we all look for.”As he’s saying this, he picks uphis little Jack Russell-Bichondog, whose needs never gounattended to for long. Stokesstops frequently to fetch the toyshe’s lost under the couch, orthrow her a new one once she’sbored. This reverence for allliving things comes through inhis smaller prints of that com-mon plant, the Indian paint-brush, whose presence alongroadways, for many, representsthe ragged and weedy. Stokesinvests this prairie flower with
a dignity and splendour thatgarnered its choice as posterimage for The Prairie ArtGallery’s 2003 House andGarden Tour, a much-covetedhonour for Peace region artists.
Stokes’ gratitude for communi-ty support, and his own tirelesssupport for community, alsotakes energy and passion notavailable to most. Few artistsget half as much accomplishedwhile whittling away in soli-tude; fewer still, while visitingschools, hosting personal toursof their workspace, mentoringartists and sharing knowledgeand computer skills with tech-nology buffs.
I wonder aloud if he’s con-sciously working toward anend, or if he’s just following hispassion for interpreting theland. Stokes allows that heplans to include people in hiswork, because, he says, human-ity is that “most important” ele-ment. His comment that “youdon’t get good at thingsovernight,” offers up anotherlink between Jim Stokes theperson, and Jim Stokes theartist. A merging of the placid,methodical, painstaking creatorwho turns out quality work, andthe ever-active, multi-tasker,who appears to be present tomeet others’ needs, is indeedpossible, but requires relentlesswonder and reverence for theworld. And a whole lot of time.There’s lots on his plate, buthe’s not about to put it out thereuntil he’s processed it entirely.
Asked to explain his intentionin his landscapes, Stokesrecalls 19th century Americanpoet Walt Whitman, whosework addressed what Jim calls“the universe within the bladeof grass.” His art, he says,seeks to reveal something ofthat seed of universality in theparticular. And when you’rebent on examining the worldfrom that perspective, it’s goingto take some time.
Jim StokesSelected Exhibitions
2004 - Courtyard Gallery,
Grande Prairie
2004 - Scott Gallery,
Edmonton
2003 - Muse Gallery,
Grande Prairie
2002 - Prairie Art Gallery,
Grande Prairie
2001 - La Clarte Dieu,
Quebec City
1998 - Unique Gallery,
Grande Prairie
1996 - West End Gallery,
Edmonton
1995 - Wallace Galleries,
Calgary
1993 - Unique Gallery,
Grande Prairie
1993 - Fine Arts Centre,
Fairview
1992 - Wallace Galleries,
Calgary
1990 - Unique Gallery,
Grande Prairie
1988 - Prairie Art Gallery,
Grande Prairie
1986 - Picture Perfect,
Grande Prairie
1979 - Prairie Art Gallery,
Grande Prairie
Top to bottom, Jim Stokes at work in his studio; ‘Cloud Sketch,’ acrylic on canvas; ‘Paintbrush’, mono-
type; Stokes with ‘Overview,’ acrylic on canvas; below, ‘Winter Light’, acrylic on canvas.
art of the Peace 16
art of the Peace 17
Menzies
Vivian St. Andre: Paris In Your Own Backyard
Vivian St. Andre’s art reflects a love of learning. Recent works werecreated using a hand-held electric engraving tool to carve and etch
into metal shards from damaged automobile bodies. She’s studied thescience of sugar to make a collection of toothbrush ‘lollipops’ for anoth-er piece. For an exhibition during the Winter Games, she created a‘waterfall’ installation using silicone on 58 pieces of 28 foot long fish-ing line. Still another piece used different types of styrofoam.
"I find installation art is very thought provoking," St. Andre muses. "Tome any kind of reaction is excellent…You can't push the boundaries andexpect to please everybody."
St. Andre is most occupied these days with exploring and painting thelarge burn in the forest around Slave Lake. Her work almost alwaysinvolves a large amount of research.
"I love mythology, I love anything on Greek history, any art history, Ilove science. Art is not only the drawing or the painting, it's the otheraspects of learning. I relate it to going to Paris, the City of Lights. Thereis so much art, poetry, and science there. I think art is like a little “cityof lights”, because in order to be an artist you have to be very well-
rounded.” For St. Andre, the city of lights is accessible from everywhere. “You don't have to look very far for art ideas or inspiration.It's right around you. You always think you need to go to Italy. I think we have more opportunities than we think out here."
Wendy Stefansson: Motherhood and Other Metaphors
Peace River artist Wendy Stefansson says that motherhood has changed her outlook on art dramatically. Where she once dealt withgrand and universal concepts such as permanence and impermanence, her work now is more grounded in her own experiences. "I
think women's art is often a lot more intimate than men's art. Men tend to make art for the world and women make art from their lives--from their bodies or their experience or their children. I think it tends to be more personal," she says. Her own work often expressesa visceral, physical awareness of otherwise abstract ideas such as time and fertility through metaphors such as eggs end nests.
Stefansson’s most recent installation at the Vagina Monologues gala opening in Grande Prairie featured images of the cells of her ownmenstrual blood on a series of 12 glass "mandorlas", or genital-shaped dishes, arranged in a circle to suggest the ritual aspect of timebeing marked. An installation piece shown in Peace River was simply a recording the artist made of a mother nursing a very small baby
played through headphones. "It was off in the corner, you put the head-phones on and it was very intimate, small and closed," Stefanssonexplains. "People cried. It was the only artwork I've ever done wherepeople cried."
Her most recent pieces involve exposing film to light and developing it.The resulting ethereal, colourful pieces are each "as good an image asI've ever made of God," Stefansson says.
While parenting is still her main focus these days, art meets her need tocommunicate at another level. “I do art because that's where I put thatenergy that says something to the world. I want to be part of thatabstract conversation that goes on. All art forms do it. Advance newideas, push a boundary here and there, make people look at somethingdifferently.”
artist profiles:Three Artists from Peace River
by Susan Thompson and Jody Farrell
Vivian St. Andre and ‘Cinderella Story,’ acrylic.
Below, Wendy Stefansson, ‘All Talking At Once,’ acrylic on canvas, 2002.
art of the Peace 19
Doug Thompson: The Humanity of Metal
Peace River-based welder and metal sculptor Doug Thompsonwanted to become a blacksmith from a young age, and the
welder is its modern equivalent. Having completed his journey-man welding, he worked for several businesses before purchasinghis own rig, Hell'n'Back Welding. His day job keeps him happydoing what he loves, but he's got metal masterpieces on his mind.One is a metal sculpture of his own head. Notions of mortality andother issues surface when contemplating the skull, he says. "Itkind of freaks people out," Thompson concedes. But it's the onethose who see his works would like to see finished.
Thompson's a bit defensive when it comes to explaining the emo-tions he finds invested in his steel artworks. He seems confound-ed by an inability to automatically "get" what he calls the "human-ity" of steel.
"If it weren't for steel, we wouldn't be where we are today. Wewouldn't have cars, skyscrapers, trains, wars…" Thompsonargues. It's evident he's so close to the medium, so very convincedof its incredibly vast qualities and importance, he needs prompt-ing to see a steel sculpture in the casual, uncommitted way theaverage person might. It requires concerted effort to go back tothose outer textures and qualities that give his sculptures meaning.He's long since internalized them.
Thompson’s ‘Oh God’ sculpture, a figure kneeling with open armsraised in gratitude, is highly polished. The steel's luminosity givesa radiating quality that would not be there if the figure were paint-ed black.
Another work, a ‘steel painting’ entitled ‘Reflections of Home’,features a carved and welded landscape that sits arched, or bowedinward, over a highly polished steel base. Placed in the right light-ing, the unpainted landscape emanates colours of its own making,giving off greens and colours that simply happen because of itsreflective nature.
Steel is soft and mal-leable when heated.Thompson says it's likeclay in your hands.Still, he adds, theknowledge and skillrequired to manipulatethe element into a well-constructed sculptureis not something eventhe better welder cando.
"The biggest reason fora lot of my sculpturesis to use everything Iknow to create some-thing new."
ART CLUBS
GRANDE PRAIRIE GUILD OFARTISTSc/o 9329 - 47 AveGrande Prairie, AB T8W 2G6780-538-0616 [email protected] weekly to paint at The PrairieArt Gallery, Sept - May, 7 - 10 pm,Tuesdays. Annual membership fee.Opportunities for instruction andexhibition.
PEACE RIVER ART CLUBBox 2711Peace River, AB T8S 1S8780-624-8528 Miriam; [email protected] and sales for member artists.Variety of mediums. Meet quarterly.
PEACE WATERCOLOUR SOCIETYc/o 7601 - 102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Y7780-539-4046 Dale; 780-568-4124 SuzannePeace Country artists focusing ontransparent watercolours. Semi-annual shows throughout the PeaceCountry.
PRAIRIE FIGURE DRAWINGGROUPc/o 10209 - 99 St. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H3780-532-8446 Karen780-532-2573 JimNon-instructional, informal groupmeets weekly at The Prairie ArtGallery, Sept.-May, Thursdays 7-10pm. Drop-in or monthly fee.
ARTISTS
ADRIAN-CLARK, Carol9338 - 69 A Ave. Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] renderings of florals, land-scapes and still life, in colouredpencil and oil painting.
ALBIN, Kelly (Blue Frogs Legs)Box 2152Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0250-788-8804Watercolours, acrylics, charcoal,pencil crayon, pencil, chalk, oil,photography and mosaics.Versatility with several media allowsgreat scope in expressions of herconcepts and designs.
artistsdirectory
‘Oh God,’ steel sculpture by Doug
Thompson.
art of the Peace 20
ASHTON, Ed#37, 8910 - 122 AveGrande Prairie, AB T8X [email protected] artwork in watercolour;Alberta grain elevators, rusticscenes, barns.
BEGGS, Lorraine921 - Cornwall CresentDawson Creek, BC V1G [email protected], pastels, photogramsand photography. Realistic andabstract.
BIBI POTTERY (Bibi Clement)P.O. Box 144Hythe, AB TOH [email protected] Potter/Sculptor specializingin wood fire and raku techniques.Artistic Director of BICWA Society,International Residency Program
BROWN, JudyBox 825Spirit River, AB T0H [email protected] paintings reflect the peaceful-ness and serenity of our landscape.
CLOAKE, Sue9927 - 86 Park Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0C9780-539-7405Mixed media collage - a combina-tion of mediums creates an intricateabstract textural surface.
COWAN, CorinneRR3, Site 2, Box 6Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] watercolour lends itself toa wide range of values and freedomof movement on paper, it is mychoice of medium.
CRAIPLEY, SheilaBox 569Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-3754Landscape, acrylic and oils in locallandscapes and historic sites.
CRICHTON, HollyGeneral DeliveryGrovedale, AB T0H 1X0780-538-9264holly_crichton@hotmail.comwww.nightofartists.comWatercolours, graphite. Varied sub-ject matter. Commissions welcome.
CURRIE, Gordon1512 - 113 Ave.Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2Z5250-782-6388gcurrie@eldoren.comwww.watercolorpainting.infoWatercolour and mixed media artist- scenic nature works of art.
DAKIN, Charity (Taiga Studio)Box 1189Manning, AB T0H 2M0780-836-3836www.nightofartists.comOriginal work in acrylic, pastel,pencil, charcoal. Limited editionprints.
DEMUYNCK, Inez11121 - 16 StDawson Creek, BC V1G [email protected]/Artist specializing in cre-ative watercolour and handbuiltclayworks.
DICKSON, Yvonne10015 - 89 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2Y9780-532-1629Watercolours with a Peace Countrytheme.
DITCH, ValerieBox 882Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] working in watercolourwith attention to light and detail.Originals and giclée prints andcards available.
DIXON, SuzanneBox 124Pouce Coupe, BC V0C 2C0850-786-5582Folk art paintings, small picturesand cards.
DRONYK, Dymphny11306 - 102B St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected], writing, grants, pro-posals, screenwritting and videoproduction.
DUPERON, Frances9909 - 92 AveGrande Prairie, AB780-532-2753Acrylic/oil paintings, portraits,landscapes, still lifes.
FARRELL, Jody8508 - 100 A St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected], oil, acrylic - mostly land-scapes, flowers.
GAIR, MirianBox 7211Peace River, AB T8S [email protected] use semi-abstract form, light, andsimplification to create oneness withspirituality and nature. Work in anymedia but prefer watercolour.
GOURLAY-MORGAN, JocelynGrande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] jewellery, sterling silverand semi-precious gems. Customdesigns.
GOURLAY, MarilynGrande Prairie, [email protected] media, life drawings. I enjoythe creative process. Facilitate artretreats and teach yoga.
GUEST, RobertBox 1784Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0780-827-2346Painter in the Symbolist Landscapetradition preferring wilderness andnocturnal subject matter.
HAAKSTAD, Carmen8214 - 102 A St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W [email protected] and unique hockey images,chalk pastel and coloured pencil.
HEIMDAL, Tim9804 - 102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] (interior and exterior) com-missions, portraits. Acrylic on can-vas. Impressionistic.
HENN, K. MarjorieBox 262Beaverlodge, AB T0H [email protected] and wilderness themesare my inspiration, watercolour ismy main medium.
HOLLER, ColleenBox 363Wembley, AB T0H [email protected] variety of watercolour subjectswith a view to contrast, light, colourand form.
HOMMY, BarryBox 298Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0780-354-8117 (w)780-356-3741 (h)Artist in watercolour - local land-scapes.
HOTTE, Vicki11405 - 97 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] paintings and drawings -rural subject matter.
HUETTE, Arthur8608 - 100 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] airbrushed art work. Willconsider commissions.
KAUT, DonnaBox 675Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected]“I focus on oil paintings of wild-flowers and berries of Alberta.”
KLUKAS, Carrie10818 - 95 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] paintings on board, abstractexpressionism.
LAURIN, Ray9637 - 113 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1W4780-532-5232With acrylics, I can capture whatnature has to offer us.
LE CORRE, Lynn11110 - 95 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] in miniature simplifies thelandscape to colour and painterlyforms.
MAGNETIC NORTH IMAGES(Brian Don Hohner)Box 104North Star, AB T0H 2T0780-836-0021info@magneticnorthimages.comwww.magneticnorthimages.comLandscapes and skyscapes of thenorth. Pastels. Commissions wel-come.
MANHOLT-HOTTE, SherriePO Box 626Wembley, AB T0H [email protected] media painter. Abstract.
MARTEL, TinaGrande Prairie, [email protected] media paintings.
art of the Peace 21
MCGUINTY, Kristine12813 - 92 St.Peace River, AB T8S 1R9780-624-2605Harvest Moon Studio: Contemp-orary photographic images,polaroid emulsion transfers, acrylicpaintings and drawings.
MCKENZIE, Cheryl9102 - 105 Ave.Grande Prairie, ABT8X 1H7780-532-7433cheryl@imagedesignpros.comwww.imagedesignpros.comDigital design and graphic artist.
MCNEIL, Michele J.RR2 Site 13, Box 41Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] glass with a contemporarytwist “Yours is to dream it. Mine isto create it.”
MULLIGAN, Helena8709 - 98 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2C7780-538-2009Insights, expressions of everyday lifein sculptures, drawings and paint-ings. Commissions welcomed.
NEKO GOLDWORKS (NeilKolacz)Grande Prairie, [email protected] Designed gold and silverjewellery, and original water-colours.
PALMER, Valerie‘Spores n’ More’Box 6512Peace River, AB T8S [email protected] spore prints: imagescreated from natural spores of fungi.
PETERS, Rika#202, 10230-106 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] paintings; impressionistic land-scapes.
PRESTONE, KeithGrande Prairie, [email protected], ice and sand sculpture/co-ordinator. 2D and 3D work in avariety of mediums.
REDWOOD, Lonnie#118 10550 111 StGrande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected]“I enjoy painting landscapes andrelated subject matter in water-colours.”
REYNOLDS, DorisBox 277Fairview, AB T0H 1L0780-835-2379Seasonal landscapes in watercolourof mountain parks, Peace valley andprairies.
SANDBOE, Suzanne ASA, PWSBox 28, Site 9, RR1Sexsmith, AB T0H [email protected] landscapes, portraits andscenes from everyday life. Originalwork and commissions in a varietyof mediums.
SHILKA, MarianGrande Prairie, [email protected] watercolour, capturing theessence of brief, unforgettablemoments in time.
SMITH, Len9110 100 StGrande Prairie, AB T8V 2K5780-539-4608Relief wood carving, 3D carving,intarsia, woodburning. Custom art-work and instruction.
ST. ANDRE, VivianPeace River, AB T85 [email protected] and watercolour, abstractand traditional, sculpture and digi-tal imagery.
STEFANNSON, Wendy10509 - 81 St.Peace River, AB T8S [email protected] conceptually, employingphotography, acrylic paints andsculptural techniques.
STEINKE, ViBox 10Silver Valley, AB T0H [email protected]“My paintings of scenery and flo-rals are done in oils, acrylics orwatercolour.”
STOKES, Jim10417 - 110 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1S8780-532-2573Quality, original paintings, draw-ings and prints. Contemporary rep-resentational work. (see ad page 10)
STROM, Brenda10205 - 76 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8W [email protected], oil, monoprints of flo-rals, intimate landscapes and hock-ey players.
SWANSTON, NanRR3, Site 4, Box 6Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5N3780-532-6745nan@imagedesignpros.comwww.imagedesignpros.comClose-up views of nature, buildings.people - watercolour and pastel.
SYROTA, Dale7601 - 102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W [email protected] transparent watercolourpainting rendered in a true andunique style.
TAYLOR, Marjorie9506 - 77 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V [email protected] on canvas/mixed media,abstract paintings, clay sculpture.
WILLS, DougGrande Prairie, [email protected] design, illustration, on-sitesoftware instruction.
PHOTOGRAPHY
CRAWFORD, Barbara9711 - 101 St.Peace River, AB T8S 1A6780-624-5101Outdoor photography, rural land-scape, nature and old buildings.Colour and black and white.
MCLAUGHLIN, CatherineGrande Prairie, AB [email protected] - informal portraits ofpeople and their pets, landscape.Freelance writing, poetry readings.
GILJE, LenaBox 252Wembley, AB T0H [email protected], corporate, weddings.
PETTIT, Don1204 - 103 AveDawson Creek, BC V1G 2G9250-782-60681-866-373-8488don@peacephotographics.comwww.peacephotographics.comPeace Region nature photography,graphic design, publishing, market-ing, product development.
art of the Peace 22
BEAVERLODGE, ALBERTA
Beaverlodge Cultural CentreOngoing programs in pottery,
stained glass, batik, weaving,
acrylic, oil and watercolour
painting classes for a variety of
ages. Please call Sue, 780-
354-3600 for dates and details.
Gallery exhibition and gift shop
sales opportunities are avail-
able. Please call Sue at 780-
354-3600 for further informa-
tion.
DAWSON CREEK, B.C.
Dawson Creek Art GalleryOngoing programs for all ages
in a variety of media. For more
information regarding our art
classes and workshops, please
phone 250-782-2601 or e-mail
us at [email protected].
Opportunities for exhibition in
the gallery are available.
Guidelines for exhibitions can
be viewed at
www.pris.bc.ca/artgallery.
Northern Lights CollegeThe College offers a one-year
program, leading to a gradua-
tion certificate in the Visual and
Graphic Arts, to prepare the stu-
dent for a wide variety of career
opportunities. In addition, a
two-year program is also
offered leading toward an
Associate of Arts Diploma. The
primary focus is to build a port-
folio for job preparedness or to
continue education in another
institution. Phone 250-782-
5251 for information.
FAIRVIEW, ALBERTA
Fairview Fine Arts CentreNew courses start in the fall.
Call the Centre at 780-835-
2697 for course outlines in
September.
GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
Centre for Creative ArtsThe Centre offers many classes
in fine arts, decorative arts,
practical arts, physical activity
and new is our craft clubs for
children and adults. Starting in
May 2005 we are offering class-
es in glass fusion and 35mm
and digital photography as well
as developing prints with new
instructors.
For more information and
updated class information,
check out our website at
www.gparts.org or contact us at
[email protected]. You can also
call us at 780-814-6080.
Courtyard Gallery, QueenElizabeth II HospitalFor information about showing
contact Karen at the QEII
Foundation office 780-538-
7583. Display cubes (showcas-
es) are available for collections
or 3-dimensional art.
Grande Prairie RegionalCollegePrairie North 2005 Creative
Residency
May 20th - June 2nd
Non-instructional workshop for
professional artists. Call 780-
539-2814 for information.
Red Deer College Visual Arts
Series
Aug. 1st - 5th
See ad at right.
The Fine Arts Department
Offers students a wide range of
career and learning opportuni-
ties in the Fine Arts. These
include Diploma, University
Transfer programs, and cours-
es in Music, Art, and Drama.
Students in all GPRC programs
may also fulfill their Fine Arts
option requirements with FAD
credit courses. Non-credit
Visual Arts courses include
drawing, painting, digital arts,
and photography.
Visitor in the Arts
Visitor in the Arts lectures series
resumes September 2005 and
continues throughout the aca-
demic year. For more informa-
tion contact 780-539-2443.
Robert Guest Gallery, PicturePerfect Frame & GalleryRobert Guest Gallery is avail-
able for exhibitions - call Dan
Kameka at 780-539-4091 for
information and available dates.
The Prairie Art GalleryPD Days by Design
These Saturday afternoon
workshops allow artists and
teachers to experiment with a
hands-on technique.
Art After Dark
Monday evening, 7:00 - 8:30
pm, Art After Dark series for
artists and art enthusiasts look-
ing for art education.
Art Investment Club
The club invites anyone inter-
ested in learning about and pur-
chasing art. The group meets
once a month for discussions
and lectures focussing on an
amount to invest and purchas-
ing paintings.
The Prairie Art Gallery pro-
duces three new shows each
year to tour, and is looking for
proposals from its regional
artists to keep on file. Please
submit your artist cv, proposal,
and four images of your artwork
to:
The Prairie Art Gallery,
AFA TREX Coordinator
10209 - 99 Street,
Grande Prairie, AB
T8V 2H3.
Call 780-532-8111 for furthur
information.
education &opportunities
art of the Peace 23
Valleyview
Falher
St. Isidore
43
43
49
BEAVERLODGE, ALBERTA
• Beaverlodge Cultural
Centre512 - 5 Ave.
Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0
780-354-3600 (phone & fax)
Hours: Tues. - Fri.1 pm - 5 pm
Sat. & Sun. 1 pm - 4 pm
Gallery, gift shop and tea room.
Exhibits & EventsIva Canning (nee Carrell),
Jan Olson, Ruth Holmes,
Wendy Olson-Lepchuk, Kelly
and Sarah Lepchuk
Great-Grandmother,
Grandmother, Mother and
Daughter Show and Sale
May 1st - May 27th
Beaverlodge High School
Student Art
May 29th - June 10th
Kristin Canning
Show and Sale
June 12th - June 24th
Edward Bader
Show and Sale
June 26th - July 29th
Sean Reily
Show and Sale
July 31st - Aug. 26th
Tim Heimdal
Show and Sale
Aug. 28th - Sept. 30th
Dave McRae
High Browns & Stetsons Show
Oct. 2nd - Oct. 28th
Marjorie Henn
Show and Sale
Oct. 30th - Nov. 25th
• The Small Gallery917 - 2 Ave.
Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0
780-354-8117
Pottery, fine art, framing &
wood turnings.
DAWSON CREEK, B.C.
• Dawson Creek Art
Gallery101 - 816 Alaska Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4T6
250-782-2601
www.pris.bc.ca/artgallery
Hours: June - August:
9 am - 5 pm daily
Sept. - May:
Tues. - Sat.
10 am - 5 pm
Year round, artist run centre;
gift shop; 13 exhibits per year;
art rental; education programs.
Exhibits & EventsMarjorie Henn and Barry
Hommy
May 3rd - May 29th
'In the Summertime’
Members of the South Peace
Art Society
June 1st - July 24th
'Peace in the Valley'
Janis Herbison and Wendy
Moore
July 26th - Aug. 22nd
'Sea and Land'
Dutch Canadian
Gerta Duiverman
Aug. 30th - Sept. 25th
'Body Double'
Commemorating Breast
Cancer Month
Sept. 27th - Oct. 22nd
'Out of the Woods'
Regional Woodworkers
Oct. 24th - Nov. 13th
FAIRVIEW, ALBERTA
• Fairview Fine Arts
Centre10801-103 Ave.
Fairview, AB T0H 1L0
780-835-2697;
fax 780-835-5561
www.fairviewfinearts.com
Hours: Tues. - Sat.
12 pm - 5 pm
Gallery, education programs
Exhibits & EventsArtists at School Show
May 21st - June 4th
Tour from The Prairie Art
Gallery of Fairview Fine Arts
Centre and Raku Firing at
Paula Fiorini's Claymaker
Studio
June 11th
Judy Brown, Carolyn Brown
and Evelyn Harris
Three Generations Show
and Sale
June 11th - July 2nd
Summer Show and Sale by
Members
July 9th - 30th
Fairview Ag. Society Flower
Show
August
Fairview Ag. Society
Quilt/Weaving Show
Sept. 3rd - 24th
Fall Open House and Fall
Course Announcement
Sept. 17th
Heather MacNair
A New Leaf Show and Sale
Oct. 1st - 8th
where it’s all at . . . galleries of the PeacePeace Region Gallery Events and Exhibitions
art of the Peace 24
Paula Fiorini and Erin
Stelmaschuk
Show and Sale of new works
Oct. 15th - 29th
GRANDE CACHE, ALBERTA
• Grande Cache Tourism
& Interpretive CentreHome of the Palette Pals
Art Club
Highway 40 South
Box 300
Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0
780-827-3300
www.grandecache.ca
Summer hours starting May
long weekend: 9 am - 6 pm, 7
days/week.
Wildlife and historical displays,
art gallery and gift shop.
Exhibits & EventsPalette Pals Art Club Show
& Sale
First 2 weeks of June
Donna Kaut
Art Show and Sale
July 23rd - Aug. 22nd
GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
• Centre for Creative Arts9904 - 101 Ave.
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0X8
780-814-6080
Education programs.
Exhibits & EventsArts and Cultural Festival
July 23rd and 24th
• Forbes and Friends9918A - 100 Ave.
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0T9
780-513-1933;
fax 780-513-1949
Gallery of Alberta crafts.
Pottery, glass, jewellery, acces-
sories, hand painted silk, home
decor.
• Grande Prairie Museum10329 - 101 Ave.
(Muskoseepi Park)
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3A8
780-532-5482;
fax 780-831-7371
www.grandeprairiemuseum.org
The Rodacker-Campbell
Gallery features rotating exhibi-
tions.
Exhibits & Events Grand Opening May 1st
• Grande Prairie Regional
College, Glass GalleryMain campus, main floor
10726 - 106 Ave.
Grande Prairie, AB
780-539-2909
Gallery of student and faculty
artwork.
Exhibits & EventsVisitor in the Arts Series starts
September 2005. Lectures are
open to the general public at
no cost on Wednesdays,
11:45am - 12:45pm, in the Fine
Arts Recital Hall (L106).
• Heritage Discovery
Centre11330 - 106 St. (Centre 2000)
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 7X9
780-532-5790;
fax 780-532-8039
www.grandeprairiemuseum.org
The Heritage Discovery Centre
features new and exciting
interactive exhibits and chang-
ing exhibits in the Kin Gallery.
• Picture Perfect Frame
& Gallery9934 - 100 Ave.
Grande Prairie, AB
780-539-4091;
fax 780-539-4554
www.pictureperfectfineart.com
Robert Guest Gallery, main
floor gallery, original art, repro-
ductions, framing & art sup-
plies. Representative for
www.fineartprint.ca.
Exhibits & Events13th Annual Capture the
Beauty of the Peace Contest
April 9th - May 4th
'Nature's Gallery'
Carolyn Sinclaire
Show and Sale
May 7th - May 28th
Peace Watercolour Society
Fall Show and Sale
Kakwa Falls by Robert Guest
Limited Edition prints available
Celebrating Alberta's
Centennial
Sept. 1st - Sept. 24th
'The Foothills and Rockies'
Robert Guest
Show and Sale
Oct. 8th - 29th
• Queen Elizabeth II
Hospital, The Courtyard
GalleryLower Level, QEII Hospital
10409 - 98 St.
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2E8
780-538-7585
Original works by local artists.
In affiliation with the QEII
Foundation.
Exhibits & EventsSHOWCASES
'Hand painted’
Mailboxes by various artists &
handmade cards by
Cheryl King
April - June
GALLERY
'Recent Works'
Arthur Huette
May - June
GALLERY
'Come Home With Us'
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Travelling Exhibition
July - August
SHOWCASES
'Hand painted Clay
Sculptures'
Gordon Perret
July - September
GALLERY
Janet Enfield
September - October
• The Prairie Art Gallery10209 - 99 St.
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H3
780-532-8111;
fax 780-539-9522
www.prairiegallery.com
Class A gallery, education pro-
grams, art rental and gift shop.
Exhibits & EventsGrande Prairie Regional
College
Year End Show
All Schools Junior/Senior
High
All Schools/All Art
All Schools Elementary
All Schools/All Art
April 15th - May 15th
Peter von Tiessenhausen
Barbara Amos
Children’s Interactive
Exhibition
‘Play by Design’
May 20th - June 25th
FurnARTure
July 1st - Sept. 4th
Red Deer Series Instructors
July 1st - Aug. 5th
Past Prairie Art Gallery
Curators
‘A Selection of Works’
Aug. 12th - Sept. 4th
Ken Jeannotte (Arrogation):
The Full Weight of Reason
Dale Kirschenman
C.H.I.C.K.S of the North
Oct. 21st - Nov. 27th
7th Annual House & Garden
Tour
Friday Garden Gala Evening -
June 17th 5:30pn
Saturday Tour - June 18th
10: 00 am - 8:00 pm
3rd Annual Euphemia
McNaught Arts Festival
July 22nd - 24th
4th Annual Tempt Your
Palette - In Paris
Trumpeter Hotel and Meeting
Centre - Oct. 28th
• Unique Gallery9929 - 100 Ave.
Grande Prairie, AB
780-538-2771;
fax 780-538-2790
Original artwork, pottery, jew-
ellery, glassware, giftware.
PEACE RIVER, ALBERTA
• Frameworks Custom
Framing & Gallery9903 - 100 Ave.
Peace River, AB T8S 1S4
780-624-1984;
fax 780-624-1984
Custom framing and ready-
made framing supplies.
Original artwork, prints,
posters, photographs, pottery,
and other local handicrafts.
• Athabasca Hall Art
GalleryPeace River Art Club Show
July 1st
art of the Peace 25
art of the peace 26
