St. Albert’s downtown arts district is about to unfold in a colourful and energized way. ArtWalk, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, returns Thursday, July 6 packed with artistic diversity and talent.
In pre-COVID years, the pop-up drew close to an estimated 800 people. This year, with COVID in the rear-view mirror, organizers are hoping for another big turnout.
Seven venues are taking part in the free, one-day event in addition to 20 local artists and vendors spreading their wares at St. Albert Place Plaza’s outdoor market. And as part of the entertainment, Russell deCarle launches the Plaza Series backed by his stalwart trio of musicians.
“This is a showcase of the incredible artistic community in St. Albert, and I hope visitors find it enlightening in the amount of artistic talent we have,” said Leah Louden, co-chair of ArtWalk St. Albert.
The arts district’s seven venues are within walking distance of each other and easily turn into a self-guided walking tour. They include Art Gallery of St. Albert, Bookstore on Perron, St. Albert Place Plaza, St. Albert Public Library, Musée Heritage Museum, VASA Gallery and Big Lake Artists’ Studio hosted at St. Albert Curling Club.
Louden added, "At the same time as the walk, I hope people take time to enjoy downtown St. Albert. We've had quite a bit of construction and it's affected local businesses. So, I hope people take time to visit local businesses and support them."
ArtWalk runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Art Gallery of St. Albert
19 Perron St.
Visual artist Tammy Salzl presents Beautiful Parasites, a 40-piece exhibition of paintings, installations, video and sculptures inspired by Aesop’s Fables, Brothers Grimm and myths from ancient Greece. Louden noted the works are presented in a modern way and reflect the moral lessons from original works.
• Bookstore on Perron
7 Perron St.
A quartet of St. Albert Painters’ Guild artists are displaying their work. Shirley Allan paints in various media and styles and is inspired by emotions. She directs her creative energy to produce art that resonates with her surroundings.
Wayne Gorman works in every medium from black and white pencil sketches to acrylic, watercolour and oils. His powerful depictions of everyday scenes bring to life movement, texture and bold colours.
Luise Mendler-Johnson enjoys painting in acrylics and watercolours. Currently her focus is impressionistic prairie landscapes as well as expressionistic floral sketching.
And the quartet’s fourth member is Alexsandra “Sandy” Mitchell who paints prairie landscapes in acrylic, watercolour and mixed media.
• St. Albert Place Plaza
5 St. Anne Street
An outdoor artist market with more than 20 artists displaying their wares include handcrafted wearable art, paintings, photography, pottery, fashion wear, animal sculptures and digital illustrations.
• St. Albert Place Lobby
St. Anne Street
Members of the St. Albert Potters Guild and the St. Albert Quilters’ Guild will showcase their works. They will also add a fun spin to the event with hands-on demonstrations.
• St. Albert Public Library
St. Albert Place
The AFA Travelling Exhibitions (TREX) showcases Come What May. Three artists plumb their imaginations to create a fantasy world which envisions a different course for the human race.
• Musée Heritage Museum
St. Albert Place
The museum features the paintings of Claudette Pelletier-Hannah, a floral and landscape artist who emphasizes beauty in the natural world.
• VASA Gallery
25 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue
The gallery features Immerse, Laurena Beirnes' blue-green exploration of water through waves, beaches and oceans.
“She’s incredibly good at painting water’s translucent quality and how light breathes though it, and how patterns dance across the water,” said VASA president Miles Constable.
• Big Lake Artists’ Studio
At St. Albert Curling Club
3 Tache St.
Doris Charest, an Alberta landscape artist who currently is into the colour “pink,” and Bruce Thompson who is showcasing his digital art will represent the Big Lake Artists’ Studio. Charest will also conduct a demonstration.
