As Samantha Williams-Chapelsky's one-year tenure as Alberta’s Artist-in-Residence comes to an end, she features a showpiece exhibition at FAB Gallery from Sept. 2 to 27.
Titled Sky, Stone, and Prairie: Plein Air Perspectives of Alberta, the exhibition highlights 100 diverse provincial landscapes. Inspired by the Group of Seven’s groundbreaking approach to painting the Canadian wilderness, Williams-Chapelsky has shaped her perspective to focus on the natural world.
“I set a lofty goal for myself. But I loved painting this way. I found a real sense of peace and calm. Being outdoors there was magic in understanding how small you are in this vast world. A couple of paintings were destroyed because of rain. But failures teach us more than successes. It was very humbling to see what I could do in physically uncomfortable situations when it was too hot or too cold and you want to capture the light before it changes,” said Williams-Chapelsky.
She is known for her expressive technique, use of bold colours and dynamic brushwork. From Barrhead to Calgary, Williams-Chapelsky has painted our diverse geography, ranging from expansive prairie skies and shimmering lakes to rugged mountains and boreal forests.
The St. Albert artist dropped by a variety of local sites, including the city’s Botanical Arts Garden, to immortalize the fountain as well as the Children’s Bridge to capture storm clouds rolling in.
“Unfortunately, the rain came pouring down and washed off the paint.”
The visual artist’s trek took her across the province to discover hidden landscapes, including Edmonton’s University Gardens, Rosebud’s Badlands, Pincher Creek’s undiscovered pathways, and an unexpected cloud study in Red Deer.
“I was in the car and I pulled off on Highway 2. Red Deer always has these big clouds rolling in that you can’t get anywhere else.”
As part of being a cultural ambassador, Williams-Chapelsky set up plein air workshops across the province for interested artists. Sites ranged from big city Calgary to smaller towns like Canmore.
“I initially wanted to connect and hear their perspectives. But I feel I’ve found an amazing community of artists. Plein air artists here do beautiful art in painting nature. What interested me most is we shared ideas. It was not a competition. I learned so much about these different communities.”
Williams-Chapelsky describes this past year’s journey as a “rescuer.”
“In the end, I found a new practice that is parallel to my studio practice. Being outside is a great way to recharge. I give this project a lot of credit. It was a project I came up with and was given the time, space and inspiration. I’m not sure I expected this, but I’ve discovered so much to help me on my journey.”
Although Williams-Chapelsky is renowned for her vast acrylic landscapes capturing Alberta’s enormity, Sky, Stone and Prairie’s 100 paintings are on a smaller scale, ranging from five-inch by seven-inch pieces to several in the 31-inch by 35-inch category.
The FAB Gallery is located in the University of Alberta’s Fine Arts Building. A reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 25. The Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Once the exhibition is completed, it will be sent to the Elevation Gallery in Canmore from Oct. 4 to 23.
