It’s becoming an increasingly popular way for the art-loving public to see multiple shows, all in one afternoon. So much so, in fact, that gallery staffers themselves want their own tickets.
The Art Bus Tour is coming back to St. Albert again on Saturday. It started last year as a way to facilitate gallery hopping, with a fun bus at the heart of it.
“It’s a really great opportunity,” said community programs co-ordinator Amanda McKenzie. “They’ve been pretty popular in the past. This year, we were wondering if some of our staff could go on it. We’re trying to see if there’s even room!”
There are two tours set, both centered around galleries in downtown Edmonton. The first tour also includes the Art Gallery of St. Albert while the second goes out to Gallery 501 in Sherwood Park.
It’s this commuter-based philosophy that has McKenzie and the rest of the gallery staff here pleased.
“It brings a lot of people that don’t go to those areas regularly. If you don’t have a vehicle, it’s a great opportunity to fill your day with art!”
Participants can board the bus in Edmonton at Harcourt House or at the Art Gallery of St. Albert. Here, either McKenzie or exhibition curator Jenny Willson-McGrath will conduct a tour of the gallery’s two current shows: Retreat by Sherri Chaba and Distractions of a Stationary Nature by Shyra de Souza.
The shows are quite engaging, interactive and immersive, especially Chaba’s, McKenzie said.
“It’s a really good show for people to see because it does open up a lot of questions about the environment and everyone’s relationship with it. It’s interesting how much work she’s put into creating these objects and installations as well.”
Other stops will include visits to shows by Richard Boulet, Koichi Yamamoto, and Jesse Sherburne. Each stop offers 30 to 45 minutes worth of in-gallery time.
McKenzie admits that it’s a bit of a whirlwind experience but said it still amounts to a heaping helping of visual art that many find thrilling.
“It’s quick! It’s like a taste of all Edmonton and area galleries. It’s really nice to get the people knowing that those places are out there, what kind of art gets exhibited and then hopefully they’ll keep coming back.”
Preview
Schedule<br /><br />Saturday, July 26<br />12:30 p.m. – Pick up at Harcourt House, 10215 112 St. in Edmonton<br /><br />1:00 p.m. – Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron St.<br /><br />2:15 p.m. – Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists, 10123 121 St. in Edmonton<br /><br />3:00 p.m. – DC3 Art Projects, 10567 111 St.<br /> <br />3:45 pm – VAA/CARFAC, 10215 112 St.<br /> <br />4:30 pm – Harcourt House<br /><br />5:30 p.m. – Drop off at Art Gallery of St. Albert<br /><br />A second Art Bus Tour will run on Aug. 16 featuring other galleries.<br /><br />The tour costs $12 for Harcourt members/students/seniors or $17 for all others.<br />For more information, call 780-426-4180 or email [email protected]. Visit www.harcourthouse.ab.ca for further details.
