Visitors to St. Albert Place will be treated to a preview of the Art Gallery of St. Albert’s annual High Energy art exhibit this month. Unlike the show in May, this one doesn’t just feature high school students from the St. Albert Public School district but their junior high and elementary counterparts as well.
Art Start is a compilation of the artistic talent that is developing out of all 12 grades of the city’s public schools, plus the littlest artists of them all.
“We have work from kindergarten,” said Paul Kane art teacher Colleen Hewitt. “The idea is to give a snapshot of what the different programs are doing – and what the kids are doing – at the different grade levels.”
Every year, the foyer of the city building is overrun by the fine arts. This year, there will be even more of the work on display, thanks to the help of the painters’ guild.
“We have more space this year. The painters’ guild has expanded … they put up more panels, which we were excited about because that means we can put more work up.”
There will be hundreds of pieces of art on display until April 19.
St. Albert’s acclaimed rug hooker Rachelle LeBlanc is set to exhibit her work as part of a new show at the Alberta Craft Council’s Feature Gallery.
Language of Craft is a unique exhibit celebrating Craft Year by examining the different ways artists describe their work and what the word “craft” means to them.
“Fine craft doesn't materialize after a bit of tinkering. It requires an investment and commitment to constant practise and experimentation,” explains fibre artist Diane Krys, in the promotional material for the exhibit. “With time and experience this bedrock becomes a launching pad where creativity and personal expression can soar.”
Craft artists joining LeBlanc and Krys in the exhibit include Mindy Andrews, Leah Gravells, Suzette Knudsen, Marjorie Marshall, Noriko Masuda, Darren Petersen, Connie Pike, Jean-Claude and Talar Prefontaine, Bart Simpson, and Barbara Tipton.
Language of Craft runs until July 4. An opening reception will take place on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Artists will be in attendance.
The Alberta Craft Council is located at 10186 106 Street in downtown Edmonton.
For more information, contact the gallery at 780-488-6611 or visit www.albertacraft.ab.ca.
