One of the city’s newest artists’ collectives has set up a prominent new station in Riel Park and it’s inviting one and all to stop by and say hi while checking out what’s new on their easels.
The Big Lake Artists’ Studios is having its first annual open house with show and sale on Saturday. A recently expanded industrial space turned functioning art studio, the facility houses nine artists involved in a good variety of art forms including paintings, mixed media work, custom tile work, and marbled paper items among others.
Member Becky Holuk described the group as a loose collective of working artists but with one defining denominator.
“The common goal is that we’re all trying to produce good work. We don’t actually physically work on pieces together but we get feedback from each other,” she stated of the creative and supportive studio. “It’s just the energy that’s created here. You’re influenced by the people around you when you’re working.”
The group consists of Doris Charest, Carol Donald, Holuk, Lynn Lawson Pajunen, Bette Lisitza, Connie Osgood, Janice Peters, Ros Schell, and Bruce Thompson. Each artist works on her or his own set of mostly personal creative projects or commercial projects and commissions.
She said that the open house has two main purposes, the first of which is to raise the new group’s profile in the community. The second is “to let the community know that we’re here and that we’re producing some beautiful work that’s available for sale. We’re working artists: this is how we make our livelihood.”
There’s an overriding sense that the economic downturn has led to this new burst of creativity, including the unique invitation to the public. But that’s not the only place where the economy can be felt in this event. The group also wanted to partner with a local charity to help where help was needed. These being tough times all around, they chose the St. Albert Food Bank.
“We know that they are suffering these days with the downturn in the economy, we thought we would also have this as a fundraiser for them.”
The studio will be collecting monetary and non-perishable food donations. As well, 10 per cent of all sales made that day will go to the food bank as well.
But there’s a third purpose too and that is to help people become more comfortable with art and artists. Holuk noted that many people have trepidations because there’s a perception that art events are “high brow.”
“This is just a very informal welcoming open house that we want to have just so the community is aware of what goes on in St. Albert creatively and artistically. This is a ‘Come, see how we work’ kind of thing. It’s all about that relationship, feeling comfortable and casual and just enjoying the space and the people and see the work on the walls.”
The Big Lake Artists’ Studios is located in Riel Business Park at 33 Rayborn Cres. on the second floor. The open house with show and sale takes place on Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Otherwise the studio is open by appointment. Attendance at the event is free. There will be food and refreshments, door prizes, and art demonstrations.
Drive past the Art Gallery of St. Albert past dark these days and you might be struck by the sharp red neon sign that reads “KISS & SELL” in the front window. No, it’s not a local tradesperson who has new glowing signage for sale in the gallery’s gift shop. It’s actually the gallery’s newest exhibit, a one-piece display entirely visible without ever stepping through the brick building’s front doors.
Toronto-based artist Nathalie Quagliotto explained that the piece entitled Showing Off is meant to be a think piece as well as an obvious eye-catcher. It’s based on the normative social experience of Show and Tell in which many children innocently participate in grade school. Here, the artist – who works with commercial signage – has taken the youthful phrasing and turned it into something decidedly more adult and contemplative.
“I’m taking those commercial signs, mimicking them, and putting them in places where they’re not really supposed to belong,” she began. “I’m trying to give a new, humourous, subtle meaning to the business that places it in their window. I like reactions from people.”
According to the literature provided by the gallery, the piece reveals how art can “covertly seduce audiences” and communicate with the public from beyond traditional art spaces. Walking or driving past, neon signs naturally grab one’s attention, whether or not art is your thing. Quagliotto admits to having an offbeat sense of humour with these works of which this is just one sample. People can visit her website at www.nathaliequagliotto.com to learn and see more of her art.
“I made the sign originally for a humorous show about the art world. It was supposed to make fun of contemporary art and how people see contemporary art. I was looking at the way people in the art world speak to sass. They try to sell and they try to network and they want to make money. There’s a lot of relationships there with businesses and how (businesses) want to attract clients or the public in general. It makes people question what an art gallery does and how they operate.”
Showing Off will remain on display and illuminated 24 hours a day until April 9. The art gallery is located at 19 Perron St. Call 780-460-4310 or visit www.artgalleryofstalbert.ca for more information.
Students have a fine art display on now at St. Albert Catholic High School but only for a few more days. The exhibit can be viewed just for the rest of the week. Next Tuesday, a new exhibit of works from students both current and alumni will take its place, just in time for the school’s open house.
St. Albert High is located at 33 Malmo Ave.
