Peter Ivens has really immersed himself in his work. So much so, in fact, that he actually feels like he’s gotten inside his painting, hence the title of his new show opening tomorrow at the Art Gallery of St. Albert. “I feel like I’m really inside of the artwork. I’m not looking outside of it and painting something or having a preconceived idea that’s outside of what I’m making. I’m totally involved with what I’m doing. I’m totally present,” he said of Inside Painting, the name of the show. It’s his first since he participated in the gallery’s Fragile Elements show back in the spring of 2014. Ivens describes himself as a student of the natural world, calling the great outdoors a place for recreation and for creativity. His natural classroom near his Calgary home includes the wild rivers, majestic mountains and big skies of the Bow River Valley. His artworks are lively and expressive abstract depictions of those incredible landscapes. The exhibit runs until Sat., Oct. 28. The opening reception will be held this Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with Ivens in attendance. A special walkthrough tour will be held on Thurs., Oct. 19 starting at 12:05 p.m. Ivens will also conduct a three-day Acrylic Colour Masterclass Workshop at the St. Albert Place Visual Arts Studios on closing weekend. It will run from Fri., Oct. 27 to Sun., Oct. 29 and costs $195 to register. Visit www.stalbert.ca for more details. The Art Gallery of St. Albert is located at 19 Perron St. Call 780-460-4310 or visit www.artgalleryofstalbert.ca.
