Local artist brings the world to Harcourt

It was just shy of a year ago that the Multicultural Artists Group opened up for business in the wake of the closure of the Global Gallery in 2009. Nataliya Bukhanova didn't want to lose the network of foreign-born artists so she took matters into her own hands. It's been a challenge but she has finally achieved a major milestone.

She recently announced the group's first ever show, set to open tonight.

"I'm really proud of it!" she exclaimed. "It is just amazing. They're such talented people."

The group exhibition will feature nine of the collective's member artists who come from all corners of the globe, including Korea, Israel, Peru, Holland, and even some Canadians "who lived abroad for some time."

Bukhanova herself comes from Russia, as does fellow member Efim Konovalov. The works will explore and represent cultural traditions in different styles.

It's only a small sample of the total complement of 27 artists of all different stripes, including musicians, filmmakers and writers. They meet on a monthly basis at Harcourt House although they are looking to obtain their own studio space in the fall.

"We continue to do everything together. I actually love them!" Bukhanova says.

This exhibit is intended to be an annual event. For more information about the show or the group's activities, people can visit www.meetup.com/a-group-for-multicultural-artists. They also have a Facebook page.

Painters' guild field trip for two

The St. Albert Painters' Guild has once again sent two local high students to Red Deer College for Summerscapes, a visual arts workshop for teens. The program is a precursor to its famous Series, a broad range of art workshops and classes for adults.

Cheryl Moskaluk is a guild member. She explained why the group has been sponsoring students for more than 20 years.

"The Painters' guild has been in the community over 25 years now. I'm not sure who initiated [the Summerscapes student sponsorship] but I think they thought it's important to encourage young people to have arts as part of their life. This experience really helps them take a look at it in a more serious way and say 'hey! This is actually an option.'"

She continued: "It's a commitment to the community. It's helping kids get a leg up in the arts. It's cool. When they go there, they're always so excited about what they'll learn."

All art students from all city high schools are invited to apply with their portfolios. This year, the two lucky candidates are Francesca Cammarata and Brittani Lievers, both going into Grade 12 at Paul Kane. They see this as an amazing chance to further their understanding of art and get a head start on future studies.

For her part, Cammarata simply cannot wait. She said that she's been taking art classes through Pygmalion School of Fine Art for most of her life.

"I took summer camp when I was five and I was hooked," she remarked.

She heard about the Summerscapes opportunity through school and jumped at the application.

"It sounds really cool. I thought it would be amazing to do art for a straight week."

The Summerscapes experience takes place in August. The college is bringing in several artists to teach different techniques (including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, animation and glass beadmaking), something she's very excited about.

"I'm just so thankful that they chose me and I'm thankful for this opportunity.

To learn more about the group, call Peg McPherson at 780-459-7886 or visit www.paintersguild.ca.

Holdovers from Art Walk

The Daffodil Gallery is once again extending the life of the recent Whyte Avenue Art Walk by holding its annual Off Whyte exhibit with some of the main event's best received artists, along with some People's Choice candidates.

This year, there are 15 artists in all who will be in the exhibit. Locally-raised illustrator and printmaker Daniel Evans is one of the fold. On the gallery's website, he explained his artistic inspirations.

"I am particularly drawn to in-between spaces, hybridity, transformation, thresholds, and liminal states, and find my greatest inspiration in mythology, folklore, and literature. My current body of printmaking, sculpture, and drawing explores the intersection of mythmaking and urban spaces – from the fantastic cities described in historical mythologies, to the mythic aura accumulated by living cities in their passage through history and narrative "

The show opened on Thursday and runs until Saturday, August 3.

Daffodil Gallery is located at 10412 124 St. Call 780-760-1278 or visit www.daffodilgallery.ca for more information.