Things are about to get wild at the Visual Arts Studio Association gallery, but at least it’s all in the name of art.
The Wild, Life Show features the fantastic animal portraits by four accomplished local painters: Carol Johnson, Carla Beerens, Victoria Armstrong and Heather Howard.
Howard explained that living in this province has always provided her with ample opportunity to get up close and personal with beasts of all shapes and sizes. Her work, she said, is “all wildlife, furs and feathers.”
“I’ve been walking along the Sturgeon Valley and taking pictures of birds,” she began. “I’ve been lucky enough to see some blue herons and pileated woodpeckers…”
There’s also a wildlife park at Innisfail where she likes to go. She’s seen bears playing in the dugout there.
She added that her contribution of 10 works to the show also includes some images of grizzly bears. She didn’t see them around the river in the middle of our city, however. Her son took pictures of the majestic animals at campgrounds around Mt. Robson.
“Him and his buddy were camping there. They got up in the morning and there was a nice big momma grizzly bear with her two year-old cubs out. I’ve done a few pictures of the momma looking at the tourists taking pictures.”
While Howard doesn’t devote her practice to this subject matter – she loves floral still lifes, landscapes and portraits too – these wildlife paintings do hold her interest heavily. She admitted that it’s become a bit of a bother to her family. She’s bored them for years, she said, by always taking pictures of birds that she sees.
“Birds and elk butts!” she laughed.
This will be the first time that Howard has had her name on the marquee of an exhibit for more than three years. That occasion was back at the old Studio Gallery location on Perron Street.
The Wild, Life Show is on display until Friday, October 25. An opening reception will be held this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Artists will be in attendance.
VASA is located at 25 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue in the Hemingway Centre for the Arts. Call 780-460-5990 or visit www.vasa.ca for more information.
