The members of the Visual Arts Studio Association are set to host the organization’s annual show and sale starting next week. They remain hopeful that the event will help bring good tidings for the season and be effective in putting a positive cap on the year, despite the fact that it comes with a sombre note upon another sombre note in the atmosphere surrounding it.
The exhibition features an informal tribute to the late Pat Wagensveld, the founder of the artist-run co-operative who died after a lengthy illness at the end of 2013. The emotional repercussions of it linger still throughout the ranks of the artist-run co-operative.
In preparation for this event, a good number of the member artists wanted to offer a salute to their fallen friend by painting sunflowers, a subject so meaningfully reminiscent of Wagensveld that the two are practically synonymous. The golden flower that so famously captivated the VASA head is the perfect symbol of the devotion of this friend to the other. One of those artists was Carla Beerens.
Sadly, Beerens herself passed away only a week and a half ago after a sudden spell of ill health. VASA, on the verge of recovering from one tragedy almost a year ago, finds itself again reeling from another.
“Carla was working on this painting as a tribute to Pat Wagensveld and her dedication to VASA by honouring her passion for sunflowers,” stated Miles Constable, a prominent long-time member of the collective.
“It is terribly poignant that our dear friend passed away before she could see it alongside all of the other VASA sunflowers. Over the last year VASA has greatly missed Pat's spirit and will now miss Carla's equally. They were both beautiful people and great artists.”
If there’s one thing that artists excel at (in addition to their art), it’s recovering from setbacks. This resilient group has rallied to remember their friends with warmth and to imbue the event with happiness and hope for a smoother 2015.
Attendees to the substantial exhibit will see more than 100 works on display by 35 members of the artistic assemblage. The main concept for the show is that it is a sale of small works, “Perfect for under the tree, or even a rather large stocking,” as the promotional poster for it reads.
The show and sale started yesterday and runs until Jan. 30, 2015. An opening reception will be held on Dec. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. Artists will be in attendance.
VASA is located at 25 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue in the historic Hemingway Centre. For more information, call 780-460-5990 or visit www.vasa-art.com.
