Captivating creations amid a breathtaking backdrop is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to The Most Beautiful Art Tour in Alberta.
A convergence of High Country artists are offering the public a unique opportunity to watch their creative process in action in four communities along the scenic Cowboy Trail during Alberta Culture Days Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
Opening their doors for the tour are Bluerock Gallery, Sage and Firebrand Glass Studio in Black Diamond, Kristoferson Studio in Turner Valley, Garside Wilson Gallery in Longview and the Leighton Art Centre northwest of Millarville.
“Lots of people don’t have any idea how artwork is made in general, much less something like I do,” said paper artist Susan Kristoferson. “I function like a painter, but I do it through collage.”
Kristoferson is the owner of Kristoferson Studio on the west side of Turner Valley. She has been working in paper art and teaching for decades, and this year is joining The Most Beautiful Art Tour in Alberta.
“People have no idea there is a place here much less an art studio,” she said. “I get exposure through places like Bluerock, but people don’t see what I’m creating or how I create it unless I do demonstrations.”
Through her demonstrations in paper art, Kristoferson said the public will see her at work painting and dying paper – the first step in creating her pieces.
“Right now I’m creating landscapes that I see from where I live,” she said. “I need a multitude of yellows in a gradient of colours and a multitude of textures in a gradient of textures. I need small patterns for things far away and big patterns for things close up.”
Kristoferson said she often creates dozens of pieces of paper to create just one image.
“I’ve got thousands of sheets of paper which I have collected over the past 40 years,” she said. “That’s something that folks just are not even aware is a possibility.”
Bluerock Gallery owner Karen Gimbel will have two to three Foothills artists putting on demonstrations each of the three days to add to the collection of fine arts and crafts on display by more than 200 regional artists
“It will be everything from pottery to jewelry making,” she said. “It’s going to be full-on art activities happening.”
Gimbel, who has participated in Alberta Culture Days the past six years, said the demonstrations offer a unique perspective for those who appreciate art, yet have little to no experience creating it.
“When you’re watching someone who is actually crafting the pieces you might have seen in the gallery you begin to understand what skills and energy it takes,” she said. “We want everybody to feel like they can find something to relate to so that art isn’t something that happens somewhere else by special people. It’s actually accessible and enjoyable. If all you need to do is appreciate it that’s what we welcome.”
In Longview, photographer Debra Garside is eager to give exposure to local artists with demonstrations in the Garside Wilson Gallery, which she opened in partnership with artist Donna Wilson in December.
In addition to their captivating Streets of Longview and Wild Horses exhibits, Wilson will offer sculpting demonstrations and artist Elizabeth Ellis will offer weaving demonstrations.
“This is what we do everyday anyway,” said Garside. “It’s nice to be a part of a group and because we are pretty new this might be a way to reach out to people that might not normally take a trip to Longview to get to know us.”
Since the doors opened to the gallery, Garside said it’s been well received and gets busier each month.
“It’s been a great summer for us,” she said. “We’ve had people from all over the world visit.”
The avid photographer said it’s easy to be motivated, considering the landscape and culture the Longview area has to offer and she’s eager to share that with art lovers.
“I think it’s an opportunity for people to really see what comes from that inspiration,” she said. “We only have local artists and we have everything from potters to stone-carvers.
“It’s all local and it’s all inspired by local wildlife and local fabrics and materials and scenery.”
The Most Beautiful Art Tour in Alberta seems to take on a life of its own from year to year, with some studios and galleries continuing to be a part of it, some leaving and new ones joining.
Kristoferson said she sees a lot of potential in the years to come.
“As this goes on we are hopeful that more studios are added and we are able to expand this with support from Alberta Tourism either through a link with Cool Little Towns or funding to help us print a bazillion brochures and get them out all over the province and beyond,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful area and the work that is done here is unique to the artists who create it.”
For more details go to themostbeautifularttourinalberta.com
