A four-day cultural extravaganza, Night of Artists, is a gilt-edged chance for creative people to showcase their talents to a wide audience.
Six artists from the Barrhead and Westlock areas will be doing just that when they take part in the March 14-17 festival at the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert.
Linda Corbett, Laura Cox, Maureen Flinn, Marilynn Jeffery, Megan Pederson and Tammy Taylor are among about 30 artists exhibiting in an event that will also feature live painting demonstrations, concerts, fashion and photography.
“It’s a great chance for exposure,” said Taylor, a five-year veteran of Nights of Artists.
She said the occasion promised plenty of entertainment for the public.
“It’s really no different from a dinner theatre,” she said. “It’s a feast for all the senses.
“One of the great things about it is that artists always donate for charity. In the past, for instance, we’ve raised funds for the kidney foundation.”
This year the money will go towards the Lois Hole Hospital for Women at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton.
Cox, a Barrhead Art Club member with family ties to Dapp, said the festival provides a big market for local artists to sell their work.
“There is only so much a local area will buy,” she said. “You want to expand and this is a good opportunity to do so.”
She added a gathering of so many artistic minds would also be inspirational.
“You get more ideas and more information by attending such an event,” she said. “Artists are very forward about what’s going on in their community.”
Pederson, a young mother, said she was keen to meet other artists who are balancing painting with the demands of raising children. “I am looking forward to meeting new people in the industry,” she said.
Flinn, a member of the Barrhead and Westlock art clubs, said she would be exhibiting paintings and fabric sculptures.
She appealed for as many people as possible to attend.
“The more the merrier,” she said. “We are going to have lots of fun.”
The creative force behind Night of Artists is St. Albert painter Phil Alain.
The first festival took place at the St. Albert Community Hall in 1997, featuring Alain’s paintings, a friend playing piano and his sister singing. It attracted about 150 people.
It was so successful, it outgrew its home city and moved elsewhere. With the opening of the Enjoy Centre, however, St. Albert has a big enough venue for a celebration of arts throughout the province and beyond.
Called “Straight from The Art,” this year’s event will see about 300 artworks on display and a silent auction of 30 original paintings.
Bids have already opened on paintings and will close at opening night on March 14.
Highlights of the four-day festival include Lewis Lavoie doing a live art performance, music by Japanese fusion group Pulse, a Laura Dreger fashion show and other attractions like photo sittings, face painting and temporary tattoo sessions.
The artists will set up their work in separate booths, and viewers can expect plenty of variety from the six local exhibitors – from Taylor’s rural farm and livestock paintings to Pederson’s 3-D creations, and from Corbett’s relief carvings to Jeffery’s Paverpol figurines.
Corbett, who likes to paint “a bit of everything” and specializes in oils, said she was thrilled at the prospect of the festival.
“I am really excited to be going,” she said.
Jeffery, who runs Paverpol art workshops in Westlock with Flinn, shared her enthusiasm.
“This will be my third year there,” she said.
For Thursday night and Saturday night tickets or more information you can contact Cox (780-674-3245), Corbett (780-674-4500), Taylor (780-967-3981), Jeffery (780-674-4525) or Flinn (780-954-2548). Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For more see www.nightofartists.com.
