It’s an event that never fails to disappoint artisans across the province, said Linda Corbett at the Westlock Community Art Club’s Fall Show and Sale last Saturday afternoon.
“This is my second time attending at this location,” said Corbett. “We get all of the activities in Westlock and go from place to place and we’ve (had) a good response here.”
The art club hosted its annual fall show and sale at the Westlock Art Gallery, located on the second floor of the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre, with projects of all different varieties and mediums as part of Alberta Culture Days, which ran province-wide Sept. 27-29.
The club counted 80 guests to its show, who were treated to 111 paintings from local art club members — 28 of which came from young students. The club managed to sell six paintings while the silent auction brought in nearly $600.
Corbett walked slowly in a circle around a group of roughly eight children who were participating in an acrylic painting demonstration with art teacher Betty Wysosky.
The duo marveled at the talented troupe of painters and noted the gallery lays claim to some of the area’s most unique projects.
“The kids are doing such a good job,” Wysosky said. “And to draw more people in (to the gallery), we thought we should do something with the kids. It’s a little bit of fun for them too.”
The free workshop ran between 1-3 p.m. on Sept. 28 and only attracted one new student.
Heidi, 9, joined her sister Kaylee Huppertz, 13, to try her hand at painting for the first time ever.
“Acrylic is a little different medium and it’s a little harder to work with,” said Wysosky.
“But they’re doing great. I sketched the picture to speed things up, then they can paint and each picture is going to be different.”
Wysosky noted Heidi was a natural, like her sister Kaylee.
The Huppertz girls sat side-by-side and worked in silence despite an array of compliments from practicing artists, parents and visitors.
The fifth annual Westlock Celebrates the Arts series returned to library over the weekend.
“It’s a celebration of arts within your community,” said Westlock Libraries assistant director Wendy Hodgson-Sadgrove.
“It includes theatre, music, writing, poetry, dance and visual arts; but this is about the ability to introduce new art forms for people to try.”
Four workshops ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and topics included paper-folding sculptures, mono-printing and painting.
