More than a dozen artists will be put in the spotlight in celebration of an organization that’s fostered the visual arts in Alberta for almost a century.
Fifteen members of the Alberta Society of Artists will have their work on display at the Leighton Art Centre northeast of Millarville for the society’s 85th anniversary in an exhibit called Bridges.
The society was founded by the late A.C. Leighton, who established the Leighton Art Centre with wife Barbara in the 1970s.
Bridges features a wide selection of juried pieces from fibre arts to photo manipulations, which will be on display Sept. 24 to Oct. 30, with an opening reception on Oct. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. featuring a talk by Calgary art historian Nancy Townshend.
“It’s a good throwback to A.C. Leighton,” said Stephanie Doll, curator at the Leighton Art Centre. “It’s a tradition for them to show at the Leighton Centre just because of their history. We have done several in the past.”
Doll said the Alberta Society of Artists was formed in 1931 and is the oldest society of juried professional artists in Alberta.
“The Alberta Society of Arts is a very well-established group in Alberta and some of the most established artists are part of the Alberta Society of Artists,” said Doll. “The quality of work is really great.”
The society has historically maintained numerous programs over the years including travelling exhibitions, educational exhibitions, art workshops, speaker events and exhibition opportunities for members, Doll said.
“A lot the Alberta Society of Artists are members of ours,” she said. “It’s just another opportunity for our members to participate in an exhibition.”
Among those members is Longview artist Blanca Botero-Fuentes, whose abstract acrylic piece Albinoni’s Adagio was among those selected for Bridges.
Botero-Fuentes said her creation was inspired by the emotional classical piece of the same name composed by 20th century musicologist and Albinoni’s biographer Remo Giazotto.
Botero-Fuentes hopes Albinoni’s Adagio will encourage people to live the emotions of the music through the painting.
“It may strike a cord, especially if you view the painting while listening to the music,” she said. “Music allows us to explore the inner world just as we use our eyes to explore the outer landscape.”
Botero-Fuentes has been a member of the Alberta Society of Artists for eight years.
“I find it very helpful in terms that they usually provide a challenge for the artists to come up with ideas and work that is interesting,” she said. “They provide the venues and they move the art around. I had a piece that was taken through Alberta and down to the states as part of a show.”
The Leighton Art Center member said displaying her work through the Alberta Society of Artists’ exhibitions increases her exposure as an artist.
“It’s always an honour to display our work alongside others who are for the most part much better than I am,” she said. “It’s an honour, especially this year because of the celebration.”
Botero-Fuentes plans to be in attendance at the Oct. 1 opening reception to talk about her piece.
Other artists displaying their work in Bridges are Barbara J. West, Brent Laycock, David Harrison, Deborah Catton, Denis Gadbois, Ilyse Anysas Saulkaskaus, Karin Richter, Linda Craddock, Liv Pedersen, Liz Sullivan, Pat Strakowski, Patricia Jones, Peter Deacon, E. Ross Bradley, Titianna O’Donnell and Winnie Ho.
The Leighton Art Centre is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located northeast of Millarville. Admission is free.
