Residents and visitors in Bragg Creek can get up close and personal with some of the region’s most talented artists in a popular 10-day festival. Painters, sculptors and jewelry makers will be among those displaying their creations at the Bragg Creek Arts Festival Sept. 21 to 30, a collaboration between Rocky View County, Arts in Bragg Creek and Artists on Tour that features world-class artists and artisans throughout the community. For stained glass artist Elizabeth Hertz, founder of Arts in Bragg Creek, this third annual festival is a community-wide initiative that celebrates the arts in Bragg Creek. “This year the businesses have been really stepping forward,” she said. “Everybody is focusing on the arts. It’s a fun event and brings a lot of people out here.” Several businesses hopped on board with the initiative, Hertz said. Some restaurants name dishes after famous artists while other merchants showcase art in their stores. The festival kicks off Sept. 21-23 with a plein air event where painters disperse throughout the Kananaskis to paint. “If you go into the woods that weekend you will see artists with their paints and easels everywhere,” she said. Among them will be six students from Banded Peak School who were selected to do plein air under the guidance of professional artists. “We’re trying to promote the youth to get excited and involved and understand the process of the arts,” she said. The plein air portion of the festival was what started the festival three years ago. The idea came from Bragg Creek naturalist and photographer, Angelo Avlonitis, who owns Art Country Canada Framing Gallery in the hamlet. “I wanted to do this plein air thing for decades,” he said. “Plein air festivals are huge in the States and other parts of Canada.” The first event drew 40 painters to Bragg Creek. Last year, 75 participated and more than 100 are signed up for the plein air weekend this month, said Avlonitis. He envisioned an event that would get artists painting together, selling their creations and getting face-to-face with the public. “Bragg Creek is perfect for painting outside,” he said. The popularity of the festival continues to grow. “This year it has a life of its own,” Avlonitis said. “Everyone is starting to get involved and there’s hundreds of people who come through. A lot of artists don’t get a place to showcase their art. It’s such a struggle for artists. It’s hard to make money at it. This gives us an avenue.” From Sept. 24 to 26, art workshops will be taught by world-renowned artists Brent Heighton, Jonn Einerssen, Neil Patterson, and Vance Theoret in mediums ranging from paintings to stone carvings. The festival closes with an art and food walk Sept. 29-30 throughout the hamlet featuring live music. A ticketed event on Saturday night will showcase a musical theatre performance and exceptional art. David Kalinchuk, Rocky View County economic development manager, said the Bragg Creek Arts Festival highlights the range of artistic talents in the hamlet. “Art is a major part of the fabric of the community,” he said. “This kind of event shines the light on 12 months of hard work and achievement.” For Kalinchuk, the festival is also an economic boost to Bragg Creek. “It introduces a lot of consumers to the products that are available,” he said. “The economist in me says that business retention and expansion is always a great strategy for any community but it always trickles down to the niche industries like artists and performers. If they can enhance their living by having more economic opportunity brought to them the whole community benefits.” Maps for the art and food tour will be available in the community centre. For more details about the event go to ARTSinbraggcreek.ca or artistsontour.ca or to buy tickets to the Sept. 29 ticketed event call 403-703-5078.
