Foothills artists clamour to get into one of the most unique art shows in southern Alberta. Each spring in Black Diamond, hundreds of art pieces from landscape paintings to sculptures are set up amongst greenery and colourful blooms at Vale’s Greenhouse in its annual Cultivation of Art Show and Sale. Fifty artists have been selected among more than 100 to showcase their art June 22-24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Among them is Naptha potter David Barnes, who will have several ceramic sculptures and functional pieces on display throughout the grounds. “It’s a great environment to show art,” he said. “Originally I thought it can’t be very big because it’s in Black Diamond.” Barnes said he was impressed with the show last year and is ecstatic to be one of the southern Alberta artists selected to display this year. “Art can be seen in many walks of life and a garden provides a unique format,” he said. “I sell a lot of work through the Bluerock Gallery and I would like to be part of the culture of what’s going on in Black Diamond. “It’s a good way to meet people and talk about your work and sell some work.” In addition to submitting some of his functional pieces, Barnes said he plans to do a sculpting demonstration this weekend. Barnes studied art and ceramics at Midway College of Art and Design in England and has been creating pottery ever since. He taught ceramics at colleges and universities in the United Kingdom. “Once you start working with clay a lot of people just develop a love for it,” he said. “It’s something you can’t put down. There’s something about working with the material. I don’t know if it’s a connection with the earth or what it was.” Barnes has been hosting classes at his Naptha workshop since moving to Canada in 2006. “As a student one of my interests lied with the sculpture side of ceramics,” he said. “My focus is more on the sculpture and experimental side of ceramics, just playing with different types of clays and different glaze combinations.” Returning to the art show and sale for a fourth year is landscape painter Chester Lees, who made a name for herself while living in Calgary and has recently moved to the Foothills. “It’s a show I really love,” she said. “I really enjoy it because you can exhibit a variety of sizes and work and it all seems to fit and look beautiful among the plants.” Last year Lees sold about a dozen of her paintings. This year she plans to have more of her prairie landscapes and skies, as well as a new painting of the Okotoks erratic to add to the collection. “Everything will range in price and size,” she said. “It’s usually very successful for me. It’s just a beautiful show.” Greenhouse owner Katrina Diebel is offering a diverse spread this year in genres, selection and prices. “You can come here and buy an original piece of art for $12,” she said. “The first piece of art you buy can come from here. It will be good quality from very good artists.” More than 100 artists submitted work for the juried show, said Diebel, adding she likes to keep it fresh so she’s selected several new artists this year. “We look for very specific styles and different mediums to make it more well-rounded,” she said. “It’s one of the biggest shows in southern Alberta. We have 50 artists and thousands of peoples show up. I’m shocked at how good everything looks when it’s in here.” Diebel said it’s the unique environment that has artists clamouring to feature their work in her show. “We’re very unusual because we have an extremely beautiful garden and people can come and wander through the garden and the art is spread between the plants in the greenhouses,” she said. “It makes for a really nice setting.” Rather than a stuffy environment where prices are hidden, Diebel said the show and sale provides a more casual atmosphere where people don’t feel compelled to purchase high-priced items. “You’re not going to get attacked by an overzealous art dealer,” she said. “It’s very casual and the setting is extremely beautiful.” Looking back to the event’s first year in 2009, Diebel still chuckles. “I thought we would be a success if we sold one painting,” she said. “Halfway through the day there’s all this art moving around through the driveway and I said, ‘Can you tell them to leave the art’ and I was told they were customers buying the art. I was just excited if we sold one painting in the whole weekend.” Those attending can meet the artists at a reception June 22 from June 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be light entertainment and snacks.
