Three local artists with completely different styles have come together to show off their natural artistic talents.
Currently on display at the Nanaimo Art 10 Gallery is Natural Elements, an exhibit that features works by Hollie Benoit, Karin Schieber and Patricia Mansell.
The month-long exhibit showcases pieces made from natural elements such as glass, silver and slate.
“This is all handcrafted stuff,” Schieber said. “It is not off the mill. It is original pieces.”
Instead of featuring an individual artist for the month of July, the Art 10 Gallery decided to combine the three artists’ natural pieces into a single show.
“We decided that what we really do falls under the title of natural elements because we are using the elements of silver, glass, slate and wood pieces,” Mansell said. “They are all nature’s natural materials.”
This is the first time that Benoit, Mansell and Schieber have displayed their work together.
“It has worked out really well,” Benoit said.
Schieber, who creates jewelry out of gold and silver, says combining her art with Benoit and Mansell’s was a natural decision.
“It goes together better because it is glass and slate and jewelry, it is better than with paintings,” she said.
Schieber, originally from Germany, became a jewelry arts professor at George Brown College, where she taught for five years.
Schieber says she loves working with gold, but often works with silver because of costs.
“I love making necklaces, cuffs and bracelets,” she said.
Mansell was born in England and moved to Canada in 1981. In the mid-1990s, she took up painting wildlife and has since developed a special interest in creating works that depict endangered animals.
“I spend many hours watching the animals and getting their characteristics down,” Mansell said.
Benoit works primarily with glass and has been doing so since 2010. She has worked with other mediums such as clay and wax and also draws.
Benoit says she enjoys being able to recreate nature.
“Like Patricia, I like to look at the nature aspects when I do scenery. I just look at it and think that would be beautiful in glass,” she said.
Mansell hopes that people appreciate just how much work went into all the pieces featured in the show.
“Hopefully they see the work that goes into the individual pieces and that they can see what can be done with the natural materials that are used to put the pieces together,” Mansell said.
Natural Elements runs until July 31 at the Art 10 Gallery inside the Nanaimo North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Rd.
For more information, please visit www.myartclub.com.
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