BY DUCK PATERSON
Ladysmith’s École Davis Road has been transformed into a gallery of artistic treasures.
The Ladysmith and District Arts Council held the opening night for its 10th Fine Arts Show juried exhibition on Feb. 2.
Opening night attracted more than 150 guests viewing the talents of more than 80 artists from all areas of Vancouver Island as well as some of the Gulf Islands. The show attracted the attention of almost 100 artists who submitted more than 160 art submissions they desired to be in the show. Of those submissions, 125 pieces were chosen to be included in the exhibition.
The evening was opened by special guest host Sheila Norgate, an artist, writer and performer from Gabriola Island, who explained how a juried art show works.
“Jurors are professionals in their fields, and may include curators, gallery owners, educators and established artists. Jurors, anonymously, see submissions, titles, medium, substrate, piece size, and optional description. Jurors review the artwork and evaluate it for inclusion to the show based on predetermined criteria and a points structure.”
Submission acceptance is based on the jurors’ evaluation as well as the amount of space available at the show.
Norgate introduced the jurors for the show by introducing Harold Allanson, Jason Gress and Darcy Johnson. Each of the jurors are professional artists. Following the opening, Delie Lawley, executive director of the arts council, announced the award winners as selected by the jurors. The five awards of excellence are Big Country by Denise Tierney, Being At Peace by Stephen Cole, Peacekeepers by Claudia Lohmann, Defenders by Donna Hall and Moeder Zit by Yvonne Vander Kooi. There were also three jurors’ choice awards handed out to Innocence Letting Loose by Brenda Hughes, Oversite IV by Dave Casey and the Crown by Sally Mann.
Five honourable mentions were presented to Uncle Joe’s Fantastic Windmill by Terry Jordan, The Barns Keep by Taylor McNeil, As Long as a Shadow by Jo-Anne Westerby, In Coastal Style by Miki Morita and Beachcombing After the Rain by Eileen Williamson.
Arts council president Kathy Holmes announced to the spectators that this coming summer, the gallery will be moving into the newly remodelled Temperance Hotel on the corner of High Street and First Avenue in downtown Ladysmith.
“Having a spot right in the middle of downtown is huge for the arts in Ladysmith as well as for the vitality of our downtown,” Holmes said.
The art show is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday and runs until Feb. 25 at the school, and the show can also be seen online at www.ladysmitharts.ca. Artwork is available for purchase. Members of the public are invited to vote for the people’s choice award, which will be announced on Feb. 27.
For more about the show or the arts council, call 250-245-1252 or e-mail info@ladysmitharts.ca.