The Art Show and Sale that kicked off ARTember in Airdrie was a lot of fun. I got to spend two days with so many creative people — it’s great to be surrounded by such energy.
Oh, yes, I also made some very good sales along with a commission. Here are three pieces that went to new homes. 😉
September is a great month for artists. Alberta Arts Day, September 30, began as a one-day celebration in 2008 to recognize the contribution artists make to life in this province. That year 100 events in 30 communities marked the celebration.
This special occasion — a 3-day party now known as Alberta Culture Days — has blossomed since then. Last year more than 1200 events over 3 days happened across the province.
Airdrie does even more to mark the importance of the arts. ARTember runs from September 13th to the 29th. The big kickoff happens Friday September 13 with a special art show and sale.
I’ll be at the show both days with my jewelry. Please drop by and say hello. 😉
For the third year in a row Otter Pottery / Otter Rafting Adventures hosted the Sundre Summer Art Show & Sale. Wellspring members were invited, and other local artists were contacted and offered space to set up and show their artwork at this two-day free event.
Originally published in the Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Mountain View Gazette – used with permission.
Photos by Noel West, MVP Staff
By Paul Frey
MVP Staff
Woodturning artist John Smythe is continually impressed every time he takes his lathe to a piece of wood with its different grains and colours.
“It’s like pottery in a way. You can watch it develop into shape right before your eyes. It’s intriguing, as is the decorating. Sometimes in woodturning you just turn the piece of wood into a bowl or vase or something and you don’t do anything with it because the wood itself also has a beautiful grain or character in it. Sometimes you might take a piece and enhance it,” he said.
1st place in the Woodturning class and best of show for all Woodworking entries/classes.
I had a winning entry in the 2013 Calgary Stampede Western Showcase Woodworking section. My turned and decorated butterfly vase was awarded a first place ribbon in the woodturning section and the judges awarded it “The Best of Show” for all the woodworking entries in the Stampede Western Showcase.
The vase was turned on a lathe from a native clump birch harvested in northern Saskatchewan. The 10 inch x 4 1/2 inch vase is turned thin to a wall thickness of approx. 1/16 inch. The vase was decorated with pyrography, airbrushed with acrylic paint and pierced with a high speed air powered dental drill. The vase was finished with lacquer.
2nd place in the Western theme class.
The judges also awarded second place ribbon for a turned and carved wall sculpture entered in the Western theme category.
Read about it in the July 23 Mountain View Gazette.
I’m a self developed artist. In the mid 1980’s I began a serious interest in wood turning which I continue to develop. I’m a member of the Wellspring Visual ArtNetwork Association and the Airdrie Art Society. During this summer’s Wellspring Artwalk 2013 my work is displayed at the Sundre Museum during July and August.
