SUNDRE — A local art showcase and sale that prior to the pandemic was held annually is poised to bloom back to life at the end of the month.
The theme, said Sundre Creative Arts president Lila Weiss, is Flowers That Grow in Alberta.
Formerly known as the Sundre Arts Society, the organization rebranded under the name Sundre Creative Arts, but at its core essentially remains the same group that’s been active for 47 years, said Weiss.
“It’s been two years that we were hoping to have it, and it’s been kind of disappointing that we couldn’t,” Weiss said about the show and sale.
But with public health restrictions largely completely lifted, she expressed optimism for a well-attended comeback.
“We’re hoping to have a good turnout,” she said.
The show is scheduled for Saturday, April 30 from 1-5 p.m. as well as Sunday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Sundre West Country Centre.
The setup will be similar to past years, featuring a variety of artwork from as many as approximately two dozen artists displaying anywhere between 100 to 125 paintings, she said.
Although there could possibly be more, including an assortment of new pieces, considering how much time artists have had to hone their craft during the pandemic.
“With people being home the last couple of years, we’re hoping that there’ll be lots of fresh art,” said Weiss, adding the focus is to as much as possible showcase local talent.
“We will have some artists from other areas,” she said. “But the majority will be local artists.”
Organizers also hope to offer refreshments and door prizes as part of the effort to further entice people to come out as spring gets fully into swing, she said.
Asked how the group has fared through the pandemic’s stormy weather, Weiss said the past couple of years have represented something of a lull in organized activity.
“We certainly have been much quieter in the amount of things that we’ve been doing,” she said, adding for example that there have been no workshops throughout that time.
But as measures were eased off, she said some members once again began gathering earlier in the new year for monthly painting sessions hosted at the Sundre Municipal Library.
Although she could not speak for all of the club’s member artists, those she’d had a chance to chat with along the way had kept busy working from home.
Weiss also made the most of a less-than-desirable situation and capitalized on the opportunity to practise painting as much as she could. Some of her work will be included among those featured at the show.
“I have lots,” she laughed. “I’ve been busy painting; over the winter last year when there was not much else to do, I did quite a bit of painting.”
