Very different artistic styles highlighted at Gallery 2
By Contributor
Drawing, whether used as a ‘means to an end’ or an ‘end in itself’ is a significant aspect of every art practice. The works that make up one of the current exhibits at Gallery 2 will challenge the traditional definition of drawing.
As guest curator, Helen Sebelius says, “All of these visual stories speak about the artists’ hands-on and highly personalized involvement with their subject matter and materials. Whether created with unconventional materials such as ball-point pens, gel pens, markers, recycled paper, or the traditionally accepted conté, charcoal, graphite, oil stick, gouache and pastel, their work is visceral in nature, at times obsessive, and always evident of an intimate engagement with their art.”
The Language of Drawing,a show of works submitted by ten artists who live and work in the Columbia Basin, illustrates how ten artists interpret the practice of drawing, one of the oldest forms of visual expression that has played a crucial role in the work of artists throughout history.
Studio Watch, recent works by Christina Lake artist Steve Howard, presents his recent mixed media works.
“By layering paint, found objects, photography collage, and sculpture I strive to create windows into new realms, realms seen in the mind’s eye, the soul or perhaps, a dream state. To make these windows, I gather fragments from time and space, whispers from the layers that make up what we do and do not see, experiences generated by emotions, spirituality, and other human conditions. I paint compressed moments which express the flow of life’s endless spirals, the rhythms of the Earth,” wrote Howard.
These works are a direct expression of Steve’s energy and passion for life and are deeply rooted in his love for the natural environment. Behind the apparent spontaneity lies a very deliberate mind.
These two exhibitions can be viewed at Gallery 2 in Grand Forks, B.C. until June 2.
