The annual Art from the Heart fundraiser reception took place at Canmore Hospital on Thursday (Feb. 12,) with several artists on hand to discuss and answer questions from the public on the pieces exhibited for this year’s event.
This year features a mix of returning artists, along with new artists who wish to showcase their work to the community along with taking part in a worthy cause.
One such returning artist included photographer Ward Cameron, who included a panoramic portrait of Canmore to the exhibition.
“This was taken in May two years ago, and what’s nice about May is you still have the snow which brings in a lot more contrast and resolution,” Cameron said. “There’s this spot I love to go on Lady Mac with the idea being to get a perspective that we all get in Canmore – Three Sisters looks like what we expect Three Sisters to look like and we’re able to see the entire town.”
Cameron’s photograph is several images in a panorama, but one set of exposures to capture the entire ton and landscape.
“This is the third time I’ve been in and that print sold the first two times, so it’s been a good seller,” Cameron said. “I’ve been a photographer 30 years here in the Bow Valley … and guiding and photography is what I do. I love the idea of this exhibit; for me it gives a showcase and at the same time we’re helping the hospital and everybody benefits. I’ve unfortunately spent time in emergency and know it first-hand.”
One of the new artists to emerge at this year’s exhibition is David Geisler, who hails from an artistic family but only picked up a brush over the last two years.
“I’m very humble and just do what I do. I’m colour blind, so it’s a challenge,” Geisler said. “My palate is labeled so all my colours are on my palate and I have tape with the name of the paint. So when I take my paint and, say, I want to take a brown and make it a little lighter, I mix it with white. But if I run out of that paint I can’t match that colour back, so I get one shot at it.”
On May 25, a changeover will occur with the pieces exhibited in the halls at the hospital.
“Anyone interested in purchasing one of the art pieces on display just has to go to the front desk at the hospital to make a payment for the piece. The artist is then notified so they are able to add another piece to replace it; they are more than welcome to add another piece to the exhibit,” said organizer Catherine Findlay.
“We have some new artists taking part, including David Geisler, who has a few pieces. His wife emailed me and wanted know how he could take part and he has some really wonderful pieces. Twenty per cent of all sales will go to the hospital foundation and you’re going to be able to discover new and local established artists from the Bow Valley.”
