Patrons of the arts in the valley can double their fun at the Carter-Ryan Gallery on Saturday (Dec. 14).
Things get underway with The Form: Human and Otherwise, a new series of paintings and stone carvings by Jason Carter. A wine and cheese opening of the new exhibition will run from 1-4 p.m., with an artist demonstration, and the exhibit will remain in the gallery until Jan. 5.
Still on Saturday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bridget Ryan, accompanied by Jen McMillan on piano, goes back to her roots to present Bridget Ryan’s Big Ol’ Christmas Caberet.
The musical evening will feature songs, stories, laughter and surprises for the Christmas season.
In all, said Carter, he’ll likely have 20 new paintings and 20 new carvings – some of which are carvings and paintings of the human form that he’s never shown before.
Carter is well known for his acrylic on canvas paintings and stone carvings of wildlife, including bears, wolves and rabbits, among others, and illustrations for the children’s books he and partner Ryan have created – Who is Boo? and Who is Boo 2?
The Form follows an exhibition of his work at Edmonton’s Bearclaw Gallery in late November.
“This is the first time I’ve ever displayed human form work,” said Carter. “The plan is to have a couple of Easter Island heads included. I wanted to try something different and got an Alberta Foundation of the Arts grant to explore and experience the human form.
“So far, I’ve found the human form much more difficult than animals and I’m already seeing an evolution from the first piece to the most recent. I’m starting to find my style in the stone.”
Carter, who was featured at the 2010 Vancouver Whistler Olympics, carves in soapstone, alabaster, chlorite and wonderstone.
“Human form has been carved for 26,000 years, so there was a bit of pressure. I wondered, can I do this? My first piece was frustrating and it looked terrible, but I’ve kept at it. For the future, I’ll see how it goes. I’ll have 10 pieces and I want to see the reaction.
“From what I’ve experienced here (Main Street gallery), when I’ve been working, or from photos people have seen, they’ve been pretty positive. I’m pretty excited about doing more.”
Most recently, Carter has been on a rabbit-creating spree, in large part because of the Boo books, which follow the antics of a mythological Ojibwe trickster rabbit named Nanabozho.
“My rabbits are still evolving and every piece of stone is different, so there is always something new. My first carving was a raven and I may go back to birds with my next show. I haven’t carved birds for a long time and it’d be fun to go back to them, birds can be very abstract.”
Tickets for the Big Ol’ Christmas Cabaret are $20 and seating is limited. To reserve tickets, call 403-621-1000 or email [email protected] The cabaret will evening will feature eggnog and hot chocolate.
