CANMORE – The Three Sister Gallery has refreshed its walls with vibrant art surrounding the theme of kinship.
The latest exhibit features 11 artists who use different mediums ranging from oil, acrylic, embroidery, glass and mixed media, but they all display themes of what connects them to each other and the mountain community.
“It's just absolute vibrancy. It just comes off the walls in terms of colour and approach to the story that comes along with the piece,” said Sue Hayduk, Town of Canmore arts and culture coordinator.
For the current exhibit – which opened Nov. 9 and runs until Jan. 26, 2024 – 87 pieces were submitted by Alberta artists but ultimately 21 were chosen to be on the walls.
“It's really an impartial group of the community members and artists, art curators, art professionals that we invite to come and select the work,” said Hayduk.
The featured artists are from around Alberta, including Canmore, Cochrane, Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer.
An opening reception was held Nov. 9, where those attending participated in an exercise that demonstrated the idea of kinship in a visual, tangible way.
“We call it the web of life activity,” said Hayduk. “We were all sitting in a circle … and everyone was asked to choose a word on a sideboard, there were a bunch of different words that reflect kinships.”
Once everyone had their word, they tossed a ball of yarn across the circle, ultimately making a web.
With the yarn tangled across the circle, participants pulled their pieces to feel tension from another person representing their two different words being connected.
“In that reflection piece, people really enjoy the idea of having that sensory experience of connection to people and meeting their neighbours, meeting people in the room that you would unlikely meet anywhere else than through having this type of an event,” said Hayduk.
There is a comment box available for those who wish to share feedback or compliments.
“We like to hear back from what people are seeing or expressing,” said Hayduk.
The exhibit is available for viewing during the operating hours of Elevation Place. The second floor gallery at Elevation Place was established in 2013 and is run by the Town's public art committee. It rotates fresh art for residents and visitors to enjoy every four months.
The Three Sisters Gallery will be contributing to the Exposure Photography Festival in February 2024.
