SUNDRE – The annual art show and sale that places a spotlight on the community’s creative talent returns at the end of the month.
The Sundre Creative Arts group has scheduled this year’s showcase for April 29-30 at the Sundre West Country Centre from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and then 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The theme for the event, which also offers members of the viewing public a chance to buy and bring home a new piece to hang on a wall, is On the Forest Floor, said Lila Weiss, the group’s president.
“It is a fairly broad category for people to come up with creative ideas, anything from old logs to critters,” Weiss said on April 4 during a phone interview when asked what inspired the theme.
“It’s interesting to see what people come up with with the different themes that we have,” she said.
Participating artists will be expected to submit a minimum of one piece that relates to the theme, while the rest of the work they put on display can be of their own choosing, she said.
“We’re expecting probably around 20 artists, and we’re hoping to get 100-plus paintings,” she said.
While the show is largely for local creative talent, accommodations are made to also feature a handful of artists from out of town. Sundre-and-area artists may enter upward of 10 paintings, while visiting artists can submit up to five, she said.
“Most paintings will be for sale; there’s a few that are just for show,” she said. “But most of them will be for sale.”
Along the way, people will also have an opportunity to vote on their favourite piece in an informal viewers’ choice competition. Up for grabs are essential bragging rights, she said.
“We try not to make too big a deal out of it because there’s so many votes going for so many different paintings,” she said. “It’s interesting to see how many different choices there are for different people; everybody likes something different.”
The show and sale, which also boasts some door prizes, is accessible free from any cost of admission with refreshment available, she said.
Asked how the group has been doing of late, Weiss said, “We have a few really active artists and then quite a few extras that come out for the show, so it’s pretty steady.”
Since the pandemic-induced lull that essentially brought activity to a standstill, the group has been picking things up, she said.
“We’re having paint-ins now,” she said, referring to free, monthly drop-in painting sessions hosted at the Sundre Municipal Library.
“It’s for anybody that wants to come,” she said, adding the drop-ins are not restricted only to members.
The gatherings – usually but not always held the second Saturday of the month – offer an informal means for members to get together while also allowing individuals potentially interested in joining to test the water and get started.
“It’s not usually a lesson, but we will help each other,” she said.
Check the community newsletters issued by Greenwood Neigbhourhood Place and the Sundre library for the next scheduled drop-in.
Last year was the return of show and sale, which had been cancelled throughout the pandemic.
