Art from creators who were encouraged to take risks and plunge into the unknown can be seen during Red Deer First Friday gallery openings for March 1.
LEAP! is the 2024 show by members of the Red Deer Arts Council. In this leap year, local artists were encouraged to “leap ahead” and use their imaginations to fuel creativity and boldly explore new terrain. The resulting multi-media works in this juried exhibition can be seen at the Kiwanis Gallery at the Red Deer Public Library until April 21. There’s a First Friday exhibit on March 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
From realistic landscapes to abstract canvases, the artistic journey of Kelly Christenson can be followed at the Red Deer Arts Council’s Community Gallery to April 10. There will be a First Friday reception for his show, Journey to Expressionism, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Fibre and textile art can be seen in the Craft and Care show at the Viewpoint Gallery in the Red Deer Culture Centre. Artists Teresa Barrett, Margaret Blank, Erin Davis, Darcy Edinga, Veronica Graves, Margaret R. Hall, Michelle Houston, Debra Hunter, Hazel Sheehan, Chris Verhoeven and Maxine Whitehead bridge arts and crafts in these works. The exhibit goes to April 26. A First Friday reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., with an artists’ talk at 6:30 p.m.
The art of portraiture will be celebrated by many local artists from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on First Friday at Artribute Art School in the Old Courthouse on Ross Street. Everyone is invited to what could turn into a party.
Shadows/Footprints is an exhibit of nature photographs by Travis Boschman and acrylic paintings by andrea dillingham-lacoursiere. Reality and imagination combine in this exhibit, which runs to April 19 in the Marjorie Wood Gallery in the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. There’s a 4 to 7 p.m. First Friday reception.
The 20th anniversary celebration of Red Deer Scene, the live music and art events magazine founded by Carl Stretton and published by Kyle Key, continues at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery to May 31. Live music will be performed by Jesse Roads during the First Friday 5 to 8 p.m. reception.
Some continuing exhibits are:
– Fun Times, with works by various artists, at Curiosity Art and Framing. The store at 5002-48th St. will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. on First Friday.
-Solorzano Spa Art Exhibitions is featuring artists Greg Swainson, Andrea Swainson, and Julia Zaouzolkova at 4631-50th Street. There will be a First Friday reception from 7 to 9 p.m.
– Nature’s Layers of Complexity, art by Grade 4 students from St. Martin de Porres School can be seen at Velvet Olive Lounge, 4928C 50 Street, Red Deer (enter from Ross Street Patio or back alley) from March 1 to April 30. An opening reception will be held on First Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Artworks will be available for purchase with proceeds going to a charity of the students’ choice.
– Artist Christel Langan’s works can be seen until March 28 at the 52 Weeks show at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre, 5227 C and E Trail. In 2017, the award-winning Lacombe artist was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Art allows her to feel like there’s something she can control in life and allows her to make some sense of this always changing world.
A new interactive gallery guide, with maps, can be found on the City of Red Deer’s website, with listings from all public, commercial and community galleries around the city. Check it out at www.reddeer.ca.
