Touchstones Nelson will feature 38 paintings of 12 artists of the West Kootenay chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) from May 13-18. The work, selected by jurors Susie Cipolla and Tatjana Mirkov-Popovicki, FCA senior members, and FCA associate member Fran Alexander, is a collection of various mediums including oil, acrylic and watercolour.
The twelve artists represented in the exhibit are Elaine Alfoldy (Creston), Lucy Bates (Fruitvale), Darlene Dautel (Grand Forks), Brigitte Desbois (Nelson), Sandra Donohue (Robson), Helena Edmison (Trail), Robyn Gold (Winlaw), Alison Graeme (Nelson), Stephanie Gauvin (Rossland), Sandra Irvine (Nelson), Astrid Pinkerton (Robson) and Barbara Pistak (Rossland).
The FCA first prize went to Alfoldy for “Sunflowers in a Jar,” (watercolour), second prize went to Gauvin for “Sparkle,” (acrylic) and third prize went to Desbois for “Shutty Beach Bench Early Evening” (oil). FCA awards of excellence were given to Bates for “Drinnon Pass” (oil), Donohue for “Knock, Knock” (watercolour) and Pinkerton for “Rialto Fountain” (watercolour).
The artists will be present at the opening reception at Touchstones Nelson (502 Vernon St.) from 7-8:30 p.m. May 13. Refreshments will be served.
The FCA, founded in 1941, is a community of artists and art lovers. The FCA head office and gallery are located in Vancouver on Granville Island, where bi-monthly juried exhibits by emerging and signature artists are featured. Its mission is to promote the passion and pleasure of the visual arts through exhibition, education and communication. The FCA, a non-profit organization, has chapters throughout Canada. More information about the FCA membership, exhibits, and workshops can be found at artists.ca.
The West Kootenay chapter of the FCA, formed in May 2001, includes 30 members in the west and east Kootenays, and the Okanagan. Meetings are held four times a year. Their aims are to encourage artistic and professional growth through critiques, demonstrations at meetings and workshops instructed by local, national and internationally known artists. For more information about the chapter, contact Sandra Donohue at 250-365-7084.
—FEDERATION OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (West Kootenay Chapter)