livingfeature
use computers. “A couple of guys and myself picked up some knowledge
and decided to share with others,” explains John. “I wasn’t that great on
computers, but I knew how to write things down into a plan and it took
off.”
Twenty years later, his contribution to the community is now
documented through the Faces of Significance project, something that
has been a little overwhelming, but still very much valued. “I’m 88 now
and I can’t teach that much anymore, so the appreciation that they are
giving me is something I definitely appreciate myself as well,” John says.
The project has also been an inspiring experience for the artists
involved, with new members seeing a way to become involved with a
group they previously had no connection to. “I didn't know anything
about the club until I saw an ad on Facebook for a portrait competition
here in Lethbridge,” explains new club member David Walters. “When
I saw the ad and contemplated entering a portrait in the competition,
it really scared me, but I thought the pressure of a judged competition
might force me to step it up a bit in my painting ability.” The project’s
sketching sessions became a way for artists to learn from each other and
work together in a supportive and welcoming environment. “I was really
nervous when I went to the first of several live model drawing sessions–I
had always drawn and painted from photographs,” says David. “I soon
got over my fears, however, when I discovered that I wasn’t that far behind
some of the other artists and that they were kind enough to encourage me
and offer tips on how to improve my portraits.”
The 80th anniversary celebration project will culminate in an
exhibition, which opens at Casa on Saturday, January 16, of all the
portraits entered into the competition. However, that’s just the beginning
of the journey, as the portraits will then be judged, with the top 10
moving on to venues across Southern Alberta for a travelling exhibition.
“We tried to stretch our reach beyond Lethbridge to all of Southwestern
Alberta for this event, with the nominated subjects coming from the
larger region,” Linda explains. “Through that, we realized how great it
would be to share the final portraits with this larger artistic community
by touring the exhibition around to smaller art galleries in the area.”
After the final stop on the exhibition’s tour, the portraits will return
for their final installation and last round of judging May 7–October 3
at the Galt Museum & Archives. There, a second panel of judges will
determine the final winner of the $500 grand prize. However, the project
will continue to live on after that, with a commemorative catalogue being
published to celebrate both the subjects and their portraits. “Each portrait
entered into the competition will get its own page in the catalogue,” says
Linda. “We thought it was a fantastic way of increasing the memory of
this competition, so there’s a published document of the event.”
The public will also play a key role in the project, since a People’s
Choice Award will be determined from the exhibition, with viewers
having the opportunity to vote for their favourite portrait.
“One of our aims was to make ourselves better known in the
community,” explains Sue. “We hope this project will help with that, as
well as being a celebration of our 80th anniversary.”
“It’s been very satisfying to see the club grow like it has since we set
out to prove that we could expand and stretch our boundaries,” Sue
adds. “We believe in the value of art and that affects everyone in the
community–that’s very broad reaching.”
LETHBRIDGELIVING.COM
JAN-FEB 2016
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