Featured Member
Maureen MacKenzie’s message:
Art is all around you
Art is everywhere — if you look. As the co-ordinator of Lacombe’s Encore Art Sale, Maureen MacKenzie loves to open eyes to art’s limitless potential. It’s a world shared by corset makers and coppersmiths, Harley Davidson air brushers and recycled metal magicians — all of whom have found a showcase at one time or another at the annual art sale at Lacombe Memorial Centre, which runs April 26 – 27. This year is the 20th anniversary of the event.
“We try to bring in different art forms to help people understand that art isn’t limited to drawing, pottery and painting.” says Maureen, who has run the show since 2010. “Art is everywhere. It’s about everything around you.”
And Maureen would know. She spent years as a sandblast artist, etching her Celtic-inspired designs into everything from slate and granite to glass and tile. Several years ago, she stepped away from sandblasting and has recently turned her hands to coppersmithing and jewelry making.
Maureen and her committee of dedicated volunteers try to kick off each art show with something a little different. Cue the corset makers, who showed off their creations in a fashion show one year. Another year, air brush artists showcased how they can turn motorcycle gas tanks into mobile masterpieces. “This year, we’re having an artist paint-off. Five artists have an hour to create a painting right before your eyes.” Think of it as the creative process witnessed live and on fast forward. The paint-off starts at 7 pm on Friday, April 26th.
“A lot of people have never really had an opportunity to create with paint so it’s fun for them to see how it’s done. It makes a cool date night where you can enjoy artwork along with wines, brews, great appetizers and desserts. Ryon Holmedal and Pete Christian will be performing on guitar from 6:30 – 8:30 pm”
The show, featuring more than 40 artists and over 25 pieces of student art, runs 1 – 9 pm on Friday the 26th and 11 am – 5 pm on Saturday the 27th. Admission is just $5 during the day and $10 Friday night. Donna Spencer, a local artist who creates unique, slab-formed ceramics, is this year’s guest artist, and a selection of some of Central Alberta’s brightest music students will provide background music throughout the show both days. On Saturday at 4 pm the Arts Endowment Awards will be presented to junior high and high school artists juried at the show, along with major Arts Endowment Awards of up to $2,500. For more information go to www.lacombe.ca and look under “Living” then “Art Sale.” Or visit events on the City of Lacombe’s Facebook page.
Maureen MacKenzie of the City of Lacombe
I Am the Arts
I always say that not every family can afford to participate in sports,
but we can all encourage our kids or ourselves to pick up
a pen, pencil crayon, or paintbrush and
express ourselves in that way.
Lacombe's Encore Art Show & Sale Poster
