ACACA Zone Show flaunts local talent

Art is defined solely by the creator, and from Friday May 1, to Sunday May 3, artists north of Hwy. 16 shared their artwork with the region.

The ACACA Northern Zone Show was one of three shows hosted across the province, and encouraged artist to display up to three pieces of artwork.

This year James Trevelyn, Professor of Art History and Painting at Red Deer College, and Jerry Heine, an Edmonton artist, played the roles of the jurors for the Northern Zone Show, and selected pieces from eight categories to go onto the next round of judging.

Heine and Trevelyn also chose this year’s award winners. The categories varied by skill level, and art form.

Attending the event were Mayor Gerry St. Pierre, a closet artist himself, and Reeve Bill Lee.

After thanking his coach, Maria Sieben, St. Pierre shared his artistic experience.

“Last year there was supposed to be some form of fundraising activity with the club in Spruce Grove, and what was required of them was to find some sort of celebrity. Maria was really desperate because all she could come up with was me,” St. Pierre said with a laugh.

It was halfway through one of the five one-hour lessons that Sieben and St. Pierre realized the fundraiser was not going in their favour.

“I decided, I have so much sweat and tears put into this project, I am going to finish it, and I did,” St. Pierre said, adding if it weren’t for Sieben’s patience and dedication he may not have finished.

“I am actually quite proud, and it is hanging in my office,” St. Pierre said. “That was an experience, however I found I don’t quite have the patience for it, and it was my one and only but I will remember it for a long time.”

Lee also said a few words to open the event.

“I was telling Jo Ann Nanninga, I think I was 10 years old when I went to the first art show, my dad took me, and that was when it was back in the Legion, and my dad was very interested in art, he was artistic in his own way,” Lee said, adding his parent’s owned a flower shop in town.

“That’s artwork too, because you have to have your depth and your colours have to match,” he said.

Lee’s son, Tyner entered three pieces in the show for the first time this year, and received the Beginners Award.

Nanniga shared a quote with the audience.

“When an artist puts a frame around a little piece of the world, it gives you a different view.” Art is defined solely by the creator, and from Friday May 1, to Sunday May 3, artists north of Hwy. 16 shared their artwork with the region.