SAGA Public Art Gallery presents Paint Paradise: Views of the Salmon River Delta.
This juried exhibition will feature multi-media works by SAGA members, who were challenged to explore the part of the Salmon Arm Bay where the river meets the lake. Visitors will be delighted with the micro and macro views presented by artists in paints, fibre, metal and more.
“The ongoing debate over development of this area sparked the idea for this themed exhibition,” says gallery executive director Tracey Kutschker. “It was our intention only to ask artists to have a closer look at this area and present their views to the public. This will become one of those historic exhibitions that show future generations what this area looked like before development.”
Two of the featured artists include Silver Creek painter Staar Caswell and Sandra Baker.
With little formal training, Caswell is developing a style and reputation as an artist on her own. Her works have been shown in local member shows with SAGA and The Shuswap Festival of the Arts. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and she has taught numerous art workshops in local elementary schools over the last 10 years.
“I enjoy painting,” she says. “As for my approach, it’s all been a process of trial and error, gleaning tips from books and checking out what other local artist are creating.”
Sandra Baker has been doing needlework and knitting since she was a young girl in Edmonton, having been taught by her mother. Since her arrival in Salmon Arm in 2003, after retiring from the Canadian Forces with 28 years of service, she has become a member, and is currently president, of the Shuswap NeedleArts Guild. She is the needlework convenor for the Fall Fair and is also a member of Tim Knits, a group of dedicated knitters who meet at Tim Hortons every Monday night. As a member of SNAG, she says she has learned many new needlework techniques and has attended classes through the Embroidery Association of Canada in Edmonton, Regina, Kelowna and will be attending EAC classes this year in Sackville, New Brunswick.