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| photo - courtesy Joseph Cross |
Five local artists participated in an
artist retreat in the Flathead Valley. Painting alongside iconic plein air
painter Dwayne Harty, their goal was tell the story of the Flathead through
paintbrush. Local artists included Joseph Cross (Cranbrook), Simon Haiduk
(Kimberley), Denise Lemaster (Invermere), Laura Nelson (Fernie) and Tara
Higgins (Fernie), as well as Jackson Hole-based Dwayne Harty.
The resulting works were curated in the
Flathead Valley Art Exhibition, which first opened at Waterton’s Wildlife
Festival in September 2013. Cranbrook and District Arts Council is
thrilled to be hosting this exhibit for the month of February.
In describing the event Joseph Cross said,
”Six creative souls, gathered in one of the world's remaining pristine valleys.
Our job - to paint it, to depict the beauty and character of the Flathead
Valley in our individual and unique ways. Not having visited the valley
before, I soon realized how vast it was.”
For the past century and a half, art has
played a central role in providing inspiration to protect and conserve nature
in North America. The Flathead Valley has been the center of international
conservation efforts for decades. A geographic extension of the
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
Flathead Valley is a critical connection for wildlife in the Rocky Mountains,
connecting them from Montana’s Glacier National Park to the Banff protected
areas complex.
“We drank water straight from the river,
knowing that it is the most pure water in the world, and the global benchmark
for evaluating water quality. The memories of our gourmet meals, our
daily hikes, viewpoints, wildlife encounters, and campfire camaraderie will
stay with me forever. Being a part of telling the Flathead story through
my art, is an honour and privilege,” said Cross.
The show will open officially at the Cranbrook & District
Arts Council Gallery on February 4th, running through to the end of the month.
Join us for the Opening Reception on February 7, from 7-9PM.
The Show is open for just a few hours today - 10:00am - 2:00pm Saturday Feb 1st.
About Cranbrook and
District Arts Council • www.cranbrookanddistrictartscouncil.com
We support development of the visual, literary and performing arts in
the Cranbrook & District area, and work to increase public awareness and
opportunities for participation in arts and cultural events in the community.
Contact:
Marisa Phillips, Administrator, Cranbrook and District Arts
Council email info@cdac.shaw.ca
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