Spectrum, the annual downtown summer festival is taking place this year on June 4th, Friday from 4-10PM, June 5th, Saturday from 11AM-10PM, and June 6th, Sunday 11AM-4 PM. All the Colours of the Spectrum is an art event to coincide with the main Spectrum festivities taking place on Thursday, June 3rd, hosted by Inspire Studio & Gallery, Framing and Art Centre, Sandfly Gallery & Gifts and the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre. “Celebrate the sunshine with All the Colours of the Spectrum” is their tag-line for this year. Let’s just hope there’s no snow and rain with that sunshine like last year. Art, food, refreshments, live music are some of the key points of All the Colours of the Spectrum (and the Spectrum in general). Below is the festivities taking place during All the Colours of the Spectrum.

Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
401 First Street S.E.
403-502-8793

Featuring a drop-in, hands-on family activity making miniature stand-up houses, based on Gordon Harper’s exhibition in the Ar Gallery, Nocturnes and School Art 2010. All supplies are provided; workshop and gallery admission are free. From 6PM to 8PM only.

Framing and Art Centre
628 2nd Stree S.E.
403-527-2600

Featuring “Through Footlights & Fog – The Esplanade Shows”
Photography by Bruce J. Dynes

Inspire Studio & Gallery
659 2nd Street S.E. (2nd Floor)
403-580-1808

Featuring acrylic paintings by Alana Holst, pastel paintings by Kathy Mann, photographs and encaustics by Lynne Alexander.

Sandfly Gallery & Gifts
512 2nd Street S.E. (2nd Floor)
403-488-0426

Featuring “Progress and Transformation”, a group exhibition including over a dozen local and Western Canadian artists.

The Chicken Angel, oil on panel, 2009, 122 x 122 cm

Already mentioned a lot on this site is this week’s art exposure topic: Maureen Newton.

Maureen Newton, owner of Inspire Studio & Gallery, was born and raised in Medicine Hat. If you have seen her talk at all, usually at one of her receptions, she usually tells bits and pieces of growing up and how art took a part in her life very early on and stuck there all throughout her life. She started her art education watching her father, who was also an artist. She spent many hours watching him drawing and painting.

Although she is quite focused on oil painting as seen by her latest reception, “This is for the Birds” which ran at the Esplanade during Alberta Art Days she actually originally received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge in 1986 majoring in printmaking as well as painting. Her artwork has been displayed locally at the Cultural Centre Gallery and nationally in Vancouver, Kingston, and Toronto. You can also spot some of her work in the Medicine Hat College Vera Bracken Library.

Inspire Studio & Gallery acts as a place to showcase her work as well as many other local artist’s works. It also doubles as her work space where she paints and creates her art.

http://www.inspireart.ca/

'Peacock' graphite on paper 24"x34" by Levi Gogolinski

Like Mother: Like Daughter is an upcoming art reception being hosted at Inspire Studio & Gallery. It’s taking place this Friday, November 20th, 2009 and will start at 7PM. Chances are if you are into the Medicine Hat art scene, you already know where Inspire Studio & Gallery is, but if you don’t it’s located downtown at 659 2nd Street S.E. on the second floor of the building.

The event will feature artwork from Melissa and Levi Gogolinski. Even though the title suggests a likeness between the two, there is quite a contrast between Melissa’s and Levi’s artwork. The event is taking place in conjunction with Framing & Art Centre and Sandfly Gallery & Gifts “Christmas Art Reception”. People are encouraged to walk from location to location and enjoy the art. Entertainment, refreshments, and food will also provided.

Facebook Event

Call 403-580-1808 or email info@inspireart.ca for more information.

Fall 2009 Classes

Art classes for kids are beggining this week(end) at the Inspire Studio & Gallery and there are still spots available. The following programs are available on Saturdays:

• Art Inspirations for 4-6 year olds – 1PM-2PM
• Drawing and Painting Dragons and Mythical Creatures for 7-12 year olds – 10AM-11:30AM

Both classes are being taught by Stephanie Della-Longa, an accomplished local artist, and graduate of the Medicine Hat College’s Visual Communications program. On Fridays, there will also be another class entitled Art for Teens for 13+ year olds with Candice Arnold from 6PM-7:30PM. The classes last for 8 weeks and the prices include all supplies.

For more information, visit the Inspire Studio & Gallery classes page or contact Maureen Newton, the owner and coordinator of Inspire, at 403-580-1808. While you are at it, you can also join the Inspire Studio & Gallery Facebook group (there’s lots of information about the classes there).