The exhibition Cranes! opens at the Maple Ridge Art Gallery on March 24.
Sponsored by the Garibaldi Art Club, it goes to April 21.
The theme of the juried show was inspired by local author Annette LeBox’s new novel Circle of Cranes.
LeBox, a member of the art club, will release her new novel for young adults in spring.
Club members have been seeking their muse in a local sanctuaries and occasionally in the wild, as the native sandhill crane does not always migrate south.
In fact, members of the group were fortunate enough to be able to find their muse on location at Dr. David Rempel’s Whonnock bird sanctuary on two occasions last month.
“Quite of few of our local artists have stopped by and shared photos that will soon be translated into paintings and submitted to the jury,” said art gallery curator Barbara Duncan.
“They’ve obviously had a wonderful time preparing for the show, and the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Arts Council is, likewise, delighted to be able to welcome the group back to the art gallery this year.”
The theme Cranes!, however, is not limited to the bird, and some members have chosen the mechanical crane as their subject. This should encourage a varied and lively response from club members in their submissions for the exhibition, and the additional scope offered by the theme will undoubtedly offer an element of surprise to the show.
One of the longest-running art organizations in Maple Ridge, the Garibaldi Art Club was formed in 1959 when local painting enthusiasts began meeting at Albion Hall.
The group later moved its weekly painting sessions to Maple Ridge High School, where it was offered meeting space courtesy by the school board.
The Garibaldi Art Club currently meets the first Tuesday of every month at The ACT and gratefully acknowledges the financial support of The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Arts Council.
An opening reception is at The ACT March 24 from 7-9 p.m.
• Visit garibaldiartclub.com for more information about the upcoming show.
•
What’s on
• Who: Cranes! – a juried exhibition of work by the Garibaldi Art Club.
• Where: Maple Ridge Art Gallery at The ACT (11944 Haney Place).
• When: March 24 – April 21, Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and select evenings.