Art for spring and beyond

After a long winter, having a bit of colour can be encouraging, especially when it comes in the form of art. The Spring into Summer Art Show & Sale, held from April 29 to May 1st at Elmwood/EK Active Living building, was an ideal opportunity for people to brighten up their homes while supporting local artists.

Every year, the Local Colours art group holds an exhibit and sale to showcase the work of local artists. As the organization’s Facebook page notes, the “Local Colour Art Group is an organization of artists dedicated to the creation of art, and its promotion in the community.” One of the difficulties for artists is finding an audience for their art beyond family and friends. The annual show and sale is one opportunity to attract the wider community.

Many people draw or paint as children, but it can be difficult to continue much beyond that without support from other artists. The Local Colours group “strives to provide a forum for members in which to gather to paint and to share their interests, skills and experiences,” as the group’s website states. Workshops, virtual paint and chat sessions, and the annual show and sale are among the ways that the artists in the group help support each other.

The annual show and sale is a good opportunity community, as well. For many people, art can seem distant and formal, something confined to artists whose works are displayed in galleries or shown only among the wealthy.

The Local Colours Annual Show & Sale sends the message that art can be for everyone. With the event taking place at a community centre rather than more formal setting, it was something that everyone could enjoy.

This year’s event coincided with the early days of warmer weather in Winnipeg’s extremely long winter. Although the show and sale is over for the year, it is also a beginning both for the artists who exhibited their work and for the community.

Creating art can be a long process, involving years of training and experience, but it can also involve quick flashes of inspiration as artists see or hear something that stirs the imagination. Many people will look forward to seeing what this year’s creativity brings.