The beating heart of the Columbia Valley’s art scene is about to be shocked with an invigoration of youthful energy. The much-anticipated 8th Annual Art from the Heart art show and silent auction kicks off at Pynelogs Cultural Centre on April 9th.
“The kids are just full of ideas, humour and spontaneity and they don’t have all the inhibitions that we develop as we get older,” said event organizer Anne Jardine.
Art from the Heart is an exhibition of over 600 art pieces created by local students from each of the five elementary schools in the Rocky Mountain School District’s Windermere Zone. The theme for artists selected in this year’s event is “Unity”.
“It is time for everyone to recognize that we really are one big family,” said Anne. “I think there are so many strands of interconnection with economy and environment, people with landscape and animal species with nature. Everywhere you look you begin to realize that we are just one world and unity is important.”
Although hundreds of entrants will be showcased throughout Pynelogs Cultural Centre during the show, six of the most elegant creations from local students will be part of a popular silent auction feature of the event — double the number of pieces sold at last year’s event.
The highly sought works will be displayed prior to the Pynelogs show during an unveiling at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort from March 28th to April 5th. The resort is hosting a special “Big Art from Young Hearts” opening reception on Friday, March 29th at 7 p.m. After early birds receive their chance to peruse their prized piece, the auction items and the rest of the entries move to Pynelogs Cultural Centre.
“Every room of the gallery and the whole building will be covered with art,” Anne explained. “There will be a couple of great big collaborative pieces that will be also be a surprise.”
Although the event opens at Pynelogs on April 9th, the gallery is hosting a Meet the Artist Gala on April 12th at 5:30 p.m., with many of the young artists on hand and a special performance by the 25 young voices of Eileen Madson Primary’s choral group.
“The kids are going to get to see all of the work and tour the gallery, which is a very exciting time for them because then they can see what the other kids are doing in the other schools and see their different ideas,” Anne told The Valley Echo.
The silent auction portion of the event closes on April 12th while the show itself runs until April 28th. Winning bidders are able to pick up their pieces at the end of the show.
“It takes a whole community to bring up a child,” Anne said. “Let’s bring our children up visually literate, full of art, full of ideas and creativity and then unleash them on the world because they will be a force to be reckoned with.”
Visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com for more information.