Just a few of the groovier pieces on display this week. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Art appreciation

Aurora Art show returns to in-person event

May 27, 2022 | 5:06 PM

For the first time in over two years, the Aurora Art Group is able to hold their annual spring show and sale in person.

The show runs until Saturday afternoon at the Prince Albert Arts Centre. Leah Joelson from the Sturgeon Lake area, is one of 13 local artists being showcased and told paNOW it’s nice to have the personal contact again.

“It’s a lot more rewarding to hear their comments and see all the reactions to all the different paintings and art work,” she said.

Joelson has painting since 2013, and started kaleidoscopes in 2019. She admits to feeling inspired after visiting a shop in Arizona that had nothing but kaleidoscopes.

“I thought this is what I have to do,” she said.

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A few of Joelson’s pieces had been viewed at the winter festival. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Made from stainless steel and acrylics, as well as recycled products, each kaleidoscope is aptly named for its uniqueness. Pointing to one piece that took her eight hours to create, Joelson acknowledged taking on this artistic challenge was not simple.

“I went and took some lessons and I do a lot of experimenting on my own,” she explained.

Joelson’s daughter, Jodi, is among the other artists. Like her mother, she appreciates the in-person contact.

“Primarily I engage over Instagram and online and it’s nice to see people in person and actually describe your piece a bit and see their in-person reaction,” she said.

Some of Jodi’s pieces are inspired in part by a magazine she may have seen, while others by an image from a dream. She admits to often waking up and grabbing her ipad to begin work on her next piece.

“The amount of unfinished projects I have compared to the finished ones is like three times,” she said.

Some of the pieces almost appear lifelike. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Mary McLeod’s work includes paintings and alcohol ink. One specific piece named “Ruby” almost appears to jump out at the viewer.

“You never know with alcohol ink what it’s gonna do. It takes on a life of it’s own,” she said.

McLeod recalled how, prior to COVID, the event was catered and held on the main floor of the Mann Art Gallery, which also offered free parking for both visitors and the artists. In between showing their pieces this week, each of the artists has been forced to ensure their meter has not run out.

“So you now we are all just adapting with COVID,” McLeod said.

The show wraps up Saturday afternoon ar 4 p.m.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell