Art exhibit gets glowing reception at Lebel

Toni Lucas and Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

"Invitation" (detail) by Kari Lehr

Art lovers gathered at the Lebel Mansion on Saturday afternoon, April 28 to sample the artwork of Karen Tamminga-Paton and Kari Lehr at an opening reception.  The collection, titled "Re-assembled", will be on display at the Lebel art gallery throughout May and June.

The event was very well attended, with art connoisseurs of all ages dropping in over the course of the afternoon to have a look.

Pincher Creek's Allied Arts Council prides itself on exhibiting quality original works, and this collection is certainly exceptional.

Karen Tamminga-Paton and Kari Lehr
C. Davis photo

"We are good friends and we also happen to be neighbours," explained Karen Tamminga-Paton.  "We spend a lot of time talking about art, and going to each others studios.  This is actually the first time that we have had our art in the same room together."

"It has been so much fun to have the art meet each other.  We have influenced, and informed each others work, and I think that we have added a lot of dimension to our work through our conversations."

"Each one by name"
Karen Tamminga-Paton

Tamminga-Paton's first displayed painting ever was in the Crowsnest Museum.  Her husband set up that took up an entire room.  She made the backdrop scene to the display.  Although she was already accomplished at drawing, that was her first foray into painting with acrylics.

Karen helps budding artist
Amy Freisen get a little closer.
C. Davis photos

"There have been a good dozen or shows that I have been in as part of a group, but as for solo shows, or this one, where there is two of us I've only had three or four," she said.  "It's very exciting, because it gathers people, and I love gatherings, meeting people, and having meaningful conversations."

Tamminga-Paton is also an Fine Arts instructor at Livingstone School in Lundbreck.  She has also been known to yarn-bomb.

Kari Lehr is a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design.  After 20 years of commercial work illustrating for various agencies, studios and corporations around North America, she now pursues her own vision.  Her primarily medium is acrylic, incorporating collage elements and also working with chalk pastel.  "I love working with collage, acrylics and collage," she said.

"Shining Through"
Kari Lehr

"I tend to feel a sense of being embraced by the mountains and the trees," she said, referring to living and painting in the Crowsnest Pass area. "Elements of who I am come out in every piece.  I explore different ideas in each piece.  Each one is a birthing process, and birth is often used as an analogy for creative outcomes."

"Alexz"
Kari Lehr

"I try to paint from life as much as I can, because with a photo you just don't get the light," said Lehr, although one of the more striking pieces in the collection is a self portrait that required referencing a photo.

Lehr said of Tamminga-Paton Tamminga-Paton "She is such a supportive voice cheering me on, encouraging me on.  Karen, you're my hero."

Speaking of her painting "Alexz", which is of a pregnant woman standing, Lehr said "She  is a young mother, she was 22 at the time.  I was struck by her confidence. She wanted me to paint her She was really into  collaborating and she was a wonderful model.  She was very direct.  She was meeting this head on, and was looking forward to being a mother."

"This piece is really dear to me because it's one of the first pieces I really dove into exploring motherhood, and my feelings about it, and painting, and what I wanted to say," she continued.  Indicating another painting of the same model, this time supine, she said  "It turned into more of a meditation on my own third pregnancy, even though it isn't physically me, it has how happy and relaxed I was."

Both of these artists also do commission work, although Karen Tamminga-Paton clarified "It works well for me if there is a lot of room for the artist to bring their own style to the work.  People choose the artist because they like what they see already, anyway.

Allied Arts Council Vice President Myrna Elliott talked about some of the upcoming shows, and the role played in the community.  Three people, including Elliott, work on the gallery committee.  They work find artists, arrange shows,  and set up and take down all the shows.

"We see our role as combination of being a place where local or southern Alberta artists can show their stuff and to give the people in the community the chance to see what is out there in the art world," said Elliott.  "Art is for everybody, it can be fun, and you don't have to speak a special language to enjoy it."


Kari Lehr and Karen Tamminga-Paton will be featured in a collection that will hosted at the Crowsnest Pass Allied Arts Public Art Gallery in October.  That exhibition is entitled "Woven Fine", and will exploring themes of mid-life.

"Legacy" by Karen Tamminga-Paton >

The paintings in this exhibition are available for purchase.
The Allied Arts gift shop at the Lebel Mansion is also well worth a visit, with quality arts and crafts of all types available for purchase.

Related links:

www.tammingapaton.com

www.karilehrart.com

www.pinchercreekarts.com

Upcoming Allied Arts Council exhibits at the Lebel Mansion:

July and August 2012 To be announced
September and October 2012: John Hancock - A glimpse into the amazing world of the spider.
November and December 2012: O Christmas Tree

*Please note, photographing a painting is like tap dancing about ballet.  The photos in this article are intended for informational purposes only, and cannot truly convey the drama and scope of the originals.  Nor can we comprehensively display all the paintings in this exhibition here.  It is recommended you visit the Lebel and see for yourself.