Allied Arts Council features artist Heather Fletcher

Artist Heather Fletcher at opening of Soul Food exhibit
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek Allied Arts Council is currently featuring an exhibit titled Soul Food created by artist Heather Fletcher that shows approximately 80 original pottery pieces that she created in the last year.  The show is scheduled to run from July 30 until September 6 at the Lebel Gallery at 696 Kettles Street, Pincher Creek.  On the evening of August 1 a grand opening of the exhibit was held with a wine reception and the artist in attendance.

Pottery by Heather Fletcher

"I've had one other solo show, in the Crowsnest Pass," said Fletcher who lives in the Crowsnest Pass and works in a pharmacy there.  She said that she really enjoyed the setting in Pincher Creek and working with the people from the gallery.  "Oh, it's been  wonderful.  They were great to deal with here.  They're all for the artist.  They let me help set up.  Usually there's a gallery committee that does the set up, and this time I got to chose where some of the pieces went, and that was wonderful."  At other shows Fletcher has been involved with she dropped the pieces off and when she returned it was already set up.

Top: Leaf Me Center: Spirals Lower: September

The Allied Arts Council even allowed one wall to be painted to the same color of yellow as the sun porch at Fletcher's home to enhance the display.

Pumpkin Rattle and Leaf Bowl #11

Fletcher is willing to learn new things and is open to other ideas.  She recently took a class from Sandra Blain a well respected artist that resides in the United States.  "She's all about texture and hand built pieces as opposed to thown pieces. As you can see, I don't do a lot of throwing,"  Fletcher said pointing out the few pieces in the show that were built on a potters wheel.

Fletcher expresses her artistic side making jewellery, beading, watercolors, and working in  stained glass in addition to working with clay.

From My Window (detail)

"I tend to work in series, where I start with one thing and go, 'That was fun, now let's do it this way'.  One thing always leads to another," she remarked about some items that were similar, but still each unique.

Fletcher was very appreciative of the support that she gets at home.  "My husband Ian Brown is very supportive.  He builds me things I need for the studio and shows up for events like this, and fires up the kiln or takes pieces out for me when I've had to leave.  He is incredible."

Cardinals

Several people at the show remarked on how reasonably the items were priced.  "This is a hobby for me, it's not my bread and butter,"  said Fletcher.  It may not be her bread and butter, but it definitely is food for the soul.

Baroque

"It's fabulous, I love it," said Chair of the Gallery Committee Myrna Elliott about the Soul Food Show.

6 Pack

"We look around for people who would like to have a solo show, because to fill up a space with one person's work is really special.  To see finished works all together is really a good experience for the buyer and the artist, too."

Following the Soul Food show in September the Allied Arts Council will be holding a show by Linda Anderson-Stuart.  "She usually sells in bigger places, but she and her husband own a ranch between here and Waterton," said  Elliott.

According to Elliott that show will feature 100 small canvases that can be grouped together in a variety of ways.   It will be called '8 by 8 by 100', and will open September 17.