Powell River’s visual arts community is preparing to welcome the gifted Vancouver painter Val Nelson for a celebrated mini-residency including a two-day workshop and artist talk/slideshow Friday, November 4 to Sunday, November 6 at the Powell River Academy of Music ArtReach studio.
Nelson’s talk is a free event which will take place at 7 pm Friday and is open to the public due to support from the Powell River Arts Council, Malaspina Art Society and the academy of music. “Powell River is starting to attract visual artists to come and teach and study through these residencies,” said Megan Dulcie Dill, one of the event organizers.
Nelson’s last visit to Powell River was a tremendous success with her workshop filling early and receiving a great response from participants all of whom were experienced painters. The residency/workshop setting encourages a vital exchange of ideas and production of work that artists find necessary to keep their art practices alive and thriving.
In her presentation, Nelson will discuss her own recent involvement in a number of residencies as well as presenting images of her work
and that of some major influences.
Throughout the workshop participants will work on projects of their choosing while Nelson assists and critiques. She will also discuss the realities of her life and business as a professional visual artist. This is a great opportunity to see beyond the confines of the local arts scene and learn from a creative person with a national presence.
The program will also host internationally renowned senior Canadian landscape artist David Alexander in the spring of 2012. Alexander brings a vast wealth of experience in all aspects of the visual arts. He has travelled the planet exhibiting, teaching, lecturing, and painting and a major retrospective with art book, including critical texts, is currently in the works. He is another artist with a history of attending and mentoring residencies and workshops.
Also on this fall at the studio is a beginner drawing class held every week with artist Barbara Langmaid, and on the weekend of November 26 and 27 local painter Rick Cepella will offer an acrylic painting workshop open to students of all levels. Cepella has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has instructed at art institutions, schools and galleries across the province.
For more information on these programs and to register, interested readers can contact Dulcie Dill at 604.414.7020.
