Art galleries can be an inspiring place to visit but they can also be baffling. I am definitely not an artist, the very first quilt I made, my mother called “green eggs and ham” because it was a mix of screaming reds, vibrant yellows, deep green and wait for it….pastel flowers. It was a colour disaster.
Lucky for us less artistic individuals we do not need to rely on our own skills to infuse our lives with a little culture. We can set out to appreciate locals who really know what they are doing. This Backyard Bucket List led me to “Valley Gallery”, the gallery is one of three locations in Drayton Valley that showcase fine art pieces created by local artists.
So before we get to the nuts and bolts of how to enjoy your time at this local gem we are going to tell you how to get there.
How to get there
The Gallery is located on the west end of 51st Ave in downtown Drayton Valley, more specifically it is 5137-51 Ave. The gallery does not have set hours as opening is dependent on the proprietors in the building. Your best bet is to go during the daytime Monday-Friday, but not at lunch.
If you are expecting a fancy schmancy art gallery that you would see on mainstreet Banff, guess again. This art gallery is simple, local and grassroots. You may even recognize some of the names on the wall like Vera Kennedy, Barb Eckert and Pete Jacobs.
Jacobs has been a student of art forms for the past 30 years and can be considered the Gallery’s unofficial host as he also has a framing shop in the building.
How to look at art
Pete showed me around the gallery and we discussed how one should look at art. Here are Pete’s two tips:
- Consider the composition. Is the painting composed in a way that is pleasing to your eye. He said many paintings (and incidentally websites,) use the rule of thirds. The subject matter is arranged on the canvas in horizontal or vertical thirds. I use the grid on my Iphone all the time to try to compose a decent photo.
- Ask yourself, “Do I like it?” Pete feels that artists should not be the indicator of great art. Art should speak to you and be visually pleasing to you in some way.
Pete got his start in the arts, leaping from his life as a photographer and into university night classes on how to paint. As a member of the Fine Arts Society Jacobs is an excellent source to tap if you want to learn more about local artists.
In Jacobs framing shop we stood and discussed the composition of an acrylic painting done by Vera Kennedy. “You see how she created a circular composition here,” he said. The painting was of a young girl in a vibrant barn scene surrounded by chickens. I learned that Kennedy is a 91 year old painter that has recently stopped painting. She has had a number of art pieces showcased at the gallery many using vibrant colours.
Some tips for families
Also, if you are more of an active art gazer like myself, or you are visiting with your family here is another tip you can use: Forget about just standing and staring at a piece, especially if you have kids. It may seem a little less authentic but show up with a piece of paper and some questions. How long did this take to paint? What colours are used? What medium did they use? How do I feel looking at this piece? What was their inspiration?
Get your kids to come up with some questions, and maybe only look at one or two pieces at a time, and come back frequently. I may not be the age of a child, but my understanding of art, and the study of art is probably less than kindergarten and so to be an authentic art gazer, taking a little more crass approach is one that works for me at this time.
Valley Gallery is one of those places you can put on your Backyard Bucket List for when bitter winter has you hibernating inside, or you are looking for an interesting lunch date to take in with your friends.
Additional locations
Two other locations were you can find fine arts are: The BeeHive Support Services/Drayton Valley Outreach, and Eleanor Pickup Arts Center
