Art in the Park kicks off series of "en plein air" festivals

Artists participating in the first of a series of Southern Alberta "en plein air" art festivals got a taste of capturing the diverse landscape of the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park over the weekend.

It was a success for the Route 22 Artists Collective Gallery and its numerous partners involving over 20 artists.

Route 22 executive director Lara Kruger says they received positive feedback.

"All-in-all it was a great success," she says. "The auction also went well. We had a full house and sold off over 90 per cent of the work that were there. There were 40-50 pieces that were created."

Denise Smith, president of the Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery, created three pieces during the two-day event. For her last one, she used acrylic ink.

Denise Smith, president of the Route 22 artists collective, says it attracted artists from across the region.

"All summer long you can do  "en plein" painting with Paint Alberta. It was a great initiative that came together."

"It's so great that Alberta celebrates the parks because we have beautiful parks. There's nothing else around like these parks. We have the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the trees, the flowers."

Art in the Park was held as a separate event last year before the festival circuit was created. Stephen Purdy was among the artists who have taken in both events.

"Painting is kind of a solitary sport, so it's nice to have other painters around and make an event that's fun."

The park is a popular destination for many and several visitors stopped to chat with the artists.

Ticketed options for arts and interpretive nature-based programming and events complemented the free public festival.

Banff's Whyte Museum is hosting the next festival from July 8 to 9.

Next week, the Route 22 gallery will refresh its exhibits with fresh new works from their artists.

The World Photographic Cup Exhibition will be displayed from June 6 to 22 with a Meet the Local Team Members fundraising event on June 8.