Creative Edge Gallery News

So Long and Thanks for all the Art

I love living in the Kootenays; though I never intended to settle here.  I came here more or less by accident 18 years ago. I actually wanted to settle in the Okanagan, but as fate would have it, I fell in love and ended up staying. I got married here, had two of my three children here, made a home, forged a career and with the help of a nurturing and supporting community become a well and whole person.

 

I came to this area in 1993 arriving on a bus fresh from a divorce with my 2 year old daughter. I was homeless, broke and an emotional wreck. In stead of the stigma of a crazy single mother artist, what greeted me was a lovely community full of support and understanding. I got a job as a waitress where the owner would give me food to take home for my small family. I took my paintings to a local cafe and they told me that they loved my work and hung it on the walls, a week later a young columnist, Anne Degrace called me up and told me how much she liked my art and wrote a review in the Nelson newspaper. I thought I was in heaven. No one had ever been so nice to me in my whole life. Three months later I met my husband. The moment I first saw him it was like being hit in the head with some kind of love brick.

 

After that there was marriage and babies born at the Nelson hospital. Despite the horrible healthcare cutbacks to our community, I have always found the level of care here above and beyond that of the cities because of the fine dedicated doctors that live here. A few years ago I had a near death experience mowing the lawn. I hit a ground nest of wasps and was stung repeatedly putting me at mortal risk due to an allergic reaction. My friend and neighbour Shauna Hegan came to my rescue and drove me to the Castlegar hospital where Dr. Smart saved my life. The experience changed me forever.

 

In the 18 years that I have lived here I have pursued art relentlessly in an area that embraces its artists. I have taught art to adults and children alike, painted murals, become a columnist, a publisher, a radio and TV producer, written and published 2 books and most recently, a business owner and gallery director. I have always been inspired by the beautiful Kootenay landscape and have painted over a 1000 paintings depicting this area (I know because I just did an inventory of my work). I have also managed to mass quite a collection of artwork from the wealth of talented Kootenay artists living here.

 

I am sorry to say that due to circumstances beyond my control our family is leaving the area. I am incredibly sad to leave. I will be moving my gallery to Kamloops and will hopefully re-open it there within the year. The Creative Edge Gallery will be open until July 30, however I personally will be gone mid July.  I would like to thank this community for all its support over the years and invite everyone to stop by the gallery for one last look.

 

Thanks for all the art,

 

Karla Pearce

 

Abstract Paintings by Pearce

Now showing at the Creative Edge Gallery are a new collection of  abstract paintings by Karla Pearce. These paintings are a departure for the Kootenay Artist. Instead of Kootenay skies and water filled vistas we see local landscapes approached from a much looser perspective allowing the viewer to interpret the imagery for them selves. 

 

“ I guess the stress of my impending move has made it’s way into my work,” says Pearce, “ these paintings came from a much more playful space, where I let go of imagery and allowed the paint to speak. It’s my little bit of art therapy.”

 

In this body of work we can see rivers of primary reds, blues colliding in a darker more sublime mix. Pearce has dripped, pored. thrown paint, crushed rocks, concrete and fibre on to her canvases and loosely combined them into  expressive works that look more like raw emotion than landscapes.

 

Abstract Landscapes will be showing at the Creative Edge Gallery until the end of July. For more info call 250-365-2032.

 

 

Karla Pearce Hosts Her First Inventory Sale

 

West Kootenay artist Karla Pearce has always been a prolific painter. For the last 18 years she has been recording the Kootenay landscape and flora in her vivid expressionistic style. Through her constant inspiration she has massed an inventory of over 100 pieces of art.

 

“It’s one of the problems with painting all the time,” says Pearce “the paintings end up taking over all of my storage space in my home and gallery. When you’re home starts to look like something out of hoarders and your tripping over artwork in the morning trying to get a cup of coffee it’s time to do something.”

 

Selected early classic Pearce paintings will be listed for sale up to 75% off the retail value. “Perhaps it’s some kind of middle age de-cluttering thing, but I really feel it’s time to get this artwork out there into the world and into good homes,” says Pearce

 

This is a one time opportunity to acquire an original painting from a well known artist that will accumulate in value over time.

 

Karla Pearce’s Inventory sale will be held this spring at The Creative Edge Gallery 1249 3^rd Street Castlegar. For more info call 250-365-2032 or visit www.creativeedgegallery.net 

One Hundred and Sixty Seven Paintings by Pearce

 

West Kootenay artist Karla Pearce has always been a prolific painter. For the last 18 years she has been recording the Kootenay landscape and flora in her vivid expressionistic style. Through her constant inspiration she has massed an inventory of over 700 pieces of art.

 

“It’s one of the problems with painting all the time,” says Pearce “the paintings end up taking over all of my storage space in my home and gallery. When you’re home starts to look like something out of hoarders and your tripping over artwork in the morning trying to get a cup of coffee it’s time to do something.”

 

Pearce is now showing a collection of one hundred and sixty seven paintings at the Creative Edge Gallery in Castlegar. The works range over a seven year time period and include pieces from her dam series, floral series, found object series, impasto series, right up to her present expressionistic landscape series as well as a few of her sculptures. The paintings range from framed and unframed watercolours, acrylic, oil and gold leaf.

 

“One Hundred and Sixty Seven Paintings by Pearce” will be on display at the Creative Edge Gallery in Castlegar along with the works of Mary Kate Woodward, Dianna Leiskau, Pat Field, Joanne Cremer, Sharon More, Kim Hendriksen, Raya Kelson, Denise Maier and the Chocolates of Loretta Larson. For more information call 250-365-2032 or visit www.creativeedgegallery.net

 

 

 

Call for Submissions

The Creative Edge Gallery in Castlegar is currently calling for submissions from artists to participate in the group spring show. All successful applicants will have a keen interest in furthering their careers as artists on a professional level. The Creative Edge Gallery believes in supporting the local economy showcases art work of Kootenay artists. All media, with the exception of digital photography, will be considered. Please e-mail applications to Gallery Director Karla Pearce, www.creativeedgegallery.net   or phone 250-3652032 for info

Creative Edge Gallery Opens Multiversal

The multiverse is the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes that together comprise everything that exists. The term was coined in 1895 by the American philosopher and psychologist William James. The various universes within the multiverse are sometimes called parallel universes or alternative realities.

In the world of art, artists individually interpret all that they see and feel from their specific reality into their individual artistic expressions; therefore each artist is creating and expressing within their own objective universe. Multiversal is a show that connects all of these artistic viewpoints and different mediums into one comprehensive look at art within the Kootenays.

Multiversal at the Creative Edge Gallery is showcasing paintings by Karla Pearce, Joanne Cremer, Kate O’Brien and Jon Howlett, sculpture by Pat Field, photography by Richard Soltice, printmaking and drawing by Mary Kate Woodward, jewellery and stained glass by Dianna Leiskau, silver jewellery by Kim Hendrickson, ceramics by Raya Kelson, fibre art by Sharon More and specialty chocolates by Loretta Larson.

The Creative Edge Gallery is also celebrating its 1 year anniversary. It’s grand opening just last November coinciding with the Launch of Art of the Kootenays.

“Like many things I got this idea in my head to open my own gallery, and just did it,” says gallery director Karla Pearce. “I had no business experience or training on how to run a gallery.” Pearce says that this first year has been a real learning curve but has no regrets.

“This is it for me. I’m working at my dream job, living in the most beautiful place in the world surrounded by a supportive community and have a beautiful family that loves me. There is nothing more in life that I want but to be right here.”

The Creative Edge Gallery is having opening reception Saturday November 13 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend and meet the artists. Refreshments will be served along with a draw for an original Karla Pearce painting. For more info call The Creative Edge Gallery at 250-365-2032.

Impasto Paintings by Karla Pearce Show at Creative Edge Gallery

 

What is impasto? Impasto is an art term used to describe thickly textured paint that is almost three-dimensional in appearance. Using an impasto technique often leaves visible brush strokes in the finished painting.

Artist Karla Pearce uses the Kootenay landscapes and flora for inspiration for her richly textured, thick, acrylic paintings. All of her paintings start with plein air sketches, watercolours and photographs which are brought back into the studio to expand on.

 

“After finding my inspiration, if it is possible, I work on a more in depth version of the image later that day in my studio,” says Pearce. “It is my goal to keep brush strokes abbreviated, focusing the energy of the moment directly to the canvas. I look to unravel what the image has to say. It is my subjective emotions and responses that accurately portray my feelings and impulses within the subject matter.”

Through her use of paint Pearce creates is a type of painted sculpture on canvas. From the front of her paintings the impasto paint is highlighted by whatever natural light is in the room (since it sticks out so much) and one can see shadows underneath the paint too.

Despite the intimate scale of these pieces Karla Pearce’s impasto paintings really make a physical statement about Kootenay beauty.

 

 

Impasto is showing May August 1 - Sept 31 At the Creative Edge Gallery

Front to back - Karla Pearce, Mary Kate Woodward, Voronica Pellerine, Dianne Leiskau, Joanne Cremer, Laurie Merlo, Sandra Donohue

Spring Show “Mixed Palettes” At the Creative Edge Gallery

 In an area renowned for its mountain vistas, pristine rivers, glacial lakes and free spirited festivals, the words Kootenay Art often bring up images of self taught hippie types dabbling with paint outside of their tents, trading their art for fresh grown organic vegetables or herbs.

 “This stereo type could not be further from the truth,” says Creative Edge Gallery Director Karla Pearce. The newly formed Collective Gallery, owned and operated by Karla Pearce is showcasing the work of professional artists from the area.

 Most of the artists at the Creative Edge Gallery have a formal background ranging from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Alberta College of art and Design, Kootenay School of the Arts, Simon Fraser School for the Contemporary Arts, and as far away as the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The Show is titled “Mixed Palettes” and contains a diverse collection of media ranging from painting, jewellery, fabric, photography, sculpture, printmaking and glass.

 “Despite the variety of mediums there is an underling similarity that exists in this show,” says Pearce.  “I believe it has to do with the environment, many of the artists including my self left larger centres, letting go of the preverbal rat race and the overemphasis on commercialism. The pace here is slower and more open to creative expression, and for some of us, a healthier lifestyle.”

 

“Mixed Palettes” at the Creative Edge Gallery in Castlegar BC runs April – Sept 2010.

 The show contains Paintings and Sculpture by Karla Pearce, the Paintings of Sandra Donohue, Joanne Cremer, Greg Reid, Keith Shelefontiuk, Cindy Moser, Bryn Stevenson, Sally Johnston and Keira Zaslove, Printmaking by Laurie Merlo and Mary Kate Woodward, Photography by Richard Soltice, Fibre by Tricia Rasku, Fabric Art by Veronica Pellerine, Ceramics by Raya Kelson, Jewellery by Dianne Leiskau and Kim Hendriksen and Glass by Catherine White.

 The public is invited to attend the opening reception held at the Creative Edge Gallery 1249, 3^rd St Castlegar, BC, Sat April 17 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  For more information call Gallery Director Karla Pearce 250-365-2032 or   www.creativeedgegalley.net

 

Help Wanted

 The Creative Edge Gallery is currently looking for art instructors to teach art classes and/or workshops in the Castlegar area on a contract basis. For more info call Creative Edge Director Karla Pearce 250-365-2032 or creativeedge@karlapearce.com

 Studio Space for Rent

 Looking for a space to work? The Creative Edge Gallery offers a large open well-lit studio complete with wireless, easels and tables to work on. Whether you’re an individual or a group looking to find some space we are here for the creative mind and spirit. For more info call Creative Edge Director Karla Pearce 250-365-2032 or creativeedge@karlapearce.com