One benefit of joining the South Delta Artists Guild is the time set aside in Gallery 1710 for shows that feature many works by a few artists.
The latest of these group shows is titled Six in the Mix, which opens Jan. 10 in Tsawwassen and includes the work of Nancy Dean, Victoria Heryet, Chris Johnson, Myriam Laberge, Jan Rankin and Kathy Swift.
Dean paints land and city scapes which are often local, and sometimes from her travels. She is drawn to paths and streets and meandering waterways, graceful trees and floating leaves often enhanced by shiny reflections from our wet Vancouver landscape. Her architectural renditions are perspective perfect and sure to charm the viewer.
Heryet enjoys painting whimsical nursery rhymes in collage and urban night scenes. She captures weathered buildings with texture. Her love of detail in her new paperweights are sure to surprise. They are tiny scenes, often with beads and shells. Her figures seem to be part of a story, which the viewer is left to interpret.
Johnson is a graphic artist who now has time for his artistic side. His first love is for the West Coast which he paints for its beauty. Johnson is now ready to break the rules so look for his work as this is his first show.
Laberge loves creating, especially when colour and surprise are added to the scene. She enjoys experimenting, often from colourful photos. Most of her work leans toward impressionism, and according to Laberge, each painting becomes another creative adventure.
Rankin is primarily an acrylic painter whose inspiration comes from an emotional connection to the natural world. Orcas in their natural environment are featured prominently, along with mountains, oceans, auroras and cloudy skies. Rankin paints big canvases and often enhances them with shells, sparkling jewels and other surprises.
Swift is also an inspiring acrylic painter. Never static, she often surprises with her abstract panels, of figure impressions, buildings, and a deep rooted passion for trees and other natural forms. Swift has revisited some of her earlier works and taken them further.
The show runs Jan. 10 to 20 at Gallery 1710 (adjacent to the South Delta Recreation Centre). The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Fridays. There is a reception on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 3 to 6 p.m.
