Coming of Age: The Graduates

Callista MacLennan, "Connors Road & Strathearn Crescent", 2' x 5', digital photograph

Grande Prairie Regional College grad MacLennan says of her work: "I draw influences from everywhere, and have learned from paying attention to the passion and concept behind an artist's work. I live my life with my eyes wide open, not discarding a thought, idea, or object until I have thought about it and all it could mean."


"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show runs at the Visual Arts Alberta Gallery until July 14. The gallery is open Wed-Fri from 10-4 pm and Sat from 12-4 pm. The gallery will be closed on June 30 for Canada Day.

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Naomi Deutekom, "Lilies", 4' x 4.75', mixed media

Grande Prairie Regional College grad Deutekom says: "Colour, texture, and line are important elements in my work, making flowers the ideal subject matter. Large, semi-abstract compositions, inspired by blooms, dominate my work. I believe that colour and texture express my inner soul and speak best to who I am..."

"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show runs at the Visual Arts Alberta Gallery until July 14. The gallery is open Wed-Fri from 10-4 pm and Sat from 12-4 pm. The gallery will be closed on June 30 for Canada Day.

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Lucille Frost, "Big Blue", 8' x 6', intermedia

University of Alberta grad Frost says: "This body of work represents a significant shift not only in my material handling but also in my relationship to creating images as this is my first series of fully abstracted works."


"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show runs at the Visual Arts Alberta Gallery until July 14. The gallery is open Wed-Fri from 10-4 pm and Sat from 12-4 pm. The gallery will be closed on June 30 for Canada Day.

Arlene Wasylynchuk - Winner of $10,000 Foote Prize

"Saltus Illuminati", detail, Lexan, acrylic paint, and LED lights, dimensions variable

Congratulations to the winner of the 2012 Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize, Arlene Wasylynchuk! Nominated by the Art Gallery of Alberta for her work, "Saltus Illuminati", Wasylynchuk takes home a $10,000 prize. 

The Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize was established with the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association.This award was open to Edmonton area artists nominated by a gallery, art group or art organization also located in the Edmonton area. Submissions were judged by an independent jury selected by Visual Arts Alberta Association. A Call for Entry for the 2013 Prize will be announced later this year.

Two for One Tonight!

Join us for the official opening of Coming of Age: The Graduates, our Alberta graduating students show, and then celebrate with the winner of the $10,000 Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize! The opening runs from 6:30-9:30 pm, with the announcement ceremony for the Prize winner at 7:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Joseph P. LaGrange, "Dream Streets #2", 3' x 4', acrylic on board

Red Deer College grad LaGrange says: "Both paintings come from my Dream Street Series and are influenced strongly...by surrealist artists: Rene Magritte, Paul Delvaux and Giorgio de Chirico...but, with the use of my own imaginative tools. I am interested in the use of colour to emphasize my feelings at the time and add images that i find exciting to paint."


"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Thomas Sidwell, "Confidante", 4' x 3', oil, oil pastel and graphite on board

Red Deer College grad Sidwell says of his work: "These paintings deal the the city as a subject. Though I have referenced specific locations in both Red Deer and Edmonton, the abstraction present in the pieces is my own personal exploration of the subject matter...It is my intent that not only the imagery of my work but also the material reality and the physical application of the paint or any other medium speaks to the subject as well."

"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize

Arlene Wasylynchuk, "Saltus Illuminati", installation using Lexan, acrylic paint, and LED lights, dimensions variable

Join us at a reception at 7:30 pm on June 21st, 2012, for the announcement of the winning artist of the Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize. This $10,000 prize was made possible through the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association. Fifteen submissions were made by galleries in Edmonton and the surrounding counties. Five artists were shortlisted by a jury of three, all from outside of the Edmonton region. The shortlist is: Paul Freeman (by Harcourt House Artist-Run Centre), Alan Henderson (by Douglas Udell Gallery), David Janzen (by Peter Robertson Gallery), Amy Loewan (by Strathcona County Art Gallery @501), and Arlene Wasylynchuk (by Art Gallery of Alberta).

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Gillian Mitchell, "Untitled", 14" x 23" x 12", clay and wood

Alberta College of Art & Design grad Mitchell says of her process: Different approaches are taken from different artists, I choose to mimic nature not close to me and create forms and vessels that capture the essence of bark, stalagmites, coral and even cliffs.  I make my vessel forms simply to lift ones spirits or make them smile as they enter a room and see a familiar shape, colour, or texture.

"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize

Amy Loewan, "A Peace Project", rice paper, ink, charcoal, pastel, wood, and jasmine rice, 8 panels at 8' x 4' each

Join us at a reception at 7:30 pm on June 21st, 2012, for the announcement of the winning artist of the Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize. This $10,000 prize was made possible through the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association. Fifteen submissions were made by galleries in Edmonton and the surrounding counties. Five artists were shortlisted by a jury of three, all from outside of the Edmonton region. The shortlist is: Paul Freeman (by Harcourt House Artist-Run Centre), Alan Henderson (by Douglas Udell Gallery), David Janzen (by Peter Robertson Gallery), Amy Loewan (by Strathcona County Art Gallery @501), and Arlene Wasylynchuk (by Art Gallery of Alberta).

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Jean Day, "Fallen Log", detail, 1.5' x 5.5' x 2.5', mannequin, flora, and four weasels

Alberta College of Art & Design graduate Day describes her process this way: "Putting emphasis on the juxtaposition of natural versus artificial materials, the contemporary Daphne resembling figure expresses notions of the body as a landscape and of being a part of nature."

"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize

David Janzen, "Lumber Pile", oil on canvas, 48" x 72"

Join us at a reception at 7:30 pm on June 21st, 2012, for the announcement of the winning artist of the Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize. This $10,000 prize was made possible through the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association. Fifteen submissions were made by galleries in Edmonton and the surrounding counties. Five artists were shortlisted by a jury of three, all from outside of the Edmonton region. The shortlist is: Paul Freeman (by Harcourt House Artist-Run Centre), Alan Henderson (by Douglas Udell Gallery), David Janzen (by Peter Robertson Gallery), Amy Loewan (by Strathcona County Art Gallery @501), and Arlene Wasylynchuk (by Art Gallery of Alberta).

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Nicole Lalonde, "Drip", video installation

Derrick Hoekstra, "x(52)=y", playing cards

University of Lethbridge curator Tanya Harnett describes why she selected these students for the exhibition:  

"The psychological aspect of Nicole Lalonde’s video work is disturbing. We understand that we are viewing an act of water torture, but such questions arise such as; Who is this person? Where is she and why is she there? Is this an act being executed upon her or is she subjecting herself to own devices. Maybe it’s a metaphor for something else. No matter what the dynamics of the setting, the work begs for empathy from the viewer.

Upon first glance at Derrick Hoekstra’s playing card installation, we encounter the momentum and gesture with a smile. As the viewer experiences more time with the piece, we are able to see the card trick- the construction of the work. While even more time passes,  we realize that the appearance of happenstance must have taken a significant amount of time to create.  The choice of what cards are used can become important. This act of choice becomes a curious factor, because the history of playing cards is filled with symbolism."

"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize

Alan Henderson, "Turret Girl", bronze on granite base, 49"h x 17"w

Join us at a reception at 7:30 pm on June 21st, 2012, for the announcement of the winning artist of the Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize. This $10,000 prize was made possible through the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association. Fifteen submissions were made by galleries in Edmonton and the surrounding counties. Five artists were shortlisted by a jury of three, all from outside of the Edmonton region. The shortlist is: Paul Freeman (by Harcourt House Artist-Run Centre), Alan Henderson (by Douglas Udell Gallery), David Janzen (by Peter Robertson Gallery), Amy Loewan (by Strathcona County Art Gallery @501), and Arlene Wasylynchuk (by Art Gallery of Alberta).

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Derrick Hoekstra, "x(52)=y", playing cards

University of Lethbridge grad Hoekstra says of his work: "Although I work with very different mediums, I approach all my artwork with the same attitude. I attempt to create a moment;...this particular work x(52)=? is no exception. The work is fraught with layers and meanings and I could sum that up by saying I took decks of cards (52 cards/ 52 weeks a year), and I represented my life with them, attempting to catch every moment till now."


"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Award

Paul Freeman, "Sigmund and Jacques Beyond the Valley of Objet A", still, video installation

Join us at a reception at 7:30 pm on June 21st, 2012, for the announcement of the winning artist of the Eldon & Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize. This $10,000 prize was made possible through the generous support of the Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation and in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and Visual Arts Alberta Association. Fifteen submissions were made by galleries in Edmonton and the surrounding counties. Five artists were shortlisted by a jury of three, all from outside of the Edmonton region. The shortlist is: Paul Freeman (by Harcourt House Artist-Run Centre), Alan Henderson (by Douglas Udell Gallery), David Janzen (by Peter Robertson Gallery), Amy Loewan (by Strathcona County Art Gallery @501), and Arlene Wasylynchuk (by Art Gallery of Alberta).

Coming of Age: The Graduates

Nicole Lalonde, "Drip", video installation

University of Lethbridge grad Lalonde describes her process this way: "Manifested through simple, performative gestures, my works revolve around concepts of twinship, sexuality, identity, and dichotomies. For the most part, these broad subjects are employed as a means to understanding society and culture."


"Coming of Age: The Graduates" is a group show featuring the work of recent art school graduates. Ten artists were selected from five Albertan communities: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. The show opens to the public on June 7 with an official opening reception on Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.