Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
There鈥檚 something exciting and different about the new exhibit at the Jasper Art Gallery. It鈥檚 called The Buzz and for a few very good reasons.
Now in its fifth year, The Buzz is an annual art show that allows any Jasperite, young or old, the chance to get their art seen in a public art gallery. Opening up the possibility is just one of the important reasons why the Jasper Artists鈥� Guild puts on the exhibit.
鈥淥ne of our goals as the Jasper Artists鈥� Guild is to provide the community with a location for visual artists. Now, quite some feedback that we got is that people are interested in creating arts, but they feel like they weren't on that level yet to join the guild,鈥� said Luuk Wijk, the organization鈥檚 president.
鈥淪ince it's part of our mandate 鈥� our greater goal 鈥� we thought, why don't we open this up to the community so people can test the waters? Do I like this? Do I want to make visual arts?鈥�
Doing so does much to bridge the gap for fledgling artists who are still in some of the most creative years of their lives: teens and preteens.
Despite the exhibit鈥檚 own fledgling existence, The Buzz has already proven to be a popular fixture on Jasper鈥檚 creative calendar. The first two Buzz events definitely proved to be JAG鈥檚 busiest in terms of submissions.
Much can be said in terms of the final result, as this year鈥檚 Buzz received upwards of 50 submissions, meaning dozens of local artists are currently getting their first public showings of work. On first viewing, the gallery spaces both upstairs and downstairs are filled with interesting and vivacious pieces much unlike what the viewer would typically see.
What鈥檚 even more exciting is that there is a 10-year-old who has just become an exhibiting artist, thanks to JAG and The Buzz.
鈥淥verall, the variety of artwork I find is always most intriguing,鈥� Wijk said.
Getting the public involved will continue as JAG鈥檚 next exhibit is a 75th anniversary tribute to Jasper the Bear. It will also be an open entry community exhibit.
While The Buzz has been on display since Jan. 12, a licensed reception with food and entertainment is being scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. on the evening of Friday, Feb. 3. The Jasper Art Gallery is located in the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre. The gallery is open Thursday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The show continues until Sunday, Feb. 12.
After The Buzz, JAG will be hosting what it calls the 鈥楬angover鈥� with works by JAG member artists remaining on the walls in a new curation. They will stay on display from Thursday, February 16 through until Saturday, Feb. 25.
Editor鈥檚 note: the reporter is related to a member of JAG and one of the exhibiting artists in The Buzz.
