Come see some pretty hot art in a COOL & AIR CONDITIONED space

By David F. Rooney
Talented painters in their own individual right, Linda Franklin, Tracey Kitchker and Lisa Figueroa, shine brilliantly as collaborators under the collective name, Lazuline.
Just how brightly they shine you can judge for yourself on Friday evening when their show, Sky Blue Waters, opens at the Visual Arts Centre, starting at 6 pm.
They explained their collaboration through an artists’ statement that says, in part :
“For the past five years, the three artists of Lazuline have collaborated to explore their love of nature and the familiar landscapes of home. Throughout the process, they’ve each discovered that the landscape embraces them, whether it be the vision of Mt. Ida revealing herself after a turn on the Trans-Canada Highway, or the smell of fir trees upon arriving home from work in the downtown core. We define ourselves by what is familiar, what is community. These artists have begun to define themselves by their surrounding landscape.
“The concept of exploring the same scene through three diverse styles has evolved from a desire to share creative processes, to searching for their visceral purpose, their raison d’etre. Abandoning the safety and isolation of individual studios, they were challenged to coalesce their artistic visions by using a triptych format, and have maintained their specific style while communicating their own version of place.”
Friday evening also marks the unveiling of the summer show, Celebrating Gardens, that brings together 80 works of art by Visual Arts Society members. The images on offer at this show are delightful and could not be unveiled at a better time — the near-completion of the Visual Arts Centre’s new and thriving gardens.
Together, these two shows provide a visual feast for local art lovers. Don’t miss them!
The opening begins on Friday, July 10, at 6 pm and is open until 9 pm. Admission is by donation and — Thanks be to God! — The Centre is air conditioned! After that you’ll have to drop by the Visual Arts Centre between the hours of noon and 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday until Friday, August 28.
Here are some images from the two shows that I hope you’ll enjoy:

And did I mention that the Visual Arts Centre is air-conditioned?