oldest art groups is gearing up for one of it’s biggest shows yet.
The 40th annual Kyla Art Show and Sale will take over the E.A. Rawlinson Centre and Mann Art Gallery on Sunday, October 28 from 7:30 – 10 p.m. Featuring a variety of media and art styles by members of the Kyla Artist Group and guests,, hundreds of piece of art will be available to view and buy in what is not only Kyla’s biggest show of the year, but also a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of Prince Albert.
“In addition to the show, which is always a big event, with the 40th anniversary we have a lot of extra things happening,” said Kyla member Linda Jensen. “We’ve had a 40th-anniversary committee that’s been meeting since January. We’ve had so much fun.”
In addition to the works that will be on display by Kyla members and guests, a separate exhibit in the art gallery lobby will feature works from past members, including some who have passed away. The art group will also have memorabilia from the last 40 years on display in the gallery’s studio space, along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Prior to the show’s opening at 7:30 p.m., a pair of guided preview shows for ticket holders will take place at 1 and 4 p.m. Celebratory cake will be available during the afternoon preview.
“The main purpose of the event is the art,” Jensen said.
“By all accounts, it’s going to be a pretty large show. We’ve got metal, we’ve got wood … we’ve got watercolours and acrylics, we’ve got representational, abstract and encaustic work.”
The Herald previewed some of the art that will be displayed on Oct. 28, including a casted paper piece by Jack Jensen that looks as if it was embroidery, a representational landscape from Linda Jensen, an intricate piece by woodturner Chris Dansereau, a streetscape falling somewhere between realism and abstract from Christina Thoen and a metal hand rising from the ground crafted from the metal punch outs from the insides of fasteners.
That last piece is from one of this year’s guest artists, Jaret Mayer, a metal sculptor who won the second place prize and the people’s choice award in the most recent Mann Art Gallery Winter Festival Show and Sale.
“He hasn’t been doing this for very long. He’s just on fire with this work. Obviously, he loves it, and we saw a fairly big display of his at (the Evergreen Artisan Market) last year,” Linda Jensen said.
“He’s got big pieces, but he’s also doing some smaller pieces that are made out of (things like) silver spoons.”
Mayer isn’t the only recent juried show winner who will be joining the Kyla show as a guest artist this year. Patti Cannon-Levesque, who won the Kyla Memorial Award at the festival will be featuring some of her glass mosaic pieces. The other guest artist also works in three dimensions.
Rachel Mardell paints, but according to Jenson, she’s into fibre art as well, such as felting.
Jack Jensen is also debuting works he has done in a new medium he’s been experimenting with, aqua resin, which allows him to create lightweight, durable but intricate sculptures in a method similar to bronze casting, but using different material.
All of the work that will be on displayed will be making its Kyla Fall Show debut.
“It’s our opportunity to show our work, and members are not allowed to put in anything that’s been in previous fall shows,” Linda said.
“It encourages people to come back and see what’s new,” Jack Jensen added.
“It’s all new work,” Linda continued.
“This being the 40th anniversary — I don
‘t know how many groups there are in the province with that longevity. We definitely want to celebrate that.”
The art though, Linda said, is only half of the picture.
The other focus is on raising funds for the Prince Albert Kiwanis Club.
“I’ve been involved in it for nine years now, and this is probably the most exciting one,” said Kiwanis chairperson Karen Bell.
“We’re really excited about this coming year.”
Last year’s show raised about $5,000 for Kiwanis, money used to fund scholarships for high school students, donations to the Children’s Haven and to give a Little Life Day. It also helps support the annual Kiwanis music festival.
“Five thousand dollars doesn’t sound like much, but it goes a long way,” Bell said.
“Our motto is helping the children of the world.”
The Jensens and Bell aren’t the only ones excited for the show. Bell said her team is also looking forward to the 40th annual fundraiser.
“We have nothing but volunteers. Everybody keeps saying oat our meetings, Oh, I can’t wait,” she said.
“People come, they socialize, they have munchies, they look at the art and can have a glass of wine if they want. Really, it’s a wonderful night.”
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. They can be purchased from Kiwanis or Kyla members, the Medical Pharmacy on Central Avenue, P.A. Travel Group, Christina’s Framing Gallery and Art School, One the Avenue Artisan Gallery or the E.A. Rawlinson Centre box office.
