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Fine art show brings best of the west to Langley

Exhibit of top talent runs Sept. 8-10
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“Seeking the Shade” by Joyce Trygg. Submitted photo

Discover the dancing rapids of the Lynn Valley Headwaters, the glowing neon lights of 1950s Granville Street, and a quaint field of grazing horses, when one of B.C.’s largest and most prestigious art shows comes to Langley next month.

The West Fine Art Show late-summer edition — taking place at Glass House Estate Winery in South Langley Sept. 8 to 10 — will feature beautiful landscape and lifestyle works from 17 of the top artists in Western Canada.

Partnering with the Langley Hospice Society for the fifth year in a row, attendees will have the opportunity to sip local wine, view stunning works of art and meet some of the artists.

“We have two themes, or two drivers … the first is to put on high quality art shows, and the second is to — whenever feasible — partner with a charity and do an art show with proceeds going to them,” said Brian Croft, president and show organizer for the West Fine Art Show Society.

“A percentage of every sale the artist makes … goes to the charity that we’re partnered with, and that’s proved to be something that works well for the artists. They help set up, they help tear down, they love being there and they have a good time.”

Artists participating this year include: Neil Hamelin, the 2016 “Best in Show — Flat” at the Calgary Stampede’s Western Showcase; new feature artists Fran Alexander and Grazyna Wolski; Felicity Holmes, the artist in residence at Glass House; and locals Joyce Trygg, Dianna Jensen Vestergaard, Bryan Coombes, Carmel Clare, Ken Nash, Patricia Banks, Catherine Traynor, Suzanne Erickson, Graham McKenzie, Brent Cooke, Rick Pennell and Judy Vanderveen.

Croft, who is also a well-known Langley artist, will have his heritage-style work on display as well.

The West Fine Art Show began seven years ago, partly in response to a growing trend of art gallery closures that made it more difficult for artists to exhibit their work in public spaces, Croft said.

“We thought, well maybe we can put on a very high quality show ourselves and invite other artists. Artists came from all over B.C., Alberta and even Saskatchewan to be in our show. Even today, we have artists from a fair distance away coming from Vancouver Island and what not.

“So that’s what makes it unique. It’s something the artists can come to, (where) they know it’s high quality and they know they’re going to be rubbing shoulders with all sort of people of the same caliber.”

This is the society’s second show of 2017, with the first one held at the Cloverdale Rodeo last spring. For their next exhibition in March 2018, the society will partner with the Langley School District Foundation at Yorkson Creek Middle School to fundraise for youth homelessness initiatives.

SHOW INFO

Both parking and admission to the West Fine Art Show are free.

Show hours are: Sept. 8 — 7 to 9 p.m.; Sept. 9 — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sept. 10 — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Glass House Estate Winery is located at 23449 0 Ave. in south Langley.

For more information, visit www.westart.ca.

entertainment@langleytimes.com

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Glass House Estate Winery will host the West Fine Art Show Sept. 8 to 10. Miranda Gathercole Langley Times
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“After the Ride” by Joyce Trygg. Submitted photo