Fort Langley Artist Group is back for the 2014 season and beginning this weekend, the artists are trying a new theme on for size.
The first show of the year, titled Micro/Macro opens at the Flagstop Gallery in the Langley Heritage Society CN train station on May 3, from noon to 4 p.m.
It promises to be a busy summer for FLAG’s 18 member artists. The show, which continues until June 15, will be the first of three exhibits that will run over the course of the season.
From June 21 to July 27, an ‘Artists’ Choice’ show will hang. After that, it will be Sunflower & Poppies in the gallery, from Aug. 2 to Sept. 1.
There will also be two paint-ins, on July 1 and Sept. 1. FLAG is also participating in the Fort Langley Art Crawl May 3, 4, 10 and 11.
Taking part will be three new artists who joined the group this year — Wendy Neilson, Pat Weibelzahl and Angela Weichel.
Weibelzahl was actually a member of FLAG once before — for about a year, two decades ago.
At the time, she owned a silk painting business in Fort Langley.
In her 30s, Weibelzahl studied fine art at what was then Kwantlen College. But even then, she emerged with the idea that she really should find a steady, paying job.
“I’ve danced between creativity and practicality my whole life,” she said.
“But I’m a creative person, and I have to express that.”
And so the artist is ready to allow her creative side to take over.
In addition to re-joining FLAG about a month ago, she has also been painting each week with South Langley artist Susan Falk.
Falk’s advice to Weibelzahl — get painting.
In order to truly become an artist, you have to paint a hundred paintings, Falk told Weibelzahl.
Creating everything from bold florals to colourful impressionist images of boats, Weibelzahl has been putting brush to canvas and creating a number of pieces to hang in Micro/Macro, including a larger-than-life image of pink lillies.
One of the things Weibelzahl enjoys most about the group is being surround by so many creative people.
FLAG’s 18 members meet monthly to offer each other advice and feedback in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to show my work in the community,” she said.
The Flagstop Gallery is open weekends and holiday Mondays all summer long, from noon to 4 p.m.