Like mixing primary colors to create new and exciting combinations, Debra Rushfelt and Betty Fahlman collocated the beloved Saturday Art Tour and The Arrow Lakes Fine Art Guild (ALFA Guild) to fashion this years Art Walk project in Nakusp.
An art walk is a self-guided tour of local venues where artist’s creations are displayed for the viewing pleasure of the public. The art pieces are also listed for sale for those coinsures who discover something they like and are interested in supporting local artists.
Rushfelt and Fahlman are producing a brochure guide that will include a map of the venue locations as well as artist information. The summer based event will involve a preview exhibition of each artist’s work for two weeks leading up to the grand opening gala on Friday June 27 at Selkirk Collegewhere the ALFA Art Walk brochure will be publicized.
“We are using the whole town as a gallery”, Rushfelt explains, citing that the 18 venues of restaurants and community buildings match the number of venues showcased during Nelson’s art walk.
Rushfelt and Fahlman are respectively the president and vice president of the ALFA Guild and have taken on curatorial responsibilities the ALFA Art Walk project. As curators the two have coordinated with the local venues to match artist’s work with existing spaces and atmospheres.
This year’s art walk project will include the added feature of an artist in residence hosted by Selkirk College. For the duration of the Art Walk, artists Boukje Elzinga and Clark Dennill will each in turn occupy a space in the college which will be open to the public for one or two days a week. This college exhibition is an opportunity for the two artists in residence to promote themselves with demonstrations, lessons or the maintenance of a public access studio.
Rushfelt expressed excitement for the art walk project and explains, “we wanted to show the world Nakusp has an art community and to show support for local artists”
The ALFA Art Walk will run through July and August and will feature paintings, photography and sculpture installations.