BMO Centre being transformed into a massive gallery for Western Oasis Art Show
The Stampede Art Show is a long running event at the greatest outdoor show on earth and artists are setting up their booths for when the gates open.
Organizers say there is always the exciting possibility the artists can sell a year’s worth of inventory in 10 days to collectors, new clients and brand new art buyers.
Curating the show takes months with each artist being evaluated early in the year by judges. Volunteer Sherri Zickefoose said it's important to make sure the event has a little bit of everything for visitors with traditional art, but also some abstract and contemporary work to keep it fresh every year.
"Stampede and art go back to the very beginning," said Zickefoose. "It's a great tradition back when Stampede first started, we had the art of Charlie Russell helping our visitors really explore...that storytelling of the Wild West."
This is Calgary artist Amanada Crozier's first time showcasing her work and she's thrilled about it especially after attending a number of years as a visitor.
"It's been a dream to be here for many years and finally I reached a point where it's like, yeah I can do this," she said.
Crozier has learned from other artists at the show what to expect: the days are long, but they're worth it. She's looking forward to the interaction with Stampede visitors and says many like to hear the story behind the paintings.
"I love detail," said Crozier. "It's our landscape here, it's so amazing that I want to capture that as best as I can and just show everybody what an amazing place we live in."
'BIGGEST SHOW IN CANADA'
Serge Dube's studio is in Langley B.C. and this is his fifth year exhibiting his work at Stampede. He has work up and all three walls of his show space and has brought another 70 canvases because he will be working on seven new pieces a day in front of visitors.
"Well, it's the biggest show in Canada," he said. "There's talent here like nowhere else, you know, yeah you can see them individually but here they all gather together."
Dube developed his unique style 12 years ago. He doesn't use a brush but rather manipulates paint he's squirted on his work surface from paint bottles.
"Being here, it's a fantastic venue for that, I have a couple of galleries around the area," said Dube. "So a lot of the collectors and new clients, if they want something else, well they can go to the gallery so like it's a win-win in both directions."
Jonn Einerssen also lives in British Columbia and shares some of his Stampede event knowledge with new artists at the show because his first one was in 1988 and he remembers it well.
"It still stays fresh in my mind when I first came in, you know what, I'm 34 years (of selling my art at the Stampede) now, I'm the old guy around here, I never thought that would ever happen," he said.
He's sold a lot of art in those years and has a few different styles that customers appreciate featuring pieces with the ocean and sky.
"I grew up in the prairies and love clouds," Einerssen said. "That was my TV as a kid: growing up was laying on a coolie bank watching clouds.
"When I figured out I could paint them," he added, "I thought that was pretty good so I got into quite a series of doing a lot of prairie work."
Einerssen said it's good to have thick skin during the Stampede Art Show because thousands of people from all different walks of life visit and don't hesitate to share their opinions, good or bad.
Learn more about the event here: https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/attractions/western-oasis/art-show
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.