Cultivated is taking place at the Esplanade until April 9.--SUBMITTED PHOTO Xanthe Isbister, Art Curator with the Esplanade Art Gallery
kking@medicinehatnews.com
An art exhibit featuring works by eight Medicine Hat College alumni is entering its final week on display at the Esplanade.
Cultivated, which showcases art pieces by Theresa Eisenbarth, Chad Burton, Myron Campbell, Melissa Chinski, Scott Cumberland, Darrin Hartman, Kelly Hartman and Maureen Newton, opened Jan. 22 and will be closing April 9. A closing reception will be held April 8 from 7-9 p.m, for which several of the artists whose work is featured will be present.
“In January, we weren’t even able to have an opening reception for this exhibit, which was so disappointing when you’re an artist and work on pieces and have it in a very impressive gallery,” local artist Eisenbarth told the News. “So, I’m just thankful to have that in the end … It gives an artist an opportunity to actually talk to people who live locally and … just kind of really celebrate arts and culture in our community.”
Eisenbarth, who owns and operates Eisenbarth Art Studio on Smelter Avenue, is thankful her and other MHC graduates’ art has been featured at the Esplanade.
“It’s important to show people that having an education at the Medicine Hat College is very worthwhile (and) the visual arts program can lead to worthwhile and meaningful careers,” she said.
Those who traverse the gallery before April 9 can expect to see works which encompass a variety of mediums.
“It’s a range from painting to abstract work to a focus on graphic designs, so it’s a real mix of what Medicine Hat College wants to portray from their program,” said Eisenbarth.
Eisenbarth’s works include painted landscapes of Alberta and Western Canada.
“I have centred my practice for the past six years on exclusively painting Medicine Hat … This exhibit focuses, probably for the first time, on landscape work I’ve done,” she said. “My tagline is ‘Paintings which feel like home,’ because it’s part of rural living in southeastern Alberta.”
Cultivated is open from now until April 9 during Esplanade operating hours. Pay as you will.
