Beauty of the Cariboo celebrated at Parkside

The Cariboo Artists’ Guild has captured the beauty of the Cariboo in their 44th-annual  Fine Art Show & Sale at Parkside Art Gallery. 

Entitled Cariboo: Through the Eyes of the Group of Seven this group show features the work of 16 local artists. One of them is Patsy Granberg who said she is happy to see 75 paintings and mosaics from so many talented peers on display. 

“Many of the artists have five or six pieces (in the show) and you can see the similarities and come to recognize them long before you look at any name on the painting,” Granberg remarked. “The theme this year is Cariboo: Through the Eyes of the Group of Seven. I think they did a very good job at staying true to their own style and also attempting to reflect another, which isn’t easy.”

The Group of Seven, also known as the Algonquin School, were a group of seven Canadian landscape artists active from 1920 to 1933 who believed that they could develop a distinctly Canadian style of art through painting nature. One of their contemporaries and associates was Emily Carr, whose likeness still graces the walls of Parkside to this day in honour of her time in the Cariboo. 

Granberg remarked that the Group of Seven was made up of men whose work reflected the wild and untamed aspect of Canada. This allowed them to be more expressive in their use of paints kicking off Canada’s first national art movement. 

“We are always working under that shadow. We have reflected Emily Carr (in 2021) who didn’t rate for the Group of Seven, being a woman and all that,” Granberg remarked. “I think by looking at our past, it allows us to go forward and (this show) is a nod to who came before us.” 

In addition to the themed paintings, the artists have contributed a wide sample of their work to the show and sale featuring everything from paintings of wildlife, mosaic collages and more. Granberg said she has already picked some of her favourites and noted that many of the artists are honing their own style. 

“They are upping the ante every time and I’m just glad to participate with them. I’m on my own trail, I was telling someone earlier as an artist we are really only ever in competition with ourselves to try and overcome what we see as our personal challenges,” Granberg said. “Every painting you try and make your vision and expression a little bit more clear.” 

Granberg encourages the community to come out and see this new group show. She noted that you’re under no pressure to buy paintings but if you are so inclined many of the smaller pieces are under $100. 

Cariboo: Through the Eyes of the Group of Seven is on now at Parkside and will remain on display until Sept. 7. Parkside is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

“(Parkside) is a place to enjoy and to bring your family and explore (art) and find out what you love,” Granberg said. “I feel grateful to the District of 100 Mile House for providing us with a home for our community and our artists. I think it’s an important measure of wellness for the community they have a chance to be expressive.”