Arts & Culture
Summer scenes, ladies nights make up August at Soul Gallery
The collective of artists that call the Soul Gallery their creative home have made the most of summer so far with seasonal renderings in a wide variety of mediums. Those works are on display as part of a group summer exhibition that sees a different arrangement on the Albert Street gallery’s walls every two weeks. “There’s a common comment that’s said about our rotating collection on the walls,” says Soul Gallery curator Julie Walsh. “People are often surprised to come in and see a refreshed look again and again." .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Walsh notes that the audiences are not the only ones who are pleasantly surprised by the fresh layouts on the Soul Gallery’s walls. The artists themselves have also been able to see new inspirations in how Walsh, an interior designer by trade, has laid out their works. “They’re always commenting on how we are finding new ways of promoting their work,” adds Walsh, who shares their art with hotels and tourist locations as well. New artist contributes to Soul Gallery community Amongst the works on display at the Soul Gallery right now are works by the gallery’s latest signee, Aliana Au. A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s School of Art, the Chinese-Canadian painter’s summer landscapes add a surrealist feeling to the displayed collection. “Because she trained in Korea, she also has that sort of calligraphic brushstroke,” says Welsh. “It’s a whole new look to the landscape.” Special event for women Au’s work will be featured prominently at a ladies’ night event taking place next week. Welsh says that her clientele have been asking for a ladies’ night for a long time, and it will finally be taking place with refreshments and live music accompanying a night of art. “It’s just a fun and festive evening where women get to enjoy art and being with one another,” Welsh smiles. In addition to be a night of fun, Welsh is excited to provide inspiration to the women who come to ladies night. The evening’s featured artist will be Charlene Nield, whose artistic story is just as impressive as her award-winning works. “She retired at 65, never held a brush until she retired,” shares Welsh, “and ten years later, she sells off the wall.” Nield’s work accentuates the nature of a ladies’ night through her art’s purpose: to lift the spirits of those who encounter it. “We live in challenging times in our life experience,” says Walsh, “and she wants to just bring joy to the world, and she does it beautifully.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soul Gallery (@soul_gallery) The Soul Gallery’s ladies’ night takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 21, with the group summer exhibition lasting until September 17. More information can be found at the gallery’s website or on their social media.