The Fine Line Art Gallery here wants local artists to start thinking “Wild and Woolly” over the long winter ahead in preparation for an art show of the same name slated for next April.
While organizers aren’t exactly sure how those two simple words are going to be interpreted by creative minds and hands, artists willing to walk on the “wild side” now can pick up registrations forms at the gallery on Mowat Avenue.
“We really picked the theme on a whim,” said local artist Linda Lovisa, part of the Fine Line Art Gallery co-op.
“During the ‘Shades of Yellow’ show [in April], one of us was saying, “What colour should we do next?’ Somebody else said, ‘Why don’t we do a particular subject?’ And Jean [Richards] said ‘wild and woolly.’
“And we said, ‘That’s perfect!’” Lovisa added.
Richards noted there’s already been some interest in the show, particularly in the possible interpretations of the theme. “One woman said I’ll just do my hair,” she joked.
“Wild and woolly could be just about anything. I expect we’ll see some sheep and caterpillars,” added Richards. “But then, there’s the possibility of associating ‘wild and woolly’ with Westerns.”
Like the popular “Shades of Yellow,” next April’s show will run about a month at the gallery and also feature a special evening with the Northern Lights Ensemble (Stephanie Hawkins and Katherine Williams) playing music suited to the theme.
In related news, Lovisa and museum curator Pam Hawley wrapped up a three-day summer art camp for kids last Thursday at the Fort Frances Museum.
The works created by the 12 youth will remain on display upstairs at the museum until tomorrow. The young artists can pick up their projects at the museum Friday.
Lovisa noted the participants were enthusiastic and—given the three-day period—prolific in their artwork.
The young artists, ranging in age from nine-13, worked with watercolours, Indian ink, and acrylics, and also created sculptures of both sand and styrofoam.
The summer art camp is held every two years.