Lethbridge artists are “Making it Big” this month.
 A new display of oversized works from 20 local artist opens this Saturday at both the Bowman Art Centre and the Yates Memorial Centre.
“I knew we had a big arts community. There are so many people who make large scale pieces,” deadpanned Darcy Logan, artist and Bowman Arts centre curator, who was not surprised to receive 20 separate submissions from 20 individual artists. Logan’s painting is one of the fantasy themed works, which carries on with his Naglfar theme as one of his “bone” ships dominates the left hand corner of the work.
The only restriction was the pieces had to be a minimum of three feet by four feet.
“But most of them are a lot larger,” Logan observed, placing a beautiful seascape from Sylvia Klassen onto a wall.

He said most of the artists are  familiar faces though a couple are newcomers.

“For the most part they are all familiar faces, but we always get some new people. And I’ll always give them an opportunity,” he said.

““I’m surprised how many people in Lethbridge  are painting in a large scale format,” observed artist Rick Gillis examining his own surreal painting of a doll next to a nude elderly woman.
“It’s about the perception of the body. It’s all about the perception of beauty. Your eyes are drawn to to doll first,” Gillis said of his painting, noting he was impressed by the variety of works in the exhibition. 

While most of the works are paintings, the painting styles (including seascapes, fantasy, allegorical, abstract and surreal) are as varied as the subject matter. He already had completed his painting  before the call for submissions for this exhibit went out and was happy to have a chance to display it.

So is artist Robert Bechtel, who had his more abstract work, featuring the minotaur, ready to go  before the show was announced.
“It’s quite abstract.  He’s pointing outside the painting, which is something you aren’t supposed to do,” Bechtel observed, examining his work.
The exhibits will be up until May 22. The opening receptions are 7-9 p.m.at both venues, Saturday, April 10