The Cariboo Art Society is celebrating its 70th anniversary with its June show Brushes with History at the Station House Gallery.
Society president Cat Prevette opened the show Thursday, June 5 by congratulating the arts community.
“Welcome to this historic event,” Prevette said. “I’d like you to imagine a red carpet here under our feet. We are all VIP’s here to celebrate some exciting history of our community … Imagine 70 years of painting in our town.”
During the past year, she said members explored the art society’s history with various art projects.
“Canada has such a rich history seldom lauded and we were excited to explore our quite fantastic legacy,” Prevette said.
Last July she said the group visited Ingrid and Ty Johnston at the Onward Ranch where the art society began.
There they painted the famous red barn which was first painted by founder Vivien Cowan and her mentor A.Y. Jackson of Canada’s Group of Seven and several others.
Later in November she said the group had a celebratory party at the Onward where Julie Fowler, director of Island Mountain School of the Arts in Wells launch her book The Grand Dames of the Cariboo about Vivien Cowan and the birth of the art society.
The downstairs show reflects the work done by members during the past year and includes some of the works of member’s prsonal history including pieces former members have loaned for the show from their private collections.
Paintings by Vivien Cowan and her daughter Sonia Cornwall from private collections as well as art work from the society’s permanent collection are also part of the show.
She also acknowledge lakecity artist and retired art teacher Dave Abbott for his contributions to the society.
This past year she said the art society has enjoyed a wonderfully supportive group of seasoned and relatively new members.
The group meets three times a week on Thursday afternoons and evenings and on Saturday mornings to share, grow and learn.