YORKTON – The pARTners Gallery in Yorkton has a new and interactive exhibit for the public to partake in.
Several local artists have come together with original line-drawn works to be coloured in by all ages.
"Cozy Up and Colour actually started with the Yorkton Public Library during COVID – they had distributed colouring kits to people for pickup," said Tonia Vermette, Administrator for Yorkton Arts Council in an interview with Yorkton This Week.
During that time, the finished products were displayed in the windows of downtown local businesses during the lockdown.
"I had seen them and thought, 'we (YAC) should do something with local artists instead of having pages ripped out of colouring books — artists could do this — we could make this into a show'," added Vermette.
"Last year was the first year...we had four local artists and this year we have five," said Vermette, adding, "all of the colouring pages have been designed by a local artist – which they have been paid a small fee for."
The colouring pages are available for download on the YAC's website or can be picked up from the Yorkton Public Library, Blue Drip Art Supplies and the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre.
"Once you're finished colouring the piece you can drop it off and we will display it until April 27," said Vermette, "if you'd like to have it returned to you just make sure to put your name and information on the back."
Vermette said the exhibition was well-received last year.
"We had a lot of people who really enjoyed it...people enjoyed colouring something that was created by someone in Yorkton instead of colouring beach scenes or whatever – this is done by local artists and inspired by local things."
The artists featured have appeared in local exhibitions in the city, according to their bios from the Yorkton Arts Council. They include:
Michelle Easton is a local multidisciplinary artist originally from Saltcoats. After spending some years in British Columbia and the Yukon, she returned in 2010 and continues to create. She has participated in many local group shows including Landscape and Memory at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in 2020, Parkland Disc Golf Exhibition in the Community pARTners gallery in 2019, HeArt Works at the Saltcoats Library in 2019 and Cherry Dale Golf & Country Club Local Artists Exhibition from 2017—2019.
Kelly Litzenberger is a multidisciplinary Yorkton artist. His artwork primarily focuses on the use of a digital canvass, photography, and LEGO. From 2004 until 2011, Kelly lived in Vancouver and worked as the Art Director of Concrete Skateboarding Magazine. In 2018, the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery hosted Kelly’s first solo exhibition, 'LEGO: Yorkton City', which replicated Yorkton architecture in LEGO.
Wade Dawe is a mixed media artist from Yorkton. Self-taught, his main practice is drawing with ink and charcoal. Frequently, he produces still life, animal and anthropomorphic works. He started to study art and practice in late 2019.
Faith Rae is a local artist in Yorkton. Rae received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree a Brandon University in 2022. Her art practice primarily focuses on painting. Her paintings are conceptually themed in abstraction and portraiture.
Alexandria Blatter is fueled by nature, story, tradition and good coffee. Her heart lies within the lines and between each space lies hidden imagery that will show the whole story. She participated in the Local Artist’s Show at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in 2022.
Participants are encouraged to drop off their completed colourings at the Yorkton Public Library for display in the pARTners Gallery.
