Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Vol. 45, No. 19
Your LOCAL Paper
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Station Gallery officially opens for the season
Patricia Harcourt Editor
The Viking Station Gallery is opening this spring with renewed optimism it will continue as an artistic centre for the community in the coming years. The gallery held its opening night last Friday evening as a “meet and greet” for the new artists displaying their works. A welcoming piano medley was played by gallery member Mary Hanson and refreshments were served. The gallery was open during the day over Saturday and Sunday for art demos and face painting as well. A fundraiser has resulted in the promise of new roofing on the Station Gallery building taking place this summer. With $43,000 already raised the goal of $50,000 is sure to be reached. The gallery building also has a cozy teahouse that runs from spring to fall, and attracts visitors from far and wide. Art work graces the teahouse walls and other parts of the building housing a sitting room and the former CN office. Station Gallery Board Chair Judy Acres was on hand Friday night. The re-shingling of the entire roof will be handled by J.D. Construction, Acres said the hope is that once the old shingles have been removed there will be no evidence of the need for major repairs. With $43,000 already raised, “people have been quite generous,” she said, adding that the opening is to “bring awareness there’s an art gallery here.” And it’s the art gallery that pays for the upkeep of the building. “We have no way to raise money ourselves,” she said, using the rent from the cafe to cover the utilities. So they have to rely on the community for any extra help needed. Four artists displayed their work for the weekend’s festivities, including Betty Klein, Judy Acres, Julie Wieler, and Alana Squair. Klein has been a mainstay in supporting the gallery with her art, as well as holding art workshops, for many years and has worked in many different mediums including acrylics and watercolours. See GALLERY P8
Artist Julie Wieler’s work was on display. She loves western themes, horses and landscape work, and also does glass painting (as pictured above).
Judy Acres says she does her art for friends and family, and shows off her colourful repertoire of canvases.