ArtWalk 2021 Opens Up to Creative Expression

ArtWalk 2021 Opens Up to Creative Expression

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

ArtWalk 2021 featured a Front Window Gallery with the collective theme of flowers on the windows of over 50 businesses in Vegreville.

Anya Langkow, Tourism, Recreation and Culture Coordinator for the Town of Vegreville, said it is the third year that they partnered with Vegreville Visual Artists (VVA) to bring some type of ArtWalk to the community.

“The Vegreville Tourism Advisory Board and the Town of Vegreville partnered with VVA for ArtWalk 2019 and 2020 and we really worked on increasing our partnership with the Chamber of Commerce for Artwalk 2021. We are trying to work on building those relationships because community spirit and tourism are economic development drivers and the link to the businesses is important,” Langkow explained.

Artists, Sam Ulan and Patricia Iacob painting some of the front window at Perry’s 2 for 1 Pizza.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

“We are lucky to have Sam Ulan who is a Seasonal Travel Ambassador at Vegreville Visitor Information Centre. She is an artist with experience doing front window painting. So we were talking about how we could get creative about the ArtWalk this year not knowing where the COVID-19 restrictions were going to be at.

Some businesses were opened, some were closed, and some were opened by appointment only. So, we thought a great way to amend it this year would be to have the paintings outside of the businesses encouraging people to come and look at them and then hopefully go inside.

Sam held a little information session with VVA and then interested members from VVA put their names forward if they wanted to participate in it. It has been a total collaboration since then.

Marg Varga and Heather Paziuk paint the window of Vegreville Dental Centre.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

“The artists started painting the windows at the beginning of June but we have been working on connecting with the businesses and artists since May. We have had a dozen artists participating, counting the ones from the Vegreville Visitor Information Centre, and around 10 artists from VVA.

What has been exciting about this artwork is the new involvement of businesses who haven’t participated in any of our initiatives before join us for this Artwalk.”

Michelle Henderson, Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce Manager said the Chamber of Commerce sent out e-mails to the businesses who are Chamber members and told them to let the Chamber know if they wanted to participate. Businesses did not have to be a Chamber member to participate.

Diane Fausak and Pat Anderson paint the window of Everything Tea.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

“We were also the centre point where we had all the paints and supplies in the front of the Chamber’s office.

The response from the businesses has been very positive. They really jumped on board. This is yet another example of the Chamber working with the town, artists and tourism and the other businesses in our community to make it a more welcoming, fun place to be,” Henderson added.