On Friday, Oct. 11, I had the opportunity to attend the Kariton Art Gallery’s new fall exhibit A Little Bit of Abstract. The gallery showcases local artists who also serve as members of the Abbotsford Arts Council. The exhibit premiered on Oct. 6 and runs until Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it offers an exclusive opportunity to meet with a diverse variety of artists during operational hours and discuss their artwork.
I met with Roy Williams, a member of the Fraser Valley Watermedia Society whose artists create with acrylic, ink and wash, and watercolour.
“We need Culture. With a capital C,” Williams said, when asked about the importance of these events in the Fraser Valley. “It makes us more human. It’s not necessarily a soft side of us, but it’s introspective.”
While each piece of art displayed different characteristics, the majority of the featured pieces included depictions of nature, providing an accessible starting point for abstract media. Williams admitted that modern art can be tricky to navigate.
“I’m not thinking of the biology of a fir tree when I’m painting one,” he said. “Although maybe I should. Maybe that’s what abstraction is all about: impressionistic.”
One of my favourite pieces from the exhibit was “Harvest Moon” by Marlyn Clark. The painting was texturized by natural samples of reeds and branches, providing a 3D component above the abstract hues of the sky and waterlines. “Harvest Moon” has a haunting quality, with a golden moon and thin, finger-like branches that leap off the canvas.
My own exposure to abstract art hasn’t been extensive outside of a visual arts course, but it wasn’t challenging to enjoy the exhibit and bounce ideas off with Williams. Abstract art can appear daunting to those who are unfamiliar: its depictions of colours, patterns, random placement, and shifting directions are uncontained. The viewer is confronted by undefined composition and tasked to derive meaning through their own interpretations. Most importantly, the artist is experimenting with new signals to connect with their audience — and it’s why we bond to art.
Even if abstract art appears complicated, this particular exhibit allows newcomers and fans alike the opportunity to converse with the artists and investigate their inspirations. The gallery offers free admittance too; so, the more, the merrier!
Artwork: Cover / Nan Neuman, The Enchanted Fraser Canyon, Acrylic on wood panel
Artwork: In text body/ Laurie Thomasson, Pretty in Pink, Acrylic on canvas
Images: Krystina Spracklin
