Art is a very difficult field in which to earn a living; but it is important in that it is a form of expression, it can evoke emotion in the viewer, be thought provoking, make a statement or cause one to see the world in a different way.It has been with us for thousands of years and should not become something that is lost with time and a lack of encouragement.
I am not the only one at KAGS that feels it is important to encourage the next generation of artists. KAGS supplied up to three canvases to any member artist that was interested in helping with this fund raiser. The response was wonderful with almost 30% of KAGS artists willing to donate their time and talent to create paintings for this show.
The upcoming art show called 'Small Treasures' is a little different than what is normally the way an art exhibit is ran at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio. Instead of the public buying the art from the artist as they see it at the Gallery both the public and Gallery members will be eligible to purchase tickets at $30.00 each (with all proceeds going for prize money for the Best of High School Art Show) starting on Wednesday, 18 March until the start of the final day on Sunday, 29 March, with no more tickets available than the number of paintings exhibited.
Tickets will be drawn on the final afternoon of the exhibit starting at 2:00pm with the first name drawn having the first choice of one of the paintings on display. This will continue until all the purchased tickets have been drawn.
The Best of High School Art Show was the idea of Cap Leahy who together with Barry Parsons (both of whom are members of the Outdoor Painters' Group) held the first show at KAGS in the mid-1990s and it has been an annual event ever since. We have had students enter our show from the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Region, as well as schools from Norwood, Lakefield, Lindsay, Peterborough and the surrounding area.
Prizes are from many different fund raising events over the course of the year such as the Annual ODPG silent auction for artwork by their members and the KAGS Christmas Silent Auction, last year funds were raised at the show held at the Lockside Trading Post with artists donating 25% of the proceeds from their art sales, private individuals and with generous donations from the Rose Baker Fund and the Retired Teachers Association.
Prizes for this annual event are given to the students in the form of cash and gift certificates from Victory Art Supply.
If you have a chance, please come out and help support our future artists.
