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Do you love art? Do you wish you could own an original work by a contemporary artist?

Small Wonder! is the seasonal group exhibit of small, original pieces by the eighteen artists of the Fort Gallery in Fort Langley B.C.

It runs from December 7th to December 24th and will be hung Salon style. That means that if a work is purchased, it comes down and is taken away by its new owner, and a new work is put up in its place. It means that if you come on the 7th, you will see one exhibition, but if you come a week later, you might see a quite different one with new works. It's exciting. It's a visual treat. A great place to find a unique gift for seasonal giving.

Come meet the artists and join in the celebration. The opening reception will be on December 9th from 7 to 9 p.m. at 9048 Glover Road in Fort Langley.

"I look at each painting as a a symphony of colours and a celebration of the natural world around me. The paintings are a tribute to a world that we are very much a part of."

Abstractionist Dorthe Eisenhardt has a strong affinity with nature. When she creates one of her images they are filled with colour, light and space. Through her experimental way of working, a landscape emerges.

Accompanying Eisenhardt in this exhibition is Judy Jones, who creates fused glasswork. A master craftswoman in her medium, Jones is always exploring and allowing the glass to be the what it does best. It reacts in the fusing process contributes to create rich colour, textures and translucency in unexpected ways, resulting in both functional and decorative works.

Come see these two vibrant bodies of work, September 14th to October 2, 2011. The opening reception will be held on September 16th from 7 - 9 p.m.

Regular gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.

Fort Gallery artist Linzy Arnott has been juried into the Florence Bienale. Congratulations, Linzy! What a coup! We are very proud of you,

The day was brilliantly sunny. There was a soft breeze so the temperature was warm and comfortable. Twenty plus participants enjoyed the morning in workshops under the shelter of the tents. In the afternoon, our model Nadine posed in the middle of the field whilst artists and participants alike drew her fluid poses. Late afternoon, Bette Laughy gave a demonstration of digital techniques available through Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paint.

Susan Falk's four dogs provided ambled from one centre of acitivity to another making friends with all the newcomers. The horses grazed in the pasture by the pond. Several artists attempted to capture the red trimmed, white row boat, pulled out to the side of the water and reflecting back on it.

It was a fruitful day and and idyllic one. All agreed that it was perfect and they would be looking forward to the next Art Farm adventure.

Plan on it for next year! It's too good to miss. It will be on a Sunday in the early part of August.

August 7th is the date for the annual Fort Gallery's fundraiser, Art Farm. This even is a wonderful opportunity to take a workshop in the morning, pariticipate in figure drawing in the afternoon, then learn about digital art from Betty Laughy before the event closes at 5 p.m.

There are five workshops to choose from, with gallery artists providing techniques and mentoring that will help you improve your artistic skills. In addition, there's a buffet breakfast in the morning, a yoga session at 9 a.m. to loosen you up (participation voluntary) and lots of fellowship with other artists. Bring your own lunch.

Art Farm is located on a beautiful farm in South Surrey, with fields as far as the eye can see, and in paddocks, horses ambling about. It's a great fresh air day.

For details, call the Fort Gallery at 604-888-7411. Cost is $90 for the day.

On BC Day, August 1st, Fort Gallery artists will be painting in the garden behind the gallery. It's a great opportunity to see artists in action, ask questions and buy original art. 1 - 4 p.m. 9048 Glover Road, Fort Langley.

Come join us and meet the artists.

In 2000, Kristin Krimmel consigned 64 paintings to a Halfmoon Bay gallery on the Sunshine Coast. When the gallery closed, the owner did not return the paintings. The paintings were missing and Krimmel was not compensated. Now, nine years after, several of the paintings turned up in a thrift shop.

After negotiations with the St. Mary's Auxilliary Thrift, the manager agreed to send the paintings back to Krimmel in e xchange for a donation to the St. Mary's charity. The first lot of 38 found was followed by another 11 paintings. There are still 15 lost somewhere. Read the full story on the Maple RIdge Times web site at:

http://www.mrtimes.com/entertainment/Missing+returned+rightful+owner/5100577/story.html

Contemporary artist Leanne Sjodin explores the ardent magic of swamp dwelling trees in her latest exhibition, Transformations, bringing to life these narrative landscapes. Layers of colour in acrylics express their enduring beauty.

Showing with her is Bob Wakefield who brings the totems of Haida Gwaii to canvas.

Join Sjodin and Wakefield for the opening reception July 16th from 2 - 5 p.m.

This exhibit runs from July 13th to August 1st . Gallery hours are 12 –5pm, Wednesday to Sunday at 9048 Glover Road, Fort Langley, B.C..

"I was taken by their powerful imagery and how they have withstood so many years and still look so amazing" says Bob Wakefield, concerning his paintings of the Haida Gwaii totems that he portrays in oil.

I found out that the First Nations peoples who are the stewards of the lands they are on have decided to not try to preserve them and to let them go back to the earth from where they came. I thought I would like to paint them as they are while they are still here as many are starting to decay quite a lot.

Wakefield captures the enduring qualities of the totems and their haunting beauty.

Bob Wakefield exhibits with Leanne Sjodin at the Fort Gallery from July 13th to August 1st with an Opening Reception on Saturday, July 16th from 2-5pm. Gallery hours are 12 –5pm, Wednesday to Sunday at 9048 Glover Road, Fort Langley.

Five members of the Fort Gallery were chosen for the Fraser Valley Regional Biennale.Doris Auxier with her environmental Bog paintings, and Jo-ann Sheen with her prints will be showing at the Reach Gallery, opening June 16th at the Reach. Kristin Krimmel and Susan Falk will be showing at the Kariton Gallery (the Abbotsford Arts Council) in Abbotsford. The opening for this latter exhibition is on Sunday June 19th between 1 and 4 p.m. Dorthe Eisenhardt shows at Township of Langley Municipal Hall.

Congratulations Doris, Jo-ann, Dorthe, Kristin and Susan.