Returning artist showcases body of work at local library
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
Photo Courtesy of Gail Ann Bourgeois
The decision propelled the Strathmore artist to pick up the paintbrush habitually, producing a body of work that is distinctive in the use of various art mediums, in Bourgeois’ appreciation for nature and her need to express herself.
Bourgeois’ path to becoming an artist may have been inevitable, having been surrounded by art her whole life.
The mother of two grew up in Montreal with a father and aunt who worked with oil-based paints, a cousin who used acrylic, a great aunt who painted watercolour and a sister who became a stained glass artist.
However, it took years before Bourgeois herself turned to art.
At the age of 19, she travelled coast to coast, living in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Throughout her travels, Bourgeois was fascinated by Canada’s nature and through oil, acrylic, watercolour and mixed mediums found a way to convey her admiration for the environment and another avenue to communicate.
“I guess you get to express a lot of feelings and the appreciation of nature is my big thing; I get a lot of feeling from just going on walks in the bush, in the mountains, even going to the zoo you get a lift,” she said. “They say that going barefoot in the woods is healthy for you. I believe that because I know how being in natural surroundings affects me so it must affect other people as well.”
For more than a decade, Bourgeois and her husband have called Strathmore home. Over the years she’s exhibited as a solo artist, sat on the Wheatland Society of Arts board, joined the Chestermere Fine Art Guild and taught individuals ranging from children to seniors. While some of the landscape, wildlife and pet portrait artist’s work hangs in homes and office spaces as far away as Japan, her work can also be viewed closer to home – at the Strathmore Municipal Library – until the end of May.
“I’ve always been a great fan of Gail Ann’s work because she has such a broad range of work,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“She works with all sorts of different mediums and that’s something I really love about her work. She’s a well-rounded artist but she doesn’t also just stick to one item. She’s excellent at painting waterfalls; she’s excellent at painting wildlife. She’s got such an eclectic collection of pieces to exhibit that there is always something different and that’s what I think makes her a great addition to the gallery this month.”
According to Erison, the library is quickly establishing itself as a place known for its art exhibits. She said artists approach her every couple of weeks to have their bodies of work shown in the newly renovated space. Bourgeois has exhibited at the library previously but this time her work stands on its own.
She has her hands full this year. She recently exhibited in Chestermere, has a show in Red Deer in June, a show in High River in October and she will be teaching youth at the Wheatland Society of Arts next month. Her love for the arts and teaching also had an influence on her own family, as her son turned from photography to watercolour and acrylics, her daughter recently organized an art battle in Yellowknife, N.W.T, and her three grandchildren are already eagerly taking to painting.
“I like teaching all ages, I have taught all ages … but whoever has enthusiasm for it is who I like to teach obviously, because you see them develop and get excited about their abilities,” Bourgeois said. “I find people when they’re learning they’re afraid to try something. Scrape it off if it doesn’t work. I’ve sanded off canvasses, I’ve scraped them off. It doesn’t always work (so) you just repaint it and start over. Don’t be afraid of it, it’s only paint.
“I want to encourage people to start supporting local artists, because there’s a lot of people here who are starting up with art who have potential and they do need the encouragement.”
Gail Ann Bourgeois’ art can be viewed at the Strathmore Municipal Library in the Strathmore Lambert Centre until the end of May.