Busy summer at the Vault

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

The Vault Cultural Collective is full of exciting things this summer. 

Beginning July 29 and running through to August 12, in alignment with the Strathmore Stampede, is the first Western Arts Show for the Vault featuring western photographer Logan Armstrong. 

“My goal with rodeo photography is to showcase the sport from a perspective that you don’t typically see it from,” said Armstrong. “It’s not going to be your standard rodeo action shots.” He likes to portray a different side of the rodeo and mix it with the fine arts. Armstrong emphasized that often photographers will recreate what spectators see from a more journalistic perspective. 

“I try to pull out the details, the uncommon angles, the more unconventional images to showcase rodeo differently,” he said. “None of my gallery images are posed. They are candid captures during rodeos, jackpots and practice pen sessions, and are fleeting moments of art that come and go, often in the blink of an eye.”

Armstrong’s background isn’t from a rodeo career himself. His wife is part of a ranching and rodeo family, and this is what inspired his passion. 

“One day I had a camera and I went to shoot a couple pictures of my brother-in-law picking up at a local rodeo event and it just kinda snowballed from there,” he said. 

Armstrong’s advice to aspiring photographers is to “just pick up a camera and start shooting.” 

“The internet, unfortunately, is full of people to compare yourself to, but as long as you’re happy with the pictures that you’re taking and you do what you want to do, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks,” he said. “The more I shoot, the more I realize that art is everywhere, you just have to keep an eye out for it.”

Carolyn Steeves, a board member with the Vault Cultural Collective, said that Christine Higham was the person who spearheaded the idea of a western gallery in conjunction with the Strathmore Stampede. 

Once the project was off and running, the Vault art team eagerly continued with her vision. 

Armstrong’s western art show can be viewed in the upper gallery of the Vault, Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting July 29. 

New event

The Vault’s next event is the inaugural People’s Choice Awards. 

This event is geared towards those artists that might identify as amateur. Artists young and old are invited to submit their works, be it pencil drawing, photography, a painted work of art, or even wildling wood; if it can be called art, then it can be entered. 

The theme to be followed is Strathmore, something iconic about Strathmore to each artist, something that inspires them within the town.  

Beginning Sept. 1, artists are invited to bring in their framed (if possible) artwork to be displayed in the upper gallery of the Vault. Voting will begin Sept. 5 and will continue until Sept. 16 during the Strathmore 2023 Cultural Days. It’s called People’s Choice because you, the people, get to vote! 

Carolyn Steeves said this project has been in the works for some time and hopes that it will continue to inspire more people in Strathmore to start creating. She notes that the Vault Cultural Collective has already had a huge impact on the community, having connected with various schools in town and even having some younger artists reach out on how to get their work displayed. 

“We’re really excited about it,” she said of the art competition. “We really think that there are a lot of amateur artists in our community that will be inspired to take something in Strathmore that’s iconic to them. We are really excited to see what the people of Strathmore will be able to create.” 

The winners will receive cash prizes along with a feature display at the Vault until Sept. 24 as well as being showcased on social media. The rules to enter are very easy to follow and can be found on their social media or on their website (thevaultonline.ca).