Armour Mountain Art Gallery proprietor Lana Laskovic says her Barriere, location features local artists and artisans works; offering photography, original paintings, art prints, art cards, postcards, patina copper tiles, miniature tile paintings, handmade jewellery, mosaic tiles, stained glass, scarfs, purses, leather masks and more.
“The purpose of the gallery is to provide a venue for member artists to sell their work while offering the community an opportunity to experience different forms of visual and functional art,” says Laskovic, who’s gallery held an open house last Saturday featuring 14 artists and their works.
At least six of those artists were able to be on site for the open house. They included:
Max Glass, who states in her bio, “While living on a ranch, in 1987 my husband bought me an oil painting kit and that’s where things all started. In 1990 upon moving closer to Kamloops I started taking art classes from well known painter Vaughn Butland.”
She has been a member of the Kamloops Artists since 1992 and is also a North Thompson Arts Council member, with her art being showcased in the Armour Mountain Art Gallery.
“I paint for the pure fun of it,” says Glass, “Familiar subjects, the landscape, the farms and animals of my life give me great joy. Life is good.”
Terry Gorley, who has lived most of her life in Barriere, says she became interested in photography in 2002. Photography is where she finds her peace and tranquility. It is when she is lost in the moment... lost in time... in stillness with acute awareness of nature’s inspiration. She writes poetry and co-authored “The Art and Science of Success” Volume 6.
Jill Hayward says she is essentially a self-taught photographer, and describes herself as a “wildlife addict.” She is always in constant pursuit of those rare and inspiring images that nature sometimes bestows to a quiet and patient photographer – a photographer not adverse to scrambling up rocky outcrops, or hunkering down in an alpine meadow for hours on end to “get that unique shot.”
“Finding those special moments when a bird, coyote, or deer, accept you into their world is very rewarding,” says Hayward, “It’s then that you feel a sense of great privilege to be able to record these magical moments from Nature’s domain.”
A winner of several prestigious awards for her pictures; Hayward’s work shows her passion in creating photographs that celebrate both the drama found in nature, and the beauty of life as she sees it from all vantage points.
Bev Henry is a self-taught artist and photographer who focuses on B.C. birds and wildflowers for her paintings and cards. Bev works in watercolor, pencil and acrylic, to bring her subjects to life on canvass. Henry also owns and operates her own gallery called Chickadee Cottage, which is also in the Barriere area.
Sherri Humphrey is dedicated to handcrafting one of a kind jewellery, all created from a wide selection of mediums including acrylics to semi-precious gemstones. Every piece is carefully formed to not only be pleasing to look at, but also to wear.
“We strive to create every piece of jewellery to be as unique as the individuals adorned by them,” says Humphreys.
Doris Scarff’s love of painting and animals comes together in the variety of canvas she uses. Scarrf paints on anything from rocks to saw blades; anything her paint will adhere to.
Born and raised in the North Thompson Valley – art has always been a part of her life. Her passion is painting animals, although she has painted everything from grain elevators, trains, old pickups to people’s special pets.
Scarff’s rocks and saw blades have found homes all over Canada, USA, Europe and Australia.
Other artists currently featured at the gallery are; Sue Bakus, Marie Downing, Marge Mitchell, Carol Peerless, Deborah Swain and Tami Wilson.
Laskovic says she is excited to be able to provide the Armour Mountain Gallery on a continuous basis for the art community to showcase their impressive works.
“I am continuously amazed at the talented artists and artisans we have here in the valley,” said Laskovic. She invites the public to drop in to the gallery and peruse the works which change on a continual basis.
The Gallery can be found at, #1 - 4353 Conner Road, Barriere.
Summer hours are: Tues. - Fri. - 9am-5pm and Sat. - 9am-4pm.