There is a science to doing business, and in Quesnel there is also an art.
Shops, boutiques, cafes and offices in the city will soon be small galleries, as they showcase the artists of the area in their public spaces. It turns Quesnel’s business community into a city-wide art exhibition. The public is encouraged to wander around to see all those sights in all those sites. The Quesnel Art Trail can be followed from Sept. 23 to Oct. 15.
“We believe that art, in all its forms, is a positive force in our community. It enriches our culture, enlivens our community, and strengthens our ties with each other,” said the Community Arts Council. “The Quesnel Art Trail is a three week self-guided tour through displays of artists’ works in local downtown businesses.”
In fact, since the initiative has grown beyond just the downtown core, the program was renamed. It had been called the Art Walk since its inception in 2020 and last year it became the Art Trail to reflect the growing scope.
Pairing the artists with the businesses was coordinated by one of the city’s active painters, Keith Prestone.
“I have really enjoyed working with our community-minded businesses this year, to connect and also to showcase their businesses and local visual artist’s work,” Prestone said.
The participation interest was significant for both sides of this artnership. The artist group and the business group were eager to meet one another and share this local tourism opportunity.
“As artists, it’s often very difficult to make that step forward and to ‘put yourself out there’ and let others see what is often a very personal and vulnerable piece of you,” said Prestone. “Because often art is almost that bare-naked feeling, of others seeing into that secret place, your own private niche. It has been a struggle for some local artists to make that step. However our numbers are up again, this year, and there looks like at least 50 businesses are taking the plunge and revealing their artwork, thanks to wonderful community minded business in the Quesnel area.”
The Quesnel Art Trail is a feature element of BC Culture Days which showcases British Columbia artists and performers of all sorts, and this year kicks off in our city.
Prestone said the tour is a brilliant chance for people to discover businesses because of the appeal of art, and to discover art through patronizing local businesses. The two are hand in hand. The public will make some exciting discoveries, he said, just as he did.
”We really wanted to see what new things we might bring forward, and we have actually found some pretty amazing, almost unbelievable discoveries,” he said. “One in particular is thanks to local artist and gallery owner Maureen Wheeler, who has found a local 88-year-old artist with an absolutely stunning number of beautiful art works … who has never shown them. And when I say beautiful, I mean these paintings have been hidden because this artist wasn’t sure that they were ‘good enough’ and yet there is a level of creative ability that shouts to you from the canvas and made me a believer almost instantly. Her name is …. you will have to show-up on September 23 at City Furniture to find out what you have been missing.”
Prestone compared that to a local western artist who “has shown a limited number of art pieces in the past who we are going to showcase at a local car dealership” who, despite the rare exhibitions has won “numerous well-deserved awards and has sold many paintings. You are going to love admiring all the wonderful details and excellent craftsmanship in her paintings.”
Those are just a couple of examples of the many artistic surprises and inspirations the Quesnel Art Trail will offer.
More information will be unveiled soon on who these artists are and where they will be displayed. After that, it is up to you to ride out on the colourful trail of artistic discovery.
READ MORE: Second annual Quesnel Art Walk hailed a success
READ MORE: They are small and they’re free – mini galleries in Quesnel
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