For the Love of Nature: Paintings by Elaine Funnell and Cindy Barratt

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Cindy Barratt, "Sunny Alberta - Roses #12," 2012

watercolour

A rose among the dogwoods: Alberta’s native plants featured in the Kiwanis Gallery

Two artists share their perspectives on Alberta’s flora in the Kiwanis Gallery’s summer show, 

For the Love of Nature: Paintings by Elaine Funnell and Cindy Barratt. The two styles of works complement each other to educate us and help us appreciate our native plant life.

Using the structure and style of traditional botanical illustration, Elaine Funnell’s watercolours depict not only typical members of Alberta’s native species, but also typical residents of a traditional Alberta vegetable garden, such as drying onions, carrots, and beets. Residing on six acres of old-growth forest, Elaine is inspired by nature – especially native Alberta plants.

She wishes to draw attention to the importance of our native plants to our survival, and the need to save and protect the carefully balanced ecosystem that involves us all.

Cindy’s works focus on exclusively in this show on the Alberta Wild Rose, but before it has been clipped from the stem. She explores the rose’s various seasonal stages in a variety ofhabitats. Combining a strong colour element, dynamic light, and a loose realistic style, shepresents their colours, shapes, and beauty. Elaine loves to discover their “souls” and personalities, allowing viewers to draw parallels between nuances of the rose, the province,and its people, and to find their own love of nature, memories, or connection to the Iconic flower.   

Following the artists’ wishes, there will be no First Friday Red Deer Opening.