Loretta Kyle: On The Family Farm
to
Alberta Craft Gallery 10186 106 St, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1H4
Artist Demonstration, Reception & Talk - Saturday, October 27
Interactive Demonstration 12:30 - 2pm, Reception 2 - 4pm, Talk 2:30pm
Loretta and her siblings were the fifth generation of Kyles to live on the family farm in Southern Quebec, which is now farmed by her brother. She continues to honour the farm and how it inspired her through the work she has created for this exhibition, showing the deep bonds that can come from a life lived immersed in nature.
Her carved stonework draws the viewer into some of her favourite moments spent observing her farmyard friends. To this day she feels a unique connection with these characters from her youth.
Carving with stone, especially harder stone such as Kisii, Chlorite or Pyrophyllite, is a long and laborious process. She credits her strong work ethic and inspiration to her upbringing and working alongside farmers who not only do meaningful work but are willing to put in the long days required.
Loretta knows it takes a strong soul to dedicate one’s life to farming and worries about what life would be like if the family farm disappears. In her exhibition she does her part to pay tribute to her heritage and she hopes this work will help audiences explore the gentler side of farming.
Loretta Kyle (Bonnyville, AB) is a self-taught artist who began carving in 1988. She has been selling in galleries and participating in exhibitions for twenty years. She prefers to work with harder stone like Chlorite, Pyrophyllite, and Kisii stone. Inspiration for Loretta comes from the rough stone; she draws from her past and her relationship with nature to create flowing animal forms.