COCHRANE— Celebrating the vibrant community of artists in the Cochrane area, the Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery will be hosting its second exhibit starting Tuesday (June 14).
The Gallery opened last month and the new exhibition marks the first “interchange” bringing new art into the space.
It is exciting having the opportunity to exhibit in her home community, said Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery member Ele Davis, because the gallery serves as a space to let people meet the artists while building ties within the community.
She added that it places an important role in providing gallery space for local artists in Cochrane, because it can serve as a chance to support emerging artists while celebrating more established artists in the area. Route 22 has also been able to incorporate mentorships into the gallery by connecting emerging artists with established artists.
“We can have a place to put up our work and bring people into Cochrane to see quality art,” Davis said.
The exhibition marks the second show they have hosted and it is thrilling to see how the gallery is growing and evolving as it takes root in the community, Davis said.
“It’s amazing when we all come together to give our strengths on top of being an artist what people can contribute. It’s unbelievable,” Davis said. “It warms your heart and makes you feel like you’re a part of the community.”
It has been amazing to see Route 22 open its doors and create a dedicated fine art gallery that can take root in Cochrane, said sculptor and Collective Gallery member Ian Smith.
“It’s fantastic— Every community needs art,” Smith said, adding that it serves as a hub that can unite local artists.
The current exhibit features 20 artists and boasts a rich selection of pieces that include stained glass, bronze sculpture, oil paintings, woodturning, photography, and acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings
The group is hoping to become a must-see place in Cochrane, he said, and are hard at work growing their place both in the community and with those that visit the area.
It is amazing to see the second show installed at the gallery, said Route 22 Collective Gallery director Lara Kruger.
“It’s gotten so much more variety,” Kruger exclaimed, describing the show as exciting, vibrant, multi-talented and faceted in what is showcased. “There’s something for anyone and any kind of taste in art.”
She hopes people visit the gallery because it is a fabulous creation made possible by artists from the Cochrane area.
Route 22 has an important place supporting the arts and culture in Cochrane because it provides a platform for the community to enjoy and purchase beautiful locally created art.
“It has brought together this wide variety of people that are all creative people but everyone had kind of been doing their own thing,” Kruger said. “It gives us a platform for us to collaborate.”
Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery will be hosting a COVID-celebration of the new exhibit on Saturday (July 18).
