From July 25 to Aug. 12, the Pearl Ellis Gallery will be hosting Tri-Focals Art Exhibition.
The exhibition will feature paintings by David Ballantyne and Sharon Lalonde as well as sculptural work by Ingrid Mayer. All three of the artists are recent arrivals to the Comox Valley.
Lalonde earned her fine arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan and began her education career teaching art. It is since moving to the Comox Valley, five years ago, that she has been able to immerse herself in the pursuit of creating art. The medium she chooses to work in is acrylic on canvas and she loves the challenge of representing the energy of the light through trees, the movement of the leaves or the life of the images she is painting.
Ballantyne found making visual art to be his primary interest from an early age. While largely self-taught, he has taken many college-level courses and workshops at various locations, including the Alberta College of Art and Design, the University of Calgary, the Friends of Photography and New School - the Parsons School of Design. He has won awards and exhibited his work in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Mayer describes herself as a “late bloomer” in most aspects of her life. Her passion for macro photography, particularly flowers and the insects they beckon, is what her metal work has taken root in. It has been five years since she asked her husband to show her how to weld, use the forge, the plasma cutter and all the other tools that were in his shop. Funny, how since then, it has all become hers. Ingrid sees the potential work of art in every metal scrap and discarded horseshoe. Each piece is uniquely different.
The opening reception is set for July 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The gallery, which is located at 1729 Comox Ave., is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.