Banded Peak Art Walk and Auction
Local artists and students express their love of nature with an art walk on Highway 22
Have you gone up the hill towards Banded Peak School from the hamlet of Bragg Creek recently? Have you noticed bits of colour amongst the trees? Have you looked more closely and seen the amazing art work by local students and local artists, celebrating “Wildlife and people living in community” – Bragg Creek Wild’s foundational vision?
Earlier this year Lucy Curtis, a local artist and Bragg Creek Wild member, led a collaboration with grade 7/8 students at Banded Peak School, and local professional artist David Zimmerman to create the artworks you can see along the road.
The project came into being as the result of a number of conversations between friends locally, and through collaboration with Banded Peak School. It culminated in these beautiful paintings celebrating our local environment, its rich diversity and many treasures. We hope the paintings will brighten the day of all who pass by. We’d also like it to serve as a reminder of the need to protect local wildlife and habitats: whether by driving with caution, picking up litter while on the trails or advocating for the maintenance of wildlife corridor connectivity.
The result is a fun and fabulous art walk along Highway 22, which showcases over 60 masterpieces. They’re easily visible on a short walk from the Community Centre to East Park Place, and can even be seen from the road. (An easier route is to start at East Park Place, where there are more paintings, and walk towards the hamlet.) Each artwork is painted on a unique wood canvas, created by community member John Spurrell from trees felled during the construction of the berm. The paintings are beautifully presented on the trees along the route, which have generously been made available as an “outdoor gallery” by landowners along Highway 22.
As you walk and enjoy each piece, keep your eyes open for two unsigned works by local artist David Zimmerman (see cover photo). These spectacular pieces have been offered to Bragg Creek Wild to auction. The money raised at auction will be split between the artist, Banded Peak School and Bragg Creek Wild. Bidding opens at www.braggcreekwild.ca on July 1st and closes on Bragg Creek Days weekend. After bidding closes, the works will be signed by the artist and handed to their new owners at the Bragg Creek Wild booth. Look for details on our website.
Please take sometime to treat yourself to an inspiring walk – visit and view these very special paintings by our brilliant local young artists, and then check out the bidding online for the David Zimmerman paintings.
We’re very grateful to Banded Peak School – in particular teachers Mr. Churchill and Ms. Winters, and principal Mr. Pols – as well as to David Zimmerman for his contribution of two paintings, to the local landowners for the use of their trees for hanging, and not least to John Spurrell for the creation of the ‘canvases’ from the felled trees. And of course, to Lucy Curtis for organising the entire project!
