(Submitted Photo/Sandra Dancey)

By Derek Craddock

SLOW ART DAY

Exhibit in Melfort asks to you to slow down and enjoy the art

Apr 1, 2022 | 3:17 PM

Art lovers in the northeast are being encouraged to slow down and enjoy the masterpieces they’ll see at a show on Saturday.

Slow Art Day makes its way to the Northern Lights Gallery in Melfort Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event is an international day with 174 museums, galleries, hospitals, sculpture parks and other venues hosting sessions around the world – from South Africa to Slovenia, Singapore to Serra Negra, Melbourne to Manhattan and many others.

Melfort is the only city in Saskatchewan taking part and one of only 12 venues in Canada participating.

Owner of the gallery Sandra Dancey explains what the day is all about.

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“It’s to encourage people to slow down and actually look at art and fully appreciate it. Don’t glance at it, don’t take a snapshot with your phone camera, really, truly look at it and absorb it and see what you can see.”

The first Slow Art Day took place in 2010 and since then, over 1,500 venues have participated.

(Submitted Photo/Sandra Dancey)

Last year was Melfort’s first time participating and featured work by five local artists: Linsey Levendal, Monica Daschuk, Al Jardine, Beth Bentz and Jim Mason.

This year, that theme will continue with artwork from northeast artists Jen Kjelshus, Randi Lalonde, Linsey Levendall, Darwin McLeod, Julie Schmalie, and Kylie Severight

“Given the kind of winters we have, they stay in their homes and people don’t fully grasp what’s out there until they come out to an event like this and see that we have a lot of really talented artists right in the neighbourhood,” said Dancey.

She added that last year’s event was very well received especially given the pandemic was still hitting communities hard.

“Given the current state of the world, I think most people need to know they aren’t alone, and they appreciate the opportunity to look at art and talk with each other.”

Slow Art Day won’t be the only art event taking place as Dancey highlighted another show and exhibition.

“There is a show called ‘Quiet’, which is kind of a nice little parallel to the whole point of Slow Art Day, that is occurring at the Sherman Smith Gallery at the Kerry Vickers Centre. It’s an exhibition of works by a couple of Saskatoon artists and they’re having a show called ‘Closing’ because they’re opening got stormed out. So, you can stop by there as well and see some more art from Saskatchewan that is really incredible also.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock