The Art Inspiring Art show will reunite Central Alberta artist, actor and musician Larry Reese with some old friends in Edmonton this weekend.
Reese and fellow artist Anne Wheeler are jointly showing their visual art at the Trinity Gallery at 101 Street and 84th Avenue for four viewing days, starting from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday.
Wheeler, who’s best known as the Order of Canada-winning director of Bye Bye Blues and other films, has been a friend of Reese’s since the 1960s when they both had musical affiliations at the University of Alberta.
Reese, a retired Red Deer College instructor who lives in the Sylvan Lake area, said Wheeler has inspired him over the years with her art, her movies and her music.
They both participated in various projects together, including episodes of the former TV show Jake and the Kid and some National Film Board projects that Wheeler directed and Reese co-starred in.
When Reese saw some visual art she had recently created in Mexico, he suggested they exhibit together in Edmonton. “I thought, wouldn’t it be fun if we had a show together?”
Besides displaying their diverse paintings — Wheeler’s pieces are more abstract while Reese’s landscapes and figurative art is rooted in realism — the two will be performing music together at the gallery, along with two other long-time friends.
Reese will play the sitar, Wheeler will be on piano and vocals, Bev Ross will be on harp and vocals, and Jack Bawden will be playing the guitar from 2 p.m. Reese said he and Ross were former band members of the group Manna in the early 197os.
Reese said everyone is welcome to attend the performance and the art show — both are free. Other viewing days will be from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday May 11, Sunday May 19, and Sunday May 26.
Meanwhile, Erin Boake is a Red Deer artist who’s also displaying her talents in Edmonton.
Her painting exhibit based on environmental and climate change concerns, Children of the Apocalypse, will be showing at Wild Skies Gallery to July 24. There’s an opening reception on May 25 from 6-8 p.m.
The gallery is located on the second floor of the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel, 4236-36th Street East.