Written by Jim Kogelheide
May, 2003
Kentville, Nova Scotia

UPON ARRIVING IN KENTVILLE, IN NOVEMBER OF 2002, I JOINED THE LOCAL ART'S GROUP. THE AKA (ALLIANCE OF KINGS ARTISTS [KINGS REFERRING TO THE NAME OF THIS COUNTY]) HAS CONTINUOUS SHOWINGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE ACCESS CENTRE ON ABERDEEN STREET, IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE OF KENTVILLE. EACH MONTH OR SO THE EXHIBIT IS CHANGED, AS WELL AS THE FOCUS FOR EACH SHOW. A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO BRING IN OUR MOST ABSTRACT PIECES. THIS MONTH WE ARE REFLECTING ON THE STYLES AND THOUGHTS THAT INFLUENCED ARTISTS FROM WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE BAROQUE PERIOD. THE NEXT EXHIBITION IS GOING TO EXPLORE THE SUMMER GARDEN: PLANTING, POTTING AND PAINTING. I CAN'T WAIT!!

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING MY FELLOW ARTISTS WHEN THE EXHIBITIONS ARE CHANGING. THIS TIME OFFERS TO US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE STORIES ABOUT OUR FAMILIES, LIFE'S ADVENTURES AND OF COURSE...ART AND IT'S RELEVANCE TO OUR OWN PERSONAL JOURNEYS.

IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO FIND OUT ABOUT ANOTHER LOCAL GATHERING OF ARTISTS FROM THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGION. THIS ONE TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE MAIN HALLWAY OF THE KENTVILLE VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL. THE NAME OF THE GALLERY IS THE APPLE BIN ART GALLERY. EXHIBITIONS IN THIS SPACE CHANGE EVERY TWO MONTHS AND SINCE THERE ARE NO "THEMES" FOR THESE HANGINGS, THE COLLECTIONS THAT APPEAR ARE VERY DIVERSE IN SUBJECT MATTER AS WELL AS STYLES. ARTISTS ARE ALLOWED TO HANG UP TO THREE CREATIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FEATURED ARTIST; WHO CAN HANG AS MANY PIECES AS WILL FIT WITHIN THEIR SPECIAL SPACE. I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE FEATURED ARTIST FOR THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 2003.

THESE COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL TALENTS ARE A CONTINUOUS INSPIRATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND VISITORS WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH THIS REGION OF NOVA SCOTIA.