Photo credit: Presence/Présence, 2024, Blanchet
Media: Mixed Media
Source
Karen Blanchet
June 5 - July 24, 2025
First Fridays
June 6: Artist Talk & Watershed Stewardship (featuring Waskasoo Environmental Education Society) 6 p.m.
July 4: Bilingual Artist Talk (Français & English) 6 p.m.
Artist Statement
Water and oxygen sustain all life. I assume water will remain available along with clean air. Yet, water may soon not flow so readily. Glaciers melt without sufficient snowfall to replenish them. Failing glaciers, many rivers would disappear. Canada abounds in lakes and rivers, so easily taken for granted. Our perfect plan for success hides stress lines. Cracks are part of my process. I use texture and encourage paint to run in all directions. Then I paint between texture and runoff. Neomosaic. It hints at underlying instability. Let us hope a more sustainable future is in the offing.
L'eau et l'oxygène soutiennent toute forme de vie. Je suppose que l'eau restera disponible, tout comme l'air pur. Pourtant, les glaciers fondent sans chute de neige suffisante pour les reconstituer. Si les glaciers échouent, de nombreuses rivières disparaîtraient. Le Canada regorge de lacs et de rivières, si facilement pris pour acquis. Notre plan parfait pour le succès cache des lignes de stress. Les fissures font partie de mon processus. J'utilise la texture et j’encourage la peinture à s'écouler dans toutes les directions. Ensuite, je peins entre la texture et l'écoulement. Néomosaïque. Cela laisse entrevoir une instabilité sous-jacente. Espérons qu'un avenir plus durable soit en préparation.
The Artist
Introduced to poverty at the age of twelve, Karen became acutely aware of the plight of others. Her involvement with the Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, has broadened her understanding about the widening gap between rich and poor, and the abuse wreaked upon our lovely planet Earth. Since settling in Edmonton in 2011, she has concentrated on bringing awareness to others through her mixed media paintings, installations and poetry. A founding member of Devenir, DDK and Duo, she enjoys the dynamic of working in tandem with other artists as well as within the more traditional solo model.
Introduite à la pauvreté à l'âge de douze ans, Karen est devenue profondément consciente de la situation des autres. Son implication avec l'Organisation Non Gouvernementale (ONG) Développement et Paix-Caritas Canada a élargi sa compréhension de l'écart grandissant entre les riches et les pauvres, ainsi que des abus infligés à notre belle planète Terre. Depuis son installation à Edmonton en 2011, elle s'est concentrée sur la sensibilisation des autres à travers ses peintures en technique mixte, ses installations et sa poésie. Membre fondatrice de Devenir, DDK et Duo, elle apprécie la dynamique de travailler en tandem avec d'autres artistes ainsi que dans le modèle plus traditionnel en solo.
About the Gallery
The Viewpoint Gallery showcases original works of art by individual artists and collectives, and curated exhibitions. The gallery is in the lobby of the City of Red Deer Culture Services facility. Visit our Viewpoint Gallery page for more information.
Address
5205 48 Ave (in the old intermediate school building)
Hours
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
First Fridays: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
*Facility closed: July 1, 2025
Contact
The City of Red Deer, Community Development
403-406-8820
culturemailbox@reddeer.ca
