A Jasper art show will explore the transformative power of fire in what the Jasper Artists Guild describes as “a topical and therapeutic journey.”
Currently in its seventh year, BUZZ is an annual multi-media community exhibit showcasing the work of Jasper’s visual artists at the Jasper Art Gallery, with this year's theme being “Creative Fire.”
“Please come and support Jasper's healing through the arts,” said Sandra Coombe with the Jasper Artists Guild. “Whatever your response to the artwork might be, it's all good, it's all loud, it's all embraced, but we can't heal without feeling, and whatever we feel is part of our healing process.”
Following the wildfire, the Jasper Artist Guild was unable to reopen until the Library and Cultural Centre was ready. Because the bulk of its sales happen during the summer, like other businesses, it had to grapple with the loss of revenue in August.
Coombe reported they were also down several artists who have moved out of town because they lost their homes or are in crisis. This means the guild doesn’t have access to as many volunteers as before to help them keep their doors open or create art for display at the gallery.
“On the upside, for a lot of our artists, artist therapy – the ability to let yourself drop into the art and the production of art – is helping people to deal with their grief and helping people to heal, which is sort of the premise behind the Creative Fire show that we've got the opening on Friday [Jan. 17],” she said.
The opening gala will not only include music and food, but also live demonstrations from local artists, interactive activities for attendees and a silent auction.
Coombe described Creative Fire as a more emotional show than what they would usually have. Some of the artwork is representational of the destruction itself, while other pieces are representational of the beauty, patterns and shapes that have evolved from the fire.
“Some of it is quite psychologically deep, and it's everything from four-by-six-foot canvases to tiny, little, sweet and heartfelt pieces,” she said. “There’s one piece that stood out for me of a heart-shaped stone in the ashes.”
Coombe was personally unsure how the artwork would affect the viewing public, particularly those who went through the evacuation or lost a home.
“I think some of the pieces are quite evocative and may affect people emotionally,” she said. “I know in creating my pieces, it was quite emotional and cathartic for me, but I don't know if other people are going to react in the same way.”
Coombe has contributed three pieces to the show, noting the most meaningful one to her was a mandala piece called “Musings of a Mother Tree.” Along with it, she submitted a poem that she wrote during a nature journalist journaling workshop. Her art ultimately reflects how fire was a natural part of the forest’s recovery.
“Lots of beautiful things will happen in the park and to the park,” she said. “It was a beast, but it also sets the stage for rebirth and renewal.”
This year, the guild has decided to expand the BUZZ exhibition into BUZZfest, which will include a whole series of events focusing on creativity, self-expression and making art in the community.
“That's really, I think, the most healing thing of all is being in the community and being with your community and creating a brighter future, whether it's through art or through dance or music, that when we can come together and make something happen as a community, that's healing for all of us,” Coombe said.
Among many other events, BUZZfest will feature an artisan market, portrait workshops by artist Sarah Fougère and a collaborative paint night called “Life, Paint and Passion” hosted by Greg Deagle.
There will also be a workshop called “Scale Up” by Mackenzie Brown to teach artists how to scale up their art pieces, a nod to the popular UpLift! Jasper Mural Festival. Doug Swinton from Swinton's Art Supplies in Calgary will later be visiting Jasper for a four-day workshop.
The BUZZ 2025 Exhibit will be open from Jan. 16 to March 1, with the opening gala on Friday (Jan. 17) running from 6 to 9 p.m. A full list of BUZZfest events will be posted on the guild’s website and its social media channels.
