It isn’t a surprise that artist Laura Nelson’s latest exhibit at the Fernie Museum is entirely dedicated to the place she grew up.
Titled “From the Ground Up: A tribute to the landscape we live in” you can see the admiration Nelson has for the area conceptualized in her paintings.
It’s noted in the careful consideration of light that plays amongst the silhouettes of a forest. It’s captured in the fading light of a dying sunset falling behind a mountain. It’s even painted in the almost feminine way the leaves on trees flow like skirts around their trunks.
“I’m very inspired by where I live. I have deep roots here and ‘From the Ground Up’ is how I experience the place, how I see things and the interconnectedness of all the living things here,” said Nelson. “I owe so much to the landscape that has shaped me, sustained me, challenged me and gifted me with much adventure.”
Most of Nelson’s works are acrylics and make use of layering to create texture and three-dimensional imagery. The majority of the pieces are beautiful landscapes that capture Fernie’s scenery, such as the Three Sisters range.
“There’s a sense of building and sculpting with my brush, working colour and value to create the illusion of three dimensions on the flat surface of the canvas,” said Nelson.
The titular painting “From The Ground Up” features this kind of technique. The piece also exemplifies the energy and interconnectedness of nature that is present throughout the exhibit.
The opening reception on Saturday, April 4 was busy with the upstairs gallery of the museum packed with observers.
“One of the lovely things when we exhibit local artists is that we get this kind of response,” said museum curator Ron Ulrich. “There are so many people who look forward to seeing the works of local artists like Laura so it’s really great to have her work here and to have so many people support her.”
This exhibit marks Nelson’s fourth exhibit on display in Fernie, and it will be available for viewing at the Fernie Museum until May 16.
