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Longtime artists in new Inspiration 45 show

Place des Arts has been a part of Ginger Lovell's life since the Coquitlam arts centre opened.
krista
Krista Mullally's Sunset at Lougheed Mall (watercolour) is in the new Inspiration 45 exhibit.

Place des Arts has been a part of Ginger Lovell's life since the Coquitlam arts centre opened.

The Burnaby elementary school teacher took up classes there after her first son was born in 1972, joining a women's art group under the direction of Leonore Peyton. It was composed mainly of stay-at-home moms who wanted to learn such techniques as fabric arts, copper enamelling and painting.

Lovell had always admired the latter form but had put it aside to pursue her career. At Place des Arts, though, "I found time to reconnect with my interest in art and it was a wonderful place to explore creative ideas and express them."

Now, 45 years later, the Coquitlam resident continues to enjoy her passion and regularly teaches the skills she learned at Place des Arts to her grandsons. 

This month, Lovell will display her talents in a new exhibition titled Inspiration 45 — a visual arts show that kicks off the Maillardville venue's milestone year.

Lovell, who will have a watercolour painting called Sanctuary (from Hornby Island) and an acrylic piece of the Pitt River, will showcase her work in the Mezzanine Gallery alongside 15 other longtime artists such as Jane Appleby, who's currently on the PdA faculty; Barb Krell, a student of faculty member Laurie Thompson; and Krista Mullally, a past PdA student and graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Lovell said she wanted to be part of Inspiration 45 to give back to the institution. The high-quality instruction she received over the years "shaped my work as an artist…. It's very inspiring to be able to look back over those 45 years and see all the connections with the arts community and how fellow artists and children have benefitted."

Meanwhile, also opening on Friday, is an industrial design and metalwork collection, titled Illuminated Comp, by Ross Hayduk in the Atrium Gallery. And in the Leonore Peyton Salon is Infoe-Diction, a mixed media series by Barbara Pearson.

• The opening reception on Sept. 8 starts at 7 p.m. at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Admission is free and the artists will be in attendance. The shows run until Oct. 7. Visit placedesarts.ca.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com