Allanah Weston & Elaine Hatch Secret Garden

In the Alex Fong Galleria

 

Artist Statement

Allanah Weston: For me, art is both meditative and transcendent, allowing me to turn inwards and connect with my deepest self. My current passion for mixed media provides limitless possibilities for storytelling, from creating a heavily textured and layered piece with incorporated found objects, to something more organic and free flowing with a focus on colors and shapes. Although often influenced by the beauty of nature, inspiration comes in many forms – the shape of a branch, a shadow on the sidewalk, or a simple lyric or phrase. My wish is for a piece to evoke an emotional response in the viewer, inspiring them to create their own story.

Elaine Hutch: For me, art is an adventure. I may not always know where I’m going, but I know when I’ve arrived. My work focuses on colour, texture and imperfection. Colour as in vibrant, maybe metallic, sometimes clashing; texture as in peeling paint, old moss and torn bits of paper; imperfection as in decay, rust, and materials that show the remnants of time. Found objects often make their way onto my canvas as do different mediums to alter my surface.I like to vary my approach, sometimes creating abstract pieces, other times focusing on representational output. Experimentation can lead to a 'wow' moment or a 'what the hell' moment — both equally unexpected. An eclectic group of artists and objects inspire me, including Sir Frederick Leighton, Gustav Klimt, Carol Nelson, Emily Carr, Don Taylor’s photos of rust and peeling paint, the subway in Moscow, lichen on a tree, a lone crow on a weathered branch. My hope is to engage my viewers on many levels: visceral, emotional, meditative. Primarily, I am reaching out to speak to kindred spirits.

Artist Biography

Allanah Weston is a mixed media artist currently living and working in Kelowna, BC. Although mostly self-taught, in order to further develop and expand her knowledge, she has taken several mixed media courses and workshops and, as well, has participated in many classes and demonstrations using a variety of mediums.

She has been a participant in Lake Country Art Walk (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). She has previously exhibited at the Penticton Art Gallery, Peachland Art Gallery (Artists of the Okanagan, Mindscapes, 2018; Bohemian Muse, 2020), Lake Country Art Gallery, and the Rotary Centre for the Arts (Discarded Lives, 2016; Bringing the Darkness into the Light, 2017)  

Allanah is currently an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, as well as a member of the Lake Country Art Gallery, Rotary Centre for the Arts, and the Peachland Art Gallery.  She is also an active member of ‘On the Edge Collective.’

For more information on Allanah's work, visit https://allanahweston.wixsite.com/s3-art

Elaine Hatch: Elaine Hatch is a Kelowna-based mixed media artist. Her art is process-driven and focuses on texture and unique colour combinations. Her creations typically encompass ten or more layers of medium. The intent is to reflect and induce emotion. Elaine’s inspiration comes from nature, travel and experimentation. She is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, the Kelowna Art Gallery, the Peachland Art Gallery, the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Gallery 97 and On the Edge Collective.

Elaine has displayed throughout the Okanagan. Her paintings can be found in private collections throughout Western Canada and as far away as California and New York.