Year end show spotlights Kootenay Studio Arts students
By Bob Hall
Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) students are closing out their studies with a Nelson springtime tradition.
The annual Kootenay Studio Arts Year-End Show and Sale opens Friday afternoon at the Selkirk College downtown campus on the corner of Victoria and Josephine streets. The two-day student run show will feature works from students in the Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Jewelry, Metal Casting and Textiles programs.
“It’s their opportunity to present what they have been working on behind these stone walls,” says Laura White, KSA Jewelry Instructor and School Coordinator.
For the past two months students in the 10-month Ceramics, Jewelry and Textiles programs have been working diligently on the studio production aspect of their studies. They have created one or more lines for sale and will also put on display some of their more elaborate exhibition pieces. Students in the four-month Blacksmithing and Metal Casting programs will feature work completed earlier this year.
“It’s their launching pad,” says White. “It’s important that they leave with not just the skills, but they will have experience doing studio production and putting it out there for sale.”
Going from studio to sales floor allows students to do direct market research. They can see what people pick up, how they respond to the pieces and take time to answer questions. The experience can be humbling and exhilarating all at once.
“For some students, these are their babies,” says White. “Everything you make is a self-portrait, so it can be pretty personal.”
Though picking up some one-of-a-kind pieces is encouraged, the year-end event is not all about sales. Students are looking forward to putting their creative efforts on display for appreciation and there will be plenty to see this weekend.
“Every year I’m impressed with what these students create in the 10 months they are here,” says White.
The show opens Friday at 3 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. The second day of the show is Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Find out more about Kootenay Studio Arts and the new expanded programming at the Nelson campus at selkirk.ca/school/arts.
