Painter Laura Chandler is closing an old chapter and opening a new chapter of her artistic life, so it is fitting that she is surrounded by books in the process.
Her latest exhibition is called In The Neighbourhood. It has reached its midway point at the Prince George Public Library's downtown Bob Harkins Branch. The images are a 'best of' mix of her previous works intermingled with some works never seen in public before.
The past body of work offers plenty of shining examples to see. Chandler was not tapped to be the year-long feature artist on the fifth floor of City Hall in 2015-16 for nothing. Her work has been displayed at the Two Rivers Gallery, she was one of the painters involved in the BC Lions Society's Spirit Bear Project, her images were selected for the banner program seen hanging on streets and highways of the area, she has done multiple murals for the Community Arts Council (five outdoors) and Simon Fraser Lodge (three indoors), one of her pieces selected to be a part of the 2015 Canada Winter Games VIP Gifting Program, and she was one of the 26 juried artists commissioned for the acclaimed Alphabet Project as part of The Citizen's 100th anniversary, among other highlights of her career so far.
Chandler said In The Neighbourhood "has many of the pieces that were shown at City Hall in either original or print formats as well as works that have not been displayed before."
The collection was assembled as her own way of celebrating Canada's 150th birthday. The selected images all fit her sense of that celebration, much of it to do with the natural bounty the local area has in such abundance.
"It is my hope that those who view the show will enjoy the local scenes and wildlife that is so often seen in our own yards," she said. Chandler was recently admitted as an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists which gives her a larger profile nationally and internationally and more opportunities to grow as a painter. It also dovetailed into her sesquicentennial motivations.
There are 32 images in this exhibition. It opened at the start of September and will be on display in the staircase gallery of the library until Oct. 31.
She is currently teaching watercolour and acrylic painting to adults, beginners and experienced alike, based at the Two Rivers Gallery.
At her home studio, she prefers to work in acrylics, watercolours and pastels.
Her work is available for purchase at the Two Rivers Gallery gift shop as well as the Studio 2880 gift shop. To get a look at her styles and talents, drop in for a look at her library retrospective if you happen to be in the neighbourhood.
