Pope Mountain Arts Centre is showcasing the talents of local artists Taylor Hansen and the husband-wife duo Colleen and Jim Fitzpatrick as April’s featured Artists of the Month.
The Fitzpatricks specialise in pottery, crafting stunning, innovative, and functional pieces. Their passion for ceramics and global inspiration shines through in their vibrant colours, textures, and designs as they continually seek to innovate and learn from artists worldwide.
Hansen, known for her landscape photography, reflects on her artistic journey, stating, “Photography gave me instant results that didn’t need to dry or be clear coated.” Now, in her mid-30s, Hansen explores new artistic avenues such as woodworking, vinyl art, watercolour, and creative writing.
“Having photography and pottery as a new art form for feature artists, we are excited to have Taylor Hansen and Colleen and Jim Fitzpatrick here during April,” said Jo Anne Alexander, program manager at Pope Mountain Arts Centre.
The Artist of the Month program, which started in Fall 2022, aims to support and promote artists of all genres, averaging eight to nine featured artists annually, Alexander said.
“In February, we showcased kindergarten classes from Nakal’bun & David Hoy School, greatly appreciated by the community,” Alexander said. Pope Mountain plans to feature an artist from Prince George in May.
The month-long exhibition, held in the building gallery, is widely promoted on Pope Mountain’s social media platforms and website, offering artists the opportunity to sell their work.
“It has become quite popular, with requests from artists outside of Fort St. James,” Alexander mentioned, emphasising its openness to artists from any community within the area.
Interested artists can reach out to Pope Mountain Arts via email or the website, with no strict selection process in place yet.
“I am always looking for new and interesting art forms,” said Alexander, adding that community members are also welcome to nominate an artist or encourage them to contact her for a show opportunity.
The exhibition is open to the public during designated hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Thursdays, with workshops and classes held monthly at the centre. Artists are encouraged to interact with visitors during their show, and some arrange evening receptions featuring refreshments and artist talks.