As the calendar turns to July and the mid-way point of the year, summer is in full swing here at Airdrie Public Library (APL).
The TD Summer Reading Club is off and running with one of the largest registrations we’ve ever had, and along with programming for preschoolers, teens, and adults, this summer is looking to be very busy.
An important part of summer at APL is the new art display that goes up on our walls. Usually, the summer display is through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX), but there’s a gap between this display arriving and the last one leaving, providing room for the some fabulous artwork from Airdrie’s local high-school students.
To fill some of the space on our walls for July while we wait for the TREX works, we have a surprise pop-up display from Airdrie artist Jaime MacDonald.
HR person by day, MacDonald’s love of animals coupled with her engaging artistic style has given her a side career of creating quirky and whimsical animal portraits.
As a shy and curious child, MacDonald said she was drawn to depict animals in her artwork.
“Animals were different in infinitely magical ways,” she said. “Especially with horses and dogs, there was something pure about earning the trust of an animal that pulled me in. I’m still hooked.”
MacDonald said she is drawn to the purity of the emotions in animals, and her work reflects that. Her portraits of dogs capture the many expressions that our canine friends are capable of beguiling their human companions with.
On our walls for the month of July, MacDonald’s exhibit is worth seeing. Using a variety of media, acrylic on canvass, pencil, gouache, and charcoal, MacDonald’s art conveys the feelings that we personify onto the animals we love.
Also happening at APL this summer: Look for Once Upon a Time next Saturday at Nose Creek Park from 1 to 3 p.m. The event, for ages three to five, features magical games, crafts and a storytime fairy. Costumes are encouraged.
Visit www.airdriepubliclibrary for more info on this and other programs and events at APL.
