***Original published in South Mountain Press and Neepawa Banner, November 16, 2018***
Kelwood Artist Opens Art Exhibition in Portage
Well known artist, Kathy Levandoski of Kelwood, recently opened her latest art exhibition titled Riding the Edge: the next generation at the Portage & District Arts Centre (PDAC). A sizeable crowd of art enthusiasts were on hand to view Kathy’s newest creations.
Instead of like most people in their late 50’s thinking about retirement, this ambitious woman returned to school in 2009 to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree through Brandon University. This latest show picks up from her 2013 thesis show and the original Riding the Edge production.
Kathy has long been a driving fixture in the rural Manitoba art scene and has recently based herself in the village of Kelwood. She was already heavily involved in the local music festival, the town’s arboretum, running the annual summer quilt show, and hosting Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous house concerts. Large examples of her ‘barn quilt’ art adorn numerous Kelwood structures. Kathy is a fantastically artistic, energetic lady and has added significant flair and culture to the town.
As Kathy explained to her appreciative fans, it was her quilting background coupled with her fascination with the local topography that started her on her present artistic path. Many of her pieces such as ‘Doug & Janie’s Canola Field’ in the medium of oil on canvas, depict the rolling hills of Riding Mountain as seen from the No. 5 highway. Along with oil, she creates with textiles, thread on water soluble fabric, and graphite. She is a strong proponent of utilizing non-traditional mediums to bring out the beauty of her local rural setting.
Kathy is humble about her talent but glad that she has a venue and outlets to show off her work. She is passionate about art and feels that you can find just as much creative inspiration in rural Manitoba as you can in the art centers of New York or Paris. Everyone from school children to farmers can appreciate art and she enjoys using her talent and abilities to brighten her little corner of the world.
Riding the Edge: the next generation will be on exhibit at the PDAC until December 1, 2018. Meanwhile, Kathy is already planning her next artistic venture entitled Searching for Luminosity.
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.