The Bowman Arts Centre undergoes a “metamorphosis” this weekend, when it opens three widely different new exhibitions, Saturday, July 14 at 7 p.m..
As soon as you enter the building, check out the third edition of “Cabinet of Queeriosities which features a plethora of items from 22 artists, including 
a new Len Komanac Andy Warhol/ Roy Lichtenstein pop art inspired piece, a Picasso inspired depiction of a famous seventeenth century cross dresser, “little village people” costumes and even two video exhibits. One is from local artist Sarah Christensen and another from an Edmonton artist.
“We were very pleased with the response to our artist call out,” said Bowman Arts Centre Darcy Logan.
The other exhibits opening are a little more mainstream, particularly “From the Ground Up,” which features new 17 acrylic paintings from Waterton Lakes area artist Anne McClelland.
“It’s her first exhibition here since I’ve been here, but she’s participated in group exhibitions with groups like the Potemkin Collective,” Logan said.
“ She’s explored the theme of flora and fauna, so there are lot of landscapes and animals,” Logan described.
“She is one of the best colourists I’ve seen, but she doesn’t use a lot of local colours you’d usually see, where the sky is blue and the grass is green. She explores natural phenomena, but the colours are more varied,” he continued.
“She is an incredibly disciplined artist which is why they are so phenomenal,” Logan enthused.
No less phenomenal is “Metamorphosis,” which features the latest works from the Lethbridge Potter‘s Guild, who have their studio in the Bowman basement.
“They were asked to explore the theme of metamorphosis and transformation,” Logan said adding he was impressed with the ideas the 11 artists came up with.
There is everything from incredibly detailed displays showing a piece of paper transforming in to an origami bird, to a lump of clay wrapped in a brown paper bag adorned with postage stamps. There is also political commentary as one artist constructed dishes of tomatoes and corn adorned with birds wings and fish heads respectively to comment on genetically modified food.
One of the artists made a clay sculpture and put it in water, so people can actually see it deteriorate.
“I don’t think it will last until the opening. I’ll have to ask her to do another one,” Logan said.
“Some of them approached the theme quite directly, others approached it more obliquely. Others approached it more abstractly,” Logan described.
The opening reception for the exhibits is Saturday July, 14 from 7-9 p.m. All three exhibits run until Sept. 15.
