There are four different art exhibitions opening around downtown this Saturday — a virtual cornucopia of ideas.
As soon as you enter the Bowman Art Gallery,  check out the cabinet of “Queer-iosities.”
“I am pleased and surprised. We have contributions from a real cross-section of the community both by artists who identify themselves as homosexual and those who identify themselves as heterosexual who wanted to show their support for the issues gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and trans-gendered people face,” said Leila Armstrong who wanted to do something in honour of Gay Pride day. She contributed a drawing of Jo from the Facts of Life, her “girlhood idol.”

There are 23 contributions from artists as far away as Montreal and Saskatoon, including a variety of items, ranging from the quirky to stark political commentary.

Items include not only art but also items from personal collections like an autographed Team Canada hockey jersey from gold medal winning Olympic hockey player Danielle Goyette, which local artist Sonis McAllister contributed as well as a selection of beavers from Josephine Mills.

McAllister contributed some of the strangest pieces including a bowl made of fur and a child’s dress purported to be worn by Ru Paul as a child. There are a variety of items including woodcuts of Oscar Wilde, a cheeky pop art style painting of Betty and Veronica from Len Komenac and Rick Gillis’s Teddy, which features a mannequin’s head.

 There are a couple heart wrenching pieces including a contribution from an anonymous elementary school student — a heart wrenching depiction of gender roles. The “male” side includes illustrations of dinosaurs, sharks and blood, while the female side is all about peace and love.

 No less heart wrenching is a piece featuring pink badge Germans forced gays to wear during the Second World War, placed on top of a copy of deportation papers.

There are a couple art related events happening downtown on the weekend.
 The Southern Alberta Art Gallery wants you to get happy with happy hour, May 13. There will be live music, great conversation and friendship as well as  the latest works on display at the museum. It takes place from 5-7 p.m. at the SAAG.

 On May 14, the French Canadian Centre is hosting their first art exhibition —  a “Bazaar” of photography from Cosmin Badea.

 Badea is an amateur photographer who loves to spend his free time taking pictures. With his first exhibition, “Bazaar”,  Badea is  introducing the public to several aspects of daily life which inspire him.

There will be landscapes, portraits of animals and birds, either in their wild habitat or captives, very interesting urban landscapes, trucks and construction machineries, as well as macro photography taken in his mini-studio.

At the end of the night, for those interested, there will be a prize drawing with the chance to win a grand-format (24 x 36 inches) of one of his photos, signed by the artist. One ticket costs $ 10.

The money collected will be donated to the Francophone Photo Club of Lethbridge for purchasing photo books in French or different materials needed for the club members.
 The event takes place  May 14, from 5 -8 p.m. at La Cité des praires/2104 6 Ave S. Admission is free.

The Blackfoot Art Gallery welcomes Montana artist, Valentina LaPier, to the opening of her new exhibition, May 14.
Her new exhibition, ‘Blackfoot Glory,’ features a variety of LaPier’s works which will be on display at the gallery, #200 Fourth Avenue South.
LaPier is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe. She grew up all over the United States and moved back to the reservation in 2000.
She began painting free-form art at 14 -years-old and became a professional artist in 1987 after returning to Montana from Washington. She currently splits her time between East Glacier and Kalispell, Montana.
She was mentored by David Robey, Sr., a long time Montana artist. Ms. LaPier works primarily with acrylics, though her favorite medium is watercolour.

Her works reflect her admiration and influence by artists like Braque, Motherwell, Klee and Kandinsky.
For over 20 years Valentina has made a living as an artist, selling over 500 original paintings and some prints.
Valentina LaPier shares the landscape of her heart through her painted images, weaving together her life as a 21st century artist, her Blackfeet heritage and her vibrant, mystical soul. These images and the ability to capture them on canvas come to Valentina as gifts. She graciously offers these gifts to us with their power and beauty.

LaPier's work is contemporary, constructed from historical Native images, like those found in the traditional art of the Blackfeet people. Her artwork has become a vehicle, by which she educates both Native and non-native people on the history of the different tribal images used in her work.
Valentina LaPier's artwork has been exhibited in San Francisco, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Washington D.C., and throughout Montana. Her artwork is in private collections in Europe, Canada, South America, and the United States.

 The exhibition’s opening reception is from 1 -5 p.m. at the Blackfoot Gallery. It runs from May 5- July 1,2011.