Vulcan based artist/ musician Steve Coffey is excited to not only open up a gallery of his art at the Geomatic Attic, Feb. 25, but introduce Lethbridge to his band’s latest CD “Bovine World Rail.”
“I’ve been a painter for many years,” said C
offey, who has exhibited all over the world, as far away as Poland. He has galleries in Calgary, Edmonton and Black Diamond and now Lethbridge showcasing his art, which includes as many rural themes as his songs do.
So landscapes, blue skies, clouds and trains, lots of trains figure prominently in both.
“I’ve been painting for many years,” he said adding he and Geomatic Attic owner Mike Spencer have been discussing opening the Attic as a gallery for many years. They already have several of his paintings on display.
“ This opening will include all new works,” he said adding there will be 18 or 19 new works depending on the amount of wall space available, which are in the process of being framed.
Coffey noted his paintings and art are pretty closely connected. So when he has his art and music happening at the same time as his music it combines two different audiences — artloverrs and country music lovers.
“It is interesting when my hillbilly fans are in the same place as art lovers. But then I’m a gap toothed hillbilly too,” he chuckled adding both his music fans and art loving fans connect over the common themes of his paintings.
“I use this phrase to describe my music ‘ It’s organic grooves and poetic creations richly grown and raised from the prairies of rural Alberta. I guess that can describe my paintings too,” he said.
He pleased with his new CD.
“ This is the fifth CD with my band, the Lokels. For the first album, we recorded it live off the floor. We’ve returned to that on this one,” he said.
Lance Loree plays pedal steel guitar in the Lokels. Coffey noted Loree’s aggressive playing style is very similar to Coffey’s dad, who was also a renown pedal steel player.
“Lance is best known as a Telecaster player, but he plays really great pedal steel. Lance plays very aggressively,” he said adding he also attacks his painting with the same sort of aggression.
Coffey’s art show is from 1-4 p.m., Feb. 25. The Lokels take the Geomatic Attic stage at 8 p.m. Alyssa McQuaid opens up the show.
Tickets are $22.50 for members, $25 for non-members.
