A lot of Lethbridge art aficionados were at the Bowman Arts Centre and the Yates for two new exhibits which opened Saturday, April 10.
A lot of people got into the mood for South Country Fair by examining some of the coolest shots taken during last year’s blast in Fort Macleod. The photos, including close ups, cool reflections, candid shots, shots of the fire spinners and shots of the performers are part of the “A Fair Shot — Images From the South Country Fair 2009”  which is on display at the Bowman Arts Centre until May 22.

The other room at the Bowman contains part one of the ”Making it Big” exhibit which also runs until May 22.
 Variety is the watchword for “Making it Big,” which, as the title indicates, includes large and oversized works.
There are several  cool pieces, some great portraits including one done entirely in crayon and a pretty landscape and portrait done in acrylic.

 There is also an impressively big abstract piece made entirely out of house paint splashes by local artist Wendy Lipinski, who was overjoyed to participate this show — the first one to show one of her paintings, though she was one of the participants in the Potemkin Collective’s Baggage show a couple weeks ago.
“I did this one last November in  the garage when it was freezing,”  Lipinsky said.

 “I used twigs and paint. I put the canvas on the floor and dropped the paint on the floor. I didn’t even touch it. But it took a lot of work,” she said adding the piece took her about 70 hours. She  works in a variety of mediums and uses many different techniques.
“ I do oils mostly. But this was latex house paint,” she said.
The second half of the display is at the Yates Centre where more unusual works hang including a beautiful seascape a couple abstract piece and  some quirky works from Frater Tham and Rick Gillis as well as the only sculpture of the exhibit.
It also runs until May 22.