Many Portage la Prairie artists took part in the Central Region Juried Art Show travelling exhibit that had its grand opening Thursday at the Portage and District Arts Centre.

A total of 42 pieces were selected for the exhibit, which was originally hosted by the Carman Arts Council in April. The show, which tours for four months, this year wraps up in Portage on Sept. 1. About half of the pieces are by artists from the Portage la Prairie and surrounding area.

PDAC’s arts promotion co-ordinator Lori Blight was pleased with the turnout for the opening of the exhibit here.

“We had several artists attend the show who had pieces in the Central Region Juried Art Show,” she said.

Linda Hanneson and Sharon Green, from Portage, and Florence McBride, from Gladstone, will see their pieces also go on to be shown in Winnipeg at the Assiniboine Park Pavilion Gallery in September.

”There are some other artists here that will have their pieces go there as well, but they are associated with different arts councils,” said Blight.

Artists appreciate the opportunity to have their pieces judged for the Central Region Juried Art Show.

“It’s good experience for the artists to have their work critiqued,” said Blight. “The judges will give them ideas, perhaps something they need to work on, or techniques they could improve on. It gives them a chance to show their work amongst their peers too.”

Hanneson will have her watercolour piece “Splashes of Colour” later shown in Winnipeg at Pavilion Gallery, through the Manitoba Arts Council.

“I have loved doing art my whole life, but just started getting serious about 20 years ago,” she said at the Portage show. “It is really exciting when people appreciate what you do and tell you they enjoy your work. It is so encouraging. You just want to get back there and do some more.”

angela.brown@sunmedia.ca