Eston gallery unveils Kelly Knight's prairie art
By Joan Janzen
The Heritage Gallery at the Prairie West Historical Centre in Eston unveiled the artwork of local artist Kelly Knight on Thursday evening, May 28th. The evening gave visitors a preview of her artistry before the museum officially opened for the season on Saturday with an afternoon barbecue.
Twenty-four hours, one hoop. Kelly Knight's embroidered prairie scene takes a full day of stitching to finish, and she has the calluses on her fingers to prove it. The results are stunning. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
A full house. Friends and family gathered to admire Kelly Knight's work at the Heritage Gallery in Eston on Thursday evening. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
The maker behind the frames. Kelly Knight stands with her soft pastel landscapes at her Heritage Gallery show in Eston. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Cheers to the artist. Guests visit over a glass of bubbly at Kelly Knight's opening reception in Eston on Thursday evening. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Sky and stubble. Kelly Knight's soft pastels recreate the breathtaking beauty of prairie landscapes and the big skies above them. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
"There's some fantastic work hanging in the gallery!" Shari Collins, who organized the event, said. Kelly's display of paintings and embroidery effectively captures the breathtaking beauty of the prairie landscape.
Kelly expressed her appreciation to the Prairie West Historical Society for the opportunity to host a solo exhibition in their gallery. And the community expressed their appreciation by coming out in full force to admire her work and enjoy visiting with friends and family.
"Three years ago I decided to get back into drawing and pastels," the artist explained. Kelly owns a gift shop in Eston where she has been creating all kinds of art forms and floral arrangements, but now that her children are older, she is finding time for her art.
"My landscapes are created using soft pastels, with the exception of the embroidered pieces when I use a mix of threads and yarn," she explained. "I pencil out a plan for my embroidery pieces, choose colour combinations and go from there. Sometimes they evolve as I am stitching." It takes a total of 24 hours for her to complete one of her stunning embroidery pieces, and she has the calluses on her fingers to prove it.
"Most of my work comes from the land and skies, a few come from photographs, and then are put together with my imagination," she said. Kelly's imagination is the ingredient that makes her images burst with beauty and colour.
"I received my bachelor degree in fine art majoring in glass blowing in 2003," she said. "I loved art through all of my school years and have great parents who never thought me pursuing a degree in fine arts was a waste."
Everyone viewing Kelly's exhibit is truly thankful that this local artist has pursued her passion for art.