The Heidi Thompson Art Gallery opens on August 17
Surrounded by lush trees, sprawling fields and open skies, the small town of Coldstream is now home to a new art gallery.
It features a collection of abstract and nature-inspired paintings by international artists Heidi Thompson, Bryan Ryley and David Alexander, as well as paintings by David Powter, bronze and jade sculptures by Deborah Wilson and unique ceramics by Diane Nelson.
The Heidi Thompson Art Gallery is the culmination of a year-long journey.
After the unexpected death of her husband Ted Thompson, a respected guitar maker, Heidi put all her energy into transforming his workshop into a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
“Focusing on this gallery has been a positive outlet for me during this difficult year. When I was cleaning out my husband’s shop, the idea of starting a gallery suddenly came to me. Although I have sold my paintings worldwide, I have kept most of them privately and in my studio. Opening this gallery is a way to share them with our community,” said Heidi.
“I have been fortunate enough to be able to present my work in exhibitions all over the world, but I have rarely shown it here. Now I can create the perfect setting for it in a space dedicated to my late husband. In addition, I have the privilege of presenting other artists whose work I deeply admire.”
Heidi is from Coldstream and graduated from Vernon Senior Secondary School in 1974. She then studied art in Europe. After returning home in 1981, she married Ted and the couple enjoyed a creative and family-orientated life in Coldstream for four decades.
Heidi has a background in photography and painting and has worked with Sveva Caetani, being her photographer for ten years and publishing Caetani’s Recapitulation series in a book in 1995. In addition to publishing and some teaching, Heidi’s passion has always been painting.
The work of Ryley, who retired in 2016 as an associate professor in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, adorns the walls of the Cactus Club Café and Nordstroms in the U.S. and Canada.
Recently relocating from the Okanagan to the coast, Alexander brings a wealth of experience, having earned his BFA from Notre Dame University and his MFA from the University of Saskatchewan. His inspired, landscape-inspired paintings have parallels to the raw and confident style of Oskar Kokoschka.
Wilson, who lives in Vernon, has presented her jade sculptures in exhibitions across Canada and the United States. Her jade carving workshops have attracted participants from around the world, and she recently received a gold medal from Suzhou, China, for her jade piece.
A long-time resident of Coldstream, Powter has recently made a name for himself as a notable artist and since his retirement he has produced a compelling body of lyrical and evocative paintings.
Nelson lives in Kelowna and discovered her passion for creating distinctive ceramic pieces after leaving her design career at Starbucks.
The public is invited to the opening on Saturday, August 17th from 2 to 7 p.m.
After this date, viewings are by appointment only. Contact Heidi at [email protected].
