The Medicine Hat Artist Feature spotlights the work of seven artists based in the city. With a selection of work by each artist pictured on their own jumbo-sized poster, this window exhibition offers a snapshot of the diverse artistic practices found within our creative community. Famously a clay city, it is no surprise that two of these artists - Aurelia Archibald and Elaine Zimmer – are members of the Medicine Hat Potters Association. Zimmer’s small porcelain cookie jars with inscribed writing and Archibald’s psychedelic ceramic forms are distinct in scale, texture, clay body, and building method, but are united in their shared valuing of play, nature, and joyful living.

Meanwhile, work by Michele Winger, Jason Hanlun Li, and Chuck Wadman reflects on the urban and rural landscapes that surround us. A beautifully illustrated watercolor rendering of an old house in our Southeast Hill neighbourhood by Winger, digitally altered photographs of the prairie landscape by Wadman, and dreamy street photography captured by Hanlun Li all take time to consider the environment through varying lenses.  

Our youngest artist, Hayden Rue, creates anime-inspired characters using nothing more than an iPhone! We can’t wait to see more from this young person! And last but not least; fantastically detailed pencil drawings of dragons in action by Allan Wright will surely appeal to the fantasy lovers who encounter this project.   

As you can see, the Medicine Hat Artist Feature brings together an eccentric grouping of wonderful artists, each at varying stages of their careers, and with unique backgrounds and interests that have led them to their artistic work. We hope this project will bring some merriment to everyone who encounters it, and perhaps inspire some of you to start a creative project of your own this summer.

Curated from the 2023 TREX Southeast Open Call. 

Featuring artwork by Allan Wright, Aurelia Archibald, Chuck Wadman, Elaine Zimmer, Hayden Rue, Jason Hanlun Li, and Michele Winger.

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