Creative people of all ages were invited to an Art Battle on Friday, September 1st at the Lunenburg Art Gallery. Who doesn’t love splashing paint on a wide open fresh canvas perched on an easel? Visitors to Lunenburg during the Art Walk of art galleries on Lincoln Street were certainly up for the challenge. Artists and amateurs, from children to seniors, enjoyed this experience.
I discovered this art battle opportunity a few years ago when I lived in Southern Ontario. An art battle is a collective approach in which several people create a painting on the same canvas.
The way I designed the Art Battle for Lunenburg was to set up four easels and canvases. Volunteer artists took five minutes to paint with available brushes and paint. The most effective way to start is with a large, simple shape.
After five minutes, I blew a whistle and participants stepped back to allow another group of people to take their turn. Original designs were developed and people walking by enjoyed seeing the creative process and figuring out what was going on on Lunenburg streets—easels, painters, whistles. Such excitement is seldom seen!
A wide range of folks painted, including a girl who had just emigrated from Chile to Nova Scotia. There were also several exuberant artistic members of Lunenburg Art Gallery.
It was a visually fun Friday night for the art crowd. Perhaps the art battle will be back at the Sidewalk Creative Art Battlegallery next year.
Charles Weiss is an artist and writer living for the past few years in Pleasantville. He is originally from Southern Ontario where he illustated and wrote editorial stories for newspapers and magazines including the Toronto Star and Real Fishing magazine. He regularly exhibits his paintings and sculptures in Lunenburg Art Gallery.
