TERRE VERTE

September 28, 2019 – November 17, 2019
601 3 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0H5
Opening Saturday, September 28, 8 pm

The paintings in TERRE VERTE reflect upon the ecology and spirit of the vast grasslands of Southern Alberta. Sandra Meigs painted and studied these landscapes en plein air, over a period of twenty-eight years. Each of these works portrays an encounter with the synergist system of life in this diverse habitat.

Returning to visit the same terrain, Meigs’ gouache studies and paintings refer to McIntyre Ranch: a 55,000 acre ranch established in 1898 and in operation today. Meigs was included in two iterations of the McIntyre Ranch Project in 1991 and 2004, wherein the Thrall family hosted a research project between the artists, curators and biologists at the ranch and each residency resulted in an exhibition of new works at the SAAG in 1992 and 2005 respectively. Meigs has continued with recent research there, 2017 through 2019, creating representations of the distinctive rough fescue, flora, wildlife and fowl of the region are rendered in her enigmatic and vivid style.

Sandra Meigs describes her experience in residencies in Southern Alberta and its impact upon her work as follows:

One day I was observing a far-off eagle nest with my binoculars. The nest was on the side of the cliff, built into the clinging remnant of a tree that had tried to grow there. During this drawing session the sky darkened and it became very windy. A rainstorm began. Under my rain jacket I watched the eagle and her chicks, the mother gliding high in the dark sky, swooping low and hunting prey for her babies, then dropping the food in the nest. It was one of the most profound experiences I remember ever having in nature.

Curated by Kristy Trinier