Points North Gallery - Downtown Fort McMurray

By Dawn Booth | Sep 29, 2018 | Fort McMurray - Downtown

Local gallery showcases the works of Canadian talent

Points North Gallery is a local art gallery, gift store, wool shop and framing businesses located in downtown Fort McMurray at 10015 Centennial Drive.

Walking into the Gallery is like stepping into a visual portal of local and regional expression. It’s well-known in the community for being the showcase hub for artistic excellence and hosts regular exhibitions to support local talent.

It currently represents more than two dozen contemporary fine artists from Alberta and Western Canada. Their works feature a wide range of visual arts; including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics.

The active artists list includes; Amy Dryer, Andrea Brasch, Barb Howe, Bill Martin, Carol Breen, Dale Kalbfleisch, Dave Ball, David Yowney, Dennis Yowney, Erin Schwab, Evelyn Kirkaldy, Holly McWilliams, Ilya Oratovsky, Ina Schultz, Kathleen McCallum, KG+e, Kiley Granberg, Laura Sharp, Leigh Merritt, Leo Parent, Louise & Al Schoepp, Lucas Seaward, Lucie Bause, Lynn Symington, Lynne Huras, Maryanne Jespersen, Melanie Morstad, Michelle Boyd, Pam Weber, Robert Shatilla, Ross Lynem, Rudy Pongo, Steve Coffey, Susan Greenbank and Virginia Frank.

Each of their biographies and portfolios can be viewed individually on the Gallery’s website.

According to the Gallery, it first opened in 1991 by Florence Weber, who still owns and manages it today. Weber has over two decades of experience operating customized framing and working with the local arts scene.

Originally from Edmonton, she moved to Anzac with her family to “the small frontier community of Anzac, Alberta in 1958.” Anzac is a neighbouring hamlet located approximately 36 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray within the Wood Buffalo region.

Weber utilizes her Gallery be supporting arts in the community on a regular basis through hosting community events and charities; including the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo, Children 1st and causes involved in initiatives for senior citizens and developmentally challenged people.

The Gallery holds a standing-room capacity of 94 people, which is ideal for social gatherings and intimate receptions. It’s available after 5 p.m. with a rental rate of $1,000 for the first three hours with each additional hour costing $350.

The next upcoming event is on Saturday, October 6 for NorthWord Magazine’s launch of Issue #19. The local literary magazine is a social profit organization and publishes poetry, short stories and visual art submitted by Fort McMurray residents and artists from across Canada on a bi-annual basis. Click here to learn more.

The newest addition to Points North is the Yarn Gallery. The shop sells yarn, knitting, crocheting, felting and spinning supplied. It specializes in marketing small, boutique distributors and durable yarn. The Gallery also hosts instructional classes.

The classes teach a variety of sewing techniques and focus on different projects like Cowichan Style Sweater and regular Spinning Drop In.

Based on the opinion of 19 Facebook reviews, the Points North has a 4.9 rating and comes highly recommended to check out.

Guests have also reviewed the Gallery on Trip Advisor Canada calling it a “hidden gem.”

“This is a hidden gem and we ran across while visiting Fort Mac,” said a resident from Nanton, Alberta. “Very high-quality leather goods, woodworking, as well as other original works of art at what seemed like fairly responsible process. I personally loved the works by Lucas Seaward.”

For more information about the Points North Gallery, visit www.pointsnorthgallery.ca.

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Dawn Booth is a freelance journalist and owner of Media Booth, a marketing and communications business in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Learn more at www.mediabooth.net.

Breanna
Albrecht