SABLE ISLAND HORSES: A STORY OF SURVIVAL
Debra Garside
June 30 to September 6 |Main Gallery
 As an equestrian trainer for the last 30 years, Debra Garside has spent most of her professional life looking at and working with animals of sport horse bloodlines. But last summer, the photographer embarked on a mission of a different kind, one that took her far from where she lives, outside of Turner Valley, to the treeless and storm-swept Sable Island, Nova Scotia. The history of the horses on Sable Island dates back to the 1700’s. From 1801-1958, horses were kept on the island as part of the Humane Establishment, an operation that required horses to haul lifeboats to rescue sites in the aid of shipwrecked sailors.
With permission from Environment Canada and accompanied with three other friends, Garside spent four days following the wild horses across deep sand and meadows of high grass. Garside has observed, “Somewhere in the years of working with domestic horses as a business, I had lost touch with what had originally attracted me to them. I was hoping Sable Island would provide an opportunity for me to reconnect with the spiritual nature of these dynamic creatures.” The trip, in fact, was “cathartic”. The rugged animals becoming her “teachers” - “making relevant everything I thought I knew about horses behaviours…” Garside will be exhibiting a series of photographs from this recent adventure.
OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, June 30 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Members and Invited Guests | Wine sponsored by the Okotoks Art Council
BEFORE THE FENCES AT BAR U
Station Artists
June 30 to September 6 |Small Gallery
 Located less than an hour southwest of Okotoks on the Cowboy Trail (Highway 22), the Bar U is the only ranch in Canada to be honoured as a National Historic Site. The operation dates back to 1882 as one of Alberta’s great ranches. It continues to engage visitors with its stunning location, vintage ranch buildings, and great black Percherons now pulling wagons full of tourists. For landscape, history and just plain ol’ western atmosphere, the Bar U is the perfect place to inspire an art exhibition. From Okotoks’ Station Artists comes one such exhibition, Before the Fences at Bar U.
Featuring twelve artists from the group and based on several captivating trips made to the ranch last summer, on display are watercolours, photographs, oils, acrylics, plus paintings on silk. According to member, Alice Clarke, the whole process began with sketching and photographing at the historic site, with more work following this past winter in the members’ studios. The Station Artists were welcomed at the ranch with “open arms” says Clarke. All in keeping with the Bar U’s long association with ‘creative types’ like the renowned western artist, Charlie Russell who also once walked and rode over its wild grasslands.
OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, June 30 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Members and Invited Guests | Wine sponsored by the Okotoks Art Council
Images (top to bottom)
Bachelors by Debra Garsode| photography, 2009
Walk on boys ... by Joan Moore| watercolour and ink, 2010 |
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