WIN BIG with small photos: WEEKLY PRIZES!

Post your photos to our Facebook Page

We’re eager to see the local art that has gone home to live with you!  Until the end of February 2011 we will draw weekly prizes from the weekly photo entries on Facebook.  If you have something that  came from Bluerock Gallery in your home – a piece of art, jewelry, pottery, glass – take a photo and post it to Bluerock Gallery’s Facebook Page.

Your odds are already good to win – but enter weekly to make those odds even better!  And please spread the word by sharing this post on your Facebook page!    No limit on the number of photos, and every photo is an entry!  You can enter every week, too!  (The photos need to be of different items, though!)  There’s no judging here (it’s a DRAW, after all) but we’d love to hear your comments, stories, and reviews in the comments to go with your photos!

Have fun – and good luck!  This week’s prize (draw at 5 pm on Saturday, March 5 ) will be a handblown glass TREE by Susan Gottselig, a Canmore glass artist.

CLOSING for INVENTORY

We will be closed for three days, January 10 – 12, 2011 (Monday – Wednesday), while we conduct our annual inventory.  We apologize if this causes you any inconvenience!  We’ll reopen on Thursday, January 13th, from 11 am to 8 pm, and resume our Winter schedule.

Gift Ideas :: Real Life Stories

(Mention seeing this post on our website the next time you are in our store (until December 31, 2010) and receive a FREE GREETING CARD!)

In the last few weeks we’ve had plenty of practice helping people come up with ideas for the “just right gift”, and here are some examples (click on the images for details):

Gifts for Men

For her husband, one woman bought a Mike Mulvey wooden box, filled it with “Shaving Bar” soap by Rocky Mountain Soap Company, put a couple lip butters and a crystal nail file in, and topped it off with a  one-of-a-kind, handmade sterling silver “Ring for Men” by Amy Ragsdale.  Nice gift, eh?!

Gifts for Women

For his wife, one gentleman purchased a beautiful 100% silk  handwoven scarf by Deb Turner – anyone envious?  

For her sister who loves baubles and beads, another woman found the watch & bracelet sets by Susie Legault – fun, functional, and in some cases, seasonal!

Gifts for “anonymous” or “unknown”

And many people have come in with this quest “I don’t really know this person/It’s a gift exchange so the price range is around $20 and it has to be non-gender specific/It’s the mother of my girlfriend and I’m just meeting her”…  In this case we might suggest the ever popular and much loved ceramic mug.  We have over a dozen regional potters whose work we carry, and each of them might have several styles or colors of mugs or tea cups to choose from.  Here is just one example:  

We also might suggest the “Friendship Ball” in blown glass – here’s one by Julia Reimer.

Buy Art – make a different world!

This is just a peek at some of our extraordinary, handmade, local gifts that are NOT paintings!  And our gallery is filled with fine art paintings in all sizes and mediums (and prices)…all year round!  Our aim is to help regional artists make a living at making art.  We are firm believers that ART SAVES LIVES.

We hope you’ll consider purchasing art for your Christmas gifts – and will be delighted to help you find just the right thing for your beloved and help you stay within your budget.  We have art in all price ranges!

And, remember, until January 3rd we are open 11 am – 7 pm EVERY DAY!  We’ll be closing at 4 pm on the 24th, will be closed all day the 25th, and reopen at 11 am on the 26th!

More Gift Ideas :: Books at Bluerock Gallery

Day Planners and Books

Kim Taylor’s Day Planners

Kim Taylor’s dayplanners are in high demand around here—and for good reason. Her photographs depict western cowboys and ranchers at work in “On the Trail 2011.” Beautifully shot and documented, these day planners are poignant reminders of the magical place we call home. She’s collaborated with Mitch Drewes on a new fly fishing day planner too, called “On the Fly 2011.”  Both are wonderful gifts sure to be used all year long. $24.95 at Bluerock.

Hot Off the Press! West on One: The Stories Behind the Scenery by Kathryn Manry

This book is jam packed with natural history, native culture, personalities, geology, conflict, trivia and the sites themselves along the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise. Did you know there is a ghost town near Banff you can only visit by scuba diving? A perfect gift for the naturalist, history buff and hiker in your life. Check out her book site here. $32.00 at Bluerock.

Wild Alberta: At the Crossroads by Marion White and Robin White

Alberta is a beautiful place. The White’s have written a book that puts the onus on each and every one of us to forge a sustainable future here—for the people we love and all the wildlife and fauna we share it with. Learn more about their work here. $39.95 at Bluerock.

Music and Books for Kids

CD: Pied Pumkin’s “Pumkids”

We were treated to a house concert with singer/songwriter Shari Ulrich in November, and while she was here she left some of her Pied Pumkin (Shari Ulrich, Rick Scott and Joe Mock) cd’s with us. Yeah sure, the group took “Best Children’s Album” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards,” recently. The real test is seeing the little tykes groove and bounce to rootsy tunes like “Bowen Island,” “Papa Do Wah Diddy” and “Annabelle’s Fiddle.” Pure fun for kids of all ages! $20 at Bluerock.

Pocket Naturalist Guides

These laminated, handy guides are the perfect stocking stuffer for kids and adults alike. Jam packed with info and illustrations, the kids will be shouting “Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker,” and “Red Winged Blackbird,” faster than you can say,”Christmas in Alberta.” Other great titles on subjects like geology, knots, weather and first aid. Perfect for the budding young naturalist. $6.95 at Bluerock.

Kids Books

We don’t have many kids books at Bluerock, but a few GREAT ones!  In “Eh? to Zed,” Kevin Major does the all-canadian version of the abc’s with alliteration, fun and a great sense of rhyme—Cariboo and Dan McGrew! Sure to be a bedtime hit! Drop by to check out other kids titles. $18.95 at Bluerock.

Making Art: September Classes in Painting at Bluerock Gallery

Authentic Impressionism Weekend Workshop
with Janice Tanton
September 18 and 19, 2010  NOTE: this class is being rescheduled because of weather – watch for updates!
Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 5 pm, lunches included

Choose your medium – oil, acrylic, watercolor – and come prepared for an adventure in plein air painting in and around Black Diamond.  You will experience the philosophy and practice of the authentic method for French impressionist painting en plein airas it has been handed down from artist to artist.  This program is a fundamental underpinning for artists, and teaches one how to see and how to proceed through a canvas from beginning to end – no matter what your particular style, subject matter, or medium.

Saturday morning will be spent in the studio at Bluerock Gallery for demos by the instructor, then everyone will head out into the small town of Black Diamond to paint.  Sunday the plein air painting will be on location at the beautiful Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat in Turner Valley. (You could also attend a house concert and stay overnight at this wonderful Bed & Breakfast – contact them directly for details.) Each painting day will end with a critique and discussion session back at Bluerock Gallery.

Janice Tanton is an accomplished, award-winning Canadian artist working professionally for over 21 years.  (Her work is currently filling the Bluerock Gallery street window displays!)

Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Participants should have a good working knowledge in their chosen medium.)

Class Size: Maximum 8 participants

Workshop Fee: $295  ($150 deposit to hold your spot, balance due on first day of class)

Introduction to Acrylic Painting
with Mady Thiel-Kopstein
September 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 2010
Thursday evenings, 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Four Thursday evenings in the painting studio at Bluerock Gallery will give you a strong foundation for working with acrylics.  Join Mady Thiel-Kopstein, an accomplished and experienced painter and teacher (and Bluerock Gallery staff), in exploring the world of painting on canvas with acrylic paints.  No previous experience necessary, simply the desire to play with color and complete a small canvas painting. Basic supplies included.

Beginning to Intermediate Level. Maximum 8 participants.  (9/16/10 NOTE: Class registration is now closed.  Watch for the next series starting soon!)

$160 for series of 4 classes.