50 Years and Growing
The ASA's 50th Anniversary was celebrated at the Visual Arts Gallery (Beaverhouse, Edmonton) and traveled to Muttart in Calgary in 1981/82. A centennial exhibition and sale was held in Fort Calgary to raise funds for our many planned projects.
That same year, the ASA mounted an excellent exhibition at the new Vanderleelie Gallery in Edmonton, held in conjunction with the Universiade Games. On the strength of this quality show, Japanese visitors offered to co-sponsor a reciprocal Japan/Alberta Traveling vehicle--and "Sharing Visions" was born.
On June 19, 1984, eleven ASA members attended opening ceremonies at the Chiba Exhibition Hall in Chibushi under the guidance of Bill Morton. What a fabulous experience for those present! Many new friendships resulted between the two countries and remain in close contact today. The show continued to the Ebwa art gallery in Ginza Tokyo and the Art Plaza, Sapporo, Hokkaido. An unanticipated pleasure presented itself when the exhibition was then invited to Korea.
The ASA's Japanese counterpart of "Sharing Visions" arrived in Alberta (1985) at the Nickle Arts Museum in Calgary where over 867 people attended a spectacular opening--then traveled to four other venues in Alberta. This exhibition truly symbolized the "Sharing of Visions" between our cultures. A contingent of artists from Japan were on hand for the celebrations and were hosted royally by our executive and Minister of Culture. Strong support from local Japanese communities within the province exposed the public, not only to traditional art demonstrations, but incorporated a delicious taste of Japanese foods, music, floral arrangement, and dance.
Many of our guests spoke precious little English. One small person on leaving for her return flight to Japan delighted her hosts as she pushed up her sleeve to read in English from her forearm, her many thanks for their hospitality.
These "highlights," if you'll pardon the pun, accomplished two things. They heightened the profile of the ASA and established it once more as the legitimate professional Society in this province.
ASA members at the 50th Anniversary gathering at Kanaskis, 1981.
Back Row:
John Dean, William Duma, Jean Mihalcheon, Douglas Motter, Isabel Staedelbauer, Ken Sturdy, Barbara Roe Hicklin, Harry Kiyooka
Front Row:
Janet Mitchell, Helen Staedelbauer, Illingworth Kerr, Helen Mackie, George Mihalcheon