The Visual Arts Studio Association (VASA) in St. Albert is presenting 'Urban Sketching,' an exhibition featuring over 60 sketches by local artists including Lily Jeong, Julie Daly, Luise Mendler-Johnston, Elena Vlassova, Sandra Soucy, Angie Sotiropoulos, and Otto Mestinsek. The show focuses on landscapes and buildings rendered in basic, primitive styles, highlighting the artists' experimentation with simple tools like watercolours, pen and ink, and acrylic on wood. Works range from Vlassova's unfinished campus scene to Jeong's urban landscapes of Edmonton landmarks and Mendler-Johnston's mini sketches of everyday life.
The exhibition matters because it shifts VASA's typical focus from polished, colorful works to raw, process-oriented drawing, offering viewers insight into the foundational skills and creative experimentation of established and emerging regional artists. By celebrating the sketch as a finished art form, 'Urban Sketching' underscores the value of spontaneity and simplicity in visual art, making it both educational and accessible for the local community.