Wild Abandon

A Joyful Opening Reception

Saturday’s uncharacteristic winter warmth prompted me to do something reckless—I put on high-heeled boots. At my age this was a lapse of memory, or perhaps sheer defiance. Either way, it felt fitting for the opening of Wild Abandon, an exhibition that embraces boldness, freedom, and, well… a little risk-taking joie de vivre.

The opening receptions Saturday were a lively affair, made even more dynamic by the energy of multiple art exhibitions open downtown. Art lovers dashed between venues, soaking in a variety of creative expressions. One of my personal highlights was the deeply moving exhibition at Trianon Gallery, where Marjie Crop Eared Wolf showcased her work alongside that of her late father, Jesse Seymour. The reception included samplings of Indigenous foods—Berry Soup, Fry Bread, and Jerky—adding another layer of richness to the experience.

At Casa, visitors engaged with my work, some drawn to the textures, others to the vibrant, expressive style and colours of the wildflowers. Wild Abandon was born during the Covid lockdown—a time of constraint, yet one that offered me the space to experiment with oil paint in new ways. Working on solid panels, I explored a range of textures and techniques, pushing the boundaries of expressionism while keeping a connection to the natural world. I’ve painted wildflowers for years, captivated by their intricate forms, and they became the perfect subject for this exploration.

To add a little extra fun to the exhibition, I’m hosting a giveaway that runs until the end of the show! Visitors have the chance to win a 10” x 10” painting from Wild Abandon.

Wild Abandon will be on display at Casa Galleries until March 21. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you’ll drop by and experience the energy of these paintings in person. And if you do, let me know—I’ll be somewhere in sensible shoes.

Yellow Columbine by Bev Mazurick
Yellow Columbine, mixed media oil on cradled wood panel, 10″ x 10″

How to Win a Painting!

I’m thrilled to announce a special giveaway of a painting of your choice among the eight, 10 x 10” paintings in my Wild Abandon exhibition, which celebrates creativity, playful experimentation, and the simple love of art and nature. The exhibition continues until March 21, 2025.
Here’s how to enter:
• Visit the exhibition in person at Casa, 230 8th Street South, Lethbridge, AB. Explore the show and find a piece that speaks to you!
• Take a selfie at the exhibition. Get creative—pose with your favourite.
• Email me at bevmazurick@gmail.com with:
o Your selfie from the exhibition (This is your proof of entry! Photos will not be shared or used unless you win and provide express, written permission. All email entries will be deleted after the giveaway ends.)
o The title of your favourite 10” x 10” painting.
o A short explanation of why it resonated with you.
Important Details:
• Entries close on March 21, 2025, at 4:00 pm.
• The winner will be chosen based on their connection to the piece. What made it stand out for you? (Pro tip: “It matches my couch” is not a winning answer!)
• The winner will be announced on March 21, 2025, after 6:00 pm.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and reflections on the series! Each piece has its own story, and I’d love to know which one captured your imagination.
Thank you for visiting, and good luck!

Opening Reception for Wild Abandon at Casa
Opening reception for Wild Abandon, January 2025, photo by Elaine Mazurick

Passage Exhibition

Landscape by Bev Mazurick

New exhibitions opened throughout Casa on November 7, 2020 among them is a solo exhibition of my landscape paintings in the “Passage” gallery space. This presentation of landscape includes: traditional framed plein air paintings in oil; small, landscape-themed abstract colour studies, also in oil, and four contemporary, mixed-media studio landscapes. Exhibitions continue until December 21st. Casa is located in downtown Lethbridge and is open from 9 am to 10 pm Monday – Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Shadows From the Fire

Using new materials in her upcoming exhibition, Shadows From the Fire, Diana Zasadny explores the aftermath of the 2017 fire at Waterton National Park. Images are created through cyanotypes and large scale wire sculpture.

Among my favourite Lethbridge artists, Diana Zasadny has what promises to be an exciting new exhibition opening soon in the concourse gallery at Casa. Her control of colour was inspiring when I first saw her abstract paintings of our prairie landscape a decade ago. Those paintings are, in my opinion, both evocative and masterfully executed contemporary impressions of landscape.

I asked Diana about her upcoming show, Shadows From the Fire, a response in the aftermath of the devastating Kenow forest fire that ravaged Waterton National Park in 2017. In her use of new materials, Shadows from the Fire promises to be an innovative exhibition and Casa’s concourse gallery, with its vaulted, airy, space is perhaps a perfect venue for it.

In Diana Zasadny’s correspondence with me about the show, she noted that she was exploring new materials and methods specifically for Shadows From the Fire—among them, “the idea of wire sculpture as an alternate means of making a [large format] line drawing.” A trio of whitetail deer became her first wire sculpture. She also noted that, “Over 2018, I sketched and photographed the explosive super bloom of wildflowers at Waterton, making several trips to document the scene. In August, I took the opportunity to try another new method for me, cyanotype printing.”

Pictured here is a cyanotype detail. If you are like me—and need to run a google search to explain what a cyanotype is, Diana Zasadny’s new exhibition promises to be interesting. Follow this link to check out Diana’s own website https://www.dianazasadny.net

Shadows From the Fire – New Work by Diana Zasadny
Casa Lethbridge Concourse Gallery
April 27 – June 8, 2019
Opening reception April 27, 7:00 – 9:00 pm