Edmonton Steel Spirit Gallery in the works

Steel Spirit is always looking for new and emerging artists with and without art experience, from every background and every age. For more information visit: www.thesteelspirit.ca.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Steel Spirit Gallery is making broader brush strokes by expanding its reach to Western Canada.

The next in-person gallery will feature works of Master Corporal (ret’d) Elena Vlassova, a Canadian Armed Forces Image Tech. The exhibition will take place in St. Albert this Fall, says Barbara Brown, founder of Steel Spirit and a former paramedic.

“I am absolutely honoured and excited to be spearheading this project in Alberta to help showcase the work of first responders and military members,” she said.  

Steel Spirit, founded in 2017, showcases the unique artwork of currently serving military, veterans and first responders. It previously held annual in-person galleries in Eastern Canada and developed a strong online presence with digital galleries since the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Steel Spirit’s St. Albert Gallery is now hunting for all types of art submissions from local artists in the Edmonton area. Submissions may include paintings, sketches and drawings to photography, stained glass, sculpture, wood carvings, airbrushing, metalwork, pottery, poetry and everything in between.

“The Steel Spirit is open to members with all levels of experience,” Vlassova says. “The gallery focuses more on the members than anything else, and we take pride in giving people the opportunity to try new things and express their personality and experiences.”