One of the last installments of Art Battle Season 8 is set for Friday as 12 participants compete for a spot in June’s city finals.
Twelve local artists are vying for a seat at the final battle, where one artist will win their place in the regional competition in Vancouver. Regional competitors will be looking to land a spot in the national competition happening this summer in Toronto.
The owners of 4Cats Art Studio, Michael and Jennifer O’Brien, introduced Art Battle to Kamloops in June 2016, bringing the international live painting competition to the city for the first time. The upcoming city finals are the first of their kind in the history of Art Battle in Kamloops.
“We heard about Art Battle and we thought it would be a fantastic addition to Kamloops. Being the Tournament Capital, we need to have some art-as-sport in Kamloops,” Michael said.
Twelve artists are pitted against each other in three 20-minute rounds. They create the best work they can from start to finish. As they work, viewers move around the circle of easels watching the the process and voting for their favourite at the end of the round.
The top four battle in the third round, with the final winner taking home $100 cash prize. Winners from the past year’s events will compete in the Season 8 finals in June. All work created is up for auction at the event.
“It’s really cool because you will see art created from nothing to a final piece so you get an attachment to the piece, you get an attachment to the artist, the magic of the night. It’s a really cool environment,” Michael said.
Competing this Friday are Trish House, Clay Walker, Jenn Boone, Kimberely Steadman, Sarah Loutfi, Angela Frye. Sam Joansson, Cye Delaney, Susan Wolf, Jennii Dyer, Jullian Greenman and one wildcard.
Inspired by the last New York battle, organizers are bringing back the last battle winner to paint live ahead of the competition. Peter Darah will kick of the night at 7 p.m., completing a piece on a 30”-by-30” canvas in 45 minutes.
Art Battle has been in Canada for eight years and internationally for 12. Michael said they wanted to bring the franchise to the city to tie artists to a larger network of competitions, working closely with national organizers in Toronto.
Kamloops was the first city to stream a competition live in tandem with another city, coordinating with Victoria during the last battle so both could be watched simultaneously.
The competition attracts a wide range of local artists with different backgrounds, from well-known local talent to emerging artists, homemakers who love to paint on the side and professionals like tattooists.
“It’s 20 minutes so you don’t have a lot of time. But these guys practice just like any other performer would practice to figure out what to do and the best way to do it while the lights are on you, people are talking and you’re having fun,” Michael said.
“We want the artists to showcase their very best and what’s in their wheelhouse so we find that having no theme allows them to do that and you get a better variety as well.”
Art Battle is happening April 28th at CJ’s Nightclub. General admission is $20 and $10 for students. Tickets are available online.
