By Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery

sept. 2-nov. 19

Jim Westergard: In a Class of His Own

Sep 2, 2022 | 11:52 AM

Long-time Red Deer College (Polytechnic) instructor Jim Westergard donated a significant gift of his life’s work to the Red Deer MAG in 2020. Explore his life drawings – many done in class alongside his students as he taught them drawing – in their new exhibit Jim Westergard: In a Class of His Own. Best known as a wood engraving printmaker, Jim’s masterful renderings of the human figure are testament to his skill as an artist. The exhibition is on display at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) from September 3 to November 19, 2022, with an opening reception on Friday, September 2 from 5-8 p.m.

“This exhibition represents just a small portion of the large gift of artwork given to the Red Deer MAG by Jim Westergard,” says Joanne Gruenberg, Guest Curator. “In these life drawings, Jim captures the human figure with sensitivity and technical excellence. They are evidence of the expertise his students would have benefited from in having him as a teacher.”

In 2020, Westergard donated approximately 200 works of art to the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG). In addition to these life drawings, his gift also included various series of his wood engraving prints and other series of drawings. This is a significant gift for the MAG and provides us with a comprehensive understanding of Jim’s career as an artist and teacher. The MAG is happy to share this gift with visitors now and for years to come.

About the Artist

Jim Westergard is a talented and distinctive artist who has lived in Red Deer since 1975. He was a former printmaking and drawing professor at Red Deer College (Polytechnic) and has been a working artist for 40 years in Alberta. Westergard, who was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1939, earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (1967) and a Master of Fine Arts (1969) from Utah State University (Logan, Utah). His practice has become known over the years for its high level of technical skill and craftsmanship, as well as its wit, humour, and appreciation of imagination.

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Exhibit Related Events & Workshops at Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery:

First Fridays Opening Reception: Friday, September 2nd, 5-8pm

Join us as part of First Fridays Red Deer for the opening reception of the exhibit, Jim Westergard: In a Class of His Own.

Art Workshop: Figure Drawing with Saija Maureen– Sunday, September 18^th, 1-4pm –Participants will be guided through some useful drawing techniques including composition, measuring, and sighting, all of which will then be applied while drawing a live model (fully clothed). This drawing class will offer short and sustained drawing poses. All supplies are included with registration. This art sampler is suitable for all skill levels (beginners are welcome). For ages 16+. $60+GST/regular; $50+GST/MAG members. Register online, by phone or in-person.