Without leaving Jasper, residents and visitors have the opportunity to experience some of the other parks Alberta has to offer as part of the latest Alberta Federation of the Arts travelling exhibition.

Perfectly timed for Parks Day, the exhibition is a celebration of 75 years of Alberta Parks and delivers artwork that is inspired by the natural and cultural landscapes of Alberta. 

Brought to town by Jasperite Marianne Garrah, the exhibition is scattered throughout town: the library, the activity centre and possibly the Legion this weekend for Parks Day celebrations.

“I know that we only have to look out our windows and see the most amazing skyline,” wrote Garrah in an email, “but the Badlands, only a days drive from home, seems so exotic. The literature with the show on the different parks... Alberta is so wonderfully diverse in it’s landscapes – mountains, deserts, forests, rivers, glaciers, prairies.”

The exhibit shows off this array of landscapes, painted and photographed, said Garrah. 

One section of the exhibition aims to reflect the Jasper Garden Tours which the library holds this weekend, said Garrah, who hung floral watercolours by Annora Brown in the library. 

Admittedly, Garrah had envisioned large colourful pieces when bringing Brown’s work to town, but despite her disappointment in their size, she has come to enjoy “these tiny little, somewhat primitively painted florals.”

For Garrah, artwork is not just about the piece on the wall but the journey the artist took to create the work.

“You read about the woman and her inspirations, the lore of the flowers and the stories behind her childhood experiences – you can release the expectations and just enjoy the accomplishment,” she said.

A wonder into the activity centre will open your eyes to the world of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park which is also a National Historic Site and archaeological reserve. 

The photographs give viewers the opportunity to see some of the native rock paintings (pictographs) that are part of the largest collection of native rock art in North America. 

This exhibit will be on display throughout the community until July 25 and the final exhibition for 2009 will be in November.