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New art gallery in Chateau opens its handcrafted doors this weekend

A new and exciting addition to Whistler's art scene will officially open its beautifully handcrafted, copper-panelled doors on Saturday morning.

A new and exciting addition to Whistler's art scene will officially open its beautifully handcrafted, copper-panelled doors on Saturday morning.

The Gallery at Chateau Whistler features contemporary Canadian paintings, sculpture, glassworks and handcrafted jewelry.

Gallery director Wendy Wacko also directs The Gallery at the Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Alta. and is represented as a painter by the Scott Gallery in Edmonton. Wacko says the Chateau Gallery will draw works from Jasper's existing stable of 60 renowned Canadian artists and will maintain a focus on exhibiting contemporary Canadian art for the international Chateau clientele.

The Gallery, located directly across from the Portobello restaurant, has been constructed with innovative modular walls that can be customized to fit with either bold or intimate exhibitions.

Wacko's vision for the gallery design begins right at the entrance with copper-panelled doors by Canmore, Alta. metal artisan Tony Bloom. The gallery also contains audio-visual equipment which may be used for future presentations about the house artists, many of whom have been the subject of documentary films and have made films themselves, says Wacko.

The inaugural exhibit is titled A Testament, and features a collection of new works by Cochrane Alta.-based painter/grizzly bear researcher Maureen Enns. The exhibit will be the last in Enns' series from 10 years of research with partner Charlie Russell in Kamchatka, Russia, a remote area with more bears per square kilometre than anywhere else on earth.

The ursine-themed works are a bold statement, perfect for a gallery that means to have instant impact on Whistler's thriving art scene.

Wacko says she chose Enns because of her international profile as a Canadian contemporary artist.

"We're passionate about original Canadian artwork and Maureen represents everything that is great about the creative soul," said Wacko. "She's on the leading edge and she deserves our exposure."

For more information check out the gallery's Web site at www.thegallerychateauwhistler.com.