The annual event celebrating art.
Slow Art Day is Saturday, April 11, 2026 Join Us!
Photo by Greg Neville
Artist Talk and “Sweet and Sour Memories” at Art Gallery of St. Albert
September 19th, 2025On April 5, 2025, the Art Gallery of St. Albert in Alberta, Canada, welcomed a large audience (a small portion of which is shown below) for its Slow Art Day event, which featured an inspiring artist talk by Alberta’s Artist in Residence, Samantha Williams-Chapelsky alongside the exploration of a moving exhibition by Edmonton-based artist Edith Chu.
To start, artist Samantha Williams-Chapelsky shared her journey as a professional artist, offering insights into her creative process, the challenges she’s overcome, and her experiences representing Alberta’s vibrant arts community. She also reflected on the future of visual arts, addressing current trends, emerging opportunities, and the evolving role of artists in Alberta and beyond.
Visitors were also invited to experience the exhibition “Sweet and Sour Memories” by Edmonton artist Edith Chu. In this exhibition, Chu looks back on her life growing up in her family’s restaurant Szechuen Cuisine. Her memories of this time form the foundation of her experience as a first-generation Canadian. Delicate watercolor paintings of restaurant life capture the day-to-day, family photos are drawn onto replica guest cheques, and Edith’s memories are captured in sculptural takeout boxes and narrative photographs.
The event also included a range of interactive activities: visitors created their own memorable buildings on envelopes in the Art Nook, completed a gallery-wide iSpy challenge, and engaged with an activity book designed for “Sweet and Sour Memories,” which encouraged participants to design their own takeout noodle boxes. Free refreshments added to the warm, welcoming atmosphere.
We at Slow Art Day HQ love to see such multifaceted events, and look forward to seeing what Leah Louden and the whole team at Art Gallery of St. Albert create for Slow Art Day 2026.
– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl
P.S. Stay connected with the Art Gallery of St. Albert on Facebook and Instagram.
Shipping Brow Gallery in Cumbria, UK
July 19th, 2025For their second Slow Art Day, The Shipping Brow Gallery in Maryport, Cumbria, UK invited participants to explore artworks by renowned Cumbrian artist Percy Kelly. The gallery hosts the largest permanent collection of Kelly’s work in the United Kingdom.
Featured Works:
A selection of 35 paintings by Percy Kelly, prominently featuring local scenes, including the gallery itself.
The museum also introduced a prize drawing. Attendees submitted guesses identifying how many paintings depicted the Shipping Brow Gallery building for a chance to win a copy of the art book, The Man Who Couldn’t Stop Drawing, by Chris Wadsworth.
The event attracted a diverse group of attendees, ranging in age from 8 to 65 years, demonstrating broad community interest and engagement.
We thank Dolly Daniel and the entire Shipping Brow Gallery team for their organization and dedication to Slow Art Day 2025. We look forward to their participation in Slow Art Day 2026.
– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl
P.S. Stay connected with Shipping Brow Gallery on Instagram.
Slow Art Day 2025 at Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach
July 16th, 2025The Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, California, celebrated Slow Art Day on April 5, 2025, as part of their three-day Spring Fling pop-up show. The event was organized by host and artist Hedy Buzan, a founding host of Slow Art Day – and a longtime artist-presenter at the Sawdust.
Featured Works:
- Sager-fired ceramic vessel
- Stoneware cylinder
- Two photographs
- Bronze and enameled dragonfly sculpture
- Watercolor painting of a neon sign and building
- Two acrylic paintings
- Two blown glass artworks
Participants gathered around the counter in Studio One, enjoying coffee during the morning session and wine during the afternoon gathering. Each session began with Hedy Buzan introducing five artworks by different artist, briefly discussing how each was made. Participants chose objects to closely observe in silence for five minutes, guided by the below prompts encouraging reflection on elements such as line, shape, texture, and personal emotional responses.
After individual reflection, attendees exchanged their objects, shifting between two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, allowing everyone to engage with a diverse range of artistic forms. This exchange was followed by a lively group discussion, facilitated by Hedy, who guided conversations by offering positive feedback and insights.
We express heartfelt thanks to Hedy Buzan and the entire Sawdust Art Festival team for their thoughtful planning and enthusiastic facilitation of Slow Art Day 2025. We look forward to what Hedy comes up with for Slow Art Day 2026.
– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl
P.S. Stay connected with Sawdust Art Festival via their Facebook page and Instagram.
cARTie Art Museum Bus: Centering Children’s Perspectives Through Virtual Engagement
July 12th, 2025cARTie Art Museum Bus , a Connecticut-based nonprofit dedicated to making museums accessible and welcoming for young children, celebrated Slow Art Day virtually this year. Emphasizing children’s voices and perspectives, cARTie shared an engaging video experience on their Instagram, enabling community members to embrace slow-looking practices from home. See the virtual format of their exhibition on their website.
Featured Works:
- “Pretty Brown Eyes” by Siena Zawrotny
- “Quiet Desperation” by Anna Kim
Both artworks, featured on cARTie’s traveling exhibit throughout 2024-2025, were created by secondary school student-artists from Connecticut. Participants watched a thoughtfully produced video highlighting children’s responses and insights, providing practical strategies for slow-looking.
Each work was featured for a recommended 5-10 minutes of focused viewing, encouraging deeper emotional and reflective engagement.
cARTie’s virtual approach captured the perspectives of children, underscoring the importance of accessibility and representation in museum spaces.
We extend our thanks to Clare, Co-Founder and Executive Director of cARTie, and the entire cARTie team for their innovative approach and dedication to Slow Art Day. We look forward to their participation in Slow Art Day 2026.
– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl
P.S. Stay connected with cARTie Art Museum Bus on Instagram.