Together: Land Languages

Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith are the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe – three experienced artists united by a shared passion for painting and drawing directly in the landscape of the Shuswap/Sxwesmelp region within unceded Secwépemcúl’ecw.

Working side by side in the same places and moments, each artist responds to the land through her own unique perspective, style, and technique. Their exhibition brings together plein air works created in the field with studio-based paintings and drawings inspired by their shared experiences and observations.

For the Troupe, working outdoors is both grounding and contemplative. It offers an opportunity to slow down, connect with the land, reflect on its past, and consider its future. Their friendship and shared practice create a creative synergy through which they continually learn from and inspire one another.

As contemporary artists, they see their role as observers and interpreters of the world around them. By celebrating the beauty and vitality of the natural environment, they invite viewers to look more closely at the landscapes we share and to consider our collective responsibility to appreciate, protect, and preserve them for the future.