Press

Regina
November, 2004
Gallery Relocation
The Weitzel Gallery is proud to announce that it has relocated to the Victoria Square Shopping Centre in Regina's expanding East End.  This beautiful new gallery will carry the full line of Al Nelson Weitzel limited edition and open edition reproductions and will feature a selection of original works.  As with The Centre at Circle and Eighth, Saskatoon Gallery, the Victoria Square location will be offering a full Custom Framing service and is fully owned and operated by
Al Nelson Weitzel.

REGINA, June 9, 2003
News Release

Saskatchewan Artist gives back to the Regina Community

Renowned Saskatchewan artist Al Weitzel is celebrating Regina’s 100^th anniversary by creating a painting that celebrates our glorious past and bold present. The Leader Post together with PrintWest and The Weitzel Gallery of Regina are proud sponsors of this work of art depicting plains bison in the foreground with Regina’s skyline on the horizon.

Weitzel donated the painting in conjunction with the Weitzel Gallery of Regina, to the City of Regina in celebration of Regina’s Centennial.  The painting represents Regina’s history from its inception as a city in 1903 to present.  The painting will hang in a permanent place in Regina’s City Hall.  

PrintWest and the Leader Post have teamed up with Weitzel to give back to the community. PrintWest will produce 500 lithographs of the painting for sale at $245 each with all proceeds to be donated to the “Regina Inner City Family Foundation”, an initiative of Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco. 

Mayor Fiacco said: “Mr. Weitzel has followed his dreams through art and, because of his passion, our inner city can realize their dreams as well.  The Leader Post and PrintWest support our community everyday. I want to thank both organizations for their community spirit.”

Ed Galenzoski Leader Post Advertising Director said: “The Leader Post has been recording Regina’s History since 1883.  On the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of our great city, in conjunction with our partners, we are proud to present this commemorative painting to mark the event. We are pleased to be involved with helping Regina’s inner city to meet its full potential.  We love Regina.”

“The Regina Inner City Family Foundation” was created in January 2002 by Mayor Fiacco.  This initiative aims to encourage economic growth for the long-term health of Regina’s inner city while providing opportunities for a better life, and a bright future for inner city families. The initiative includes all five inner city neighborhoods in North Central Regina.

Well-known Saskatchewan artist Al Nelson Weitzel uses the medium of scratchboard to capture life-like images of deer and fox at Elk Ridge Resort near Waskesiu. His works are proving popular as golf and corporate gifts.

Weitzel artwork wows 'em

Al Nelson Weitzel's original motivational nature art have been called "unbelievably realistic," "remarkable creations of light and shadow" and "incredible achievements. Among his honors is the 1994 Best of Show Award at "Reflections of Nature," Western Canada's largest wildlife art competition. It's not surprising then that the popular Saskatoon artist shows up in corporate and private collections including those of golf course owners.

"Arne Peterson, the owner of Elk Ridge, purchased a number of original works from me and mentioned he would be interested in seeing his course painted," said Weitzel. "Being a wildlife artist, I felt obliged to include some critters like fox and deer."

Weitzel works in scratchboard, an unusual medium that dates back about 150 years. White porcelain clay is pressed onto paper, the surface of which is typically coated with black ink. He then uses a knife to scratch away the black surface to create images that appear remarkably three-dimensional and life-like.

His two golf-related works include "Mixed Foursome", which depicts four deer sauntering across the third hole at Elk Ridge, and "Playing Through", with three fox bounding playfully across the course. His motivational nature art - for example, a thunderbolt is accompanied with the uplifting caption "Enthusiasm: The energy of achievement" - depicts various wildlife, nature scenes and prairie subjects.

"I'd love to scratch another course," said Weitzel, who only manages a half dozen games a year because of his busy work and teaching schedule. "There are a couple of images I've got to do such as a birdie and an eagle. There are many courses with animals in their names like Deer Valley. The only reason they haven't been done yet is that I paint too slowly!"

Weitzel originals typically sell for $300 to $12,000, and reproductions for golf gifts and tournament prizes from $50 for open edition mini print reproductions to $500 for a framed limited edition. An original painting of you on your favorite course is $8,000. He exhibits at The Weitzel Gallery at Regina's Cornwall Centre and The Centre in Saskatoon.

Story Courtesy of SaskGolfer.com

Stan Bartlett, a journalist-photographer-golfer living in Regina.

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