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By The Daily Gleaner

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An exhibit of art produced during the Fredericton Arts Alliance summer artist-in-residence series opens at the city hall gallery on Sept, 4 at 5 p.m.

The exhibition, which runs until Oct. 31, will feature works in a variety of media including: a book of poetry, a mask carving, pottery, oil paintings, needlepoint, and photography.

Featured artists include Sadiq Ali, Joanne Barfitt, Ned Bear, Jackie Bourque, Carol Collicutt, Derek Davidson, Jesse Ferguson, Oliver Flecknell, William Forrestall, Amber Friedman, Chris Giles, Whitefeather Hunter, Paula Keppie, Andrew Miller, Deanna Musgrave, Sarah Petite, Shanie Stozek and Amy Sullivan.

Each of the 18 local artists included in this exhibition spent a week as an artist-in-residence in the casemates of the Soldiers' Barracks in downtown Fredericton.

During this time, in their temporary outdoor studio space, artists created while providing the public with an opportunity to learn about their inspiration and witness professional art in the making.

"As an artist-in-residence at the casemates each summer, I've had incredible opportunities present themselves which are crucial to my development as an artist," said Hunter, a mixed-media artist who participated in the program.

She said she's appreciated the change to meet other artists and achieve a high level of visibility in her own arts community.

Whitefeather won the Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation Scholarship in 2008.

It's a scholarship which supports New Brunswick artists entering graduate studies in visual arts.

During each rotation, an emerging artist is paired with an established artist, providing an additional developmental experience for the artists.

Maria Bourgeois, Fredericton Arts Alliance co-oordinator, considers the series an integral way to bridge artists and community.

"It fulfills a desire to meet artists at work, to understand how and why they produce art and why art is important to the community," she said.

Also, the final Downtown Fredericton Culture Crawl of the season runs from 5 until 8 p.m. on Sept. 4.

Visitors can start the evening at the city hall gallery, then take advantage of free admission to galleries around downtown.

City hall gallery at 397 Queen St. is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call 460-2411 for more information.