On behalf of the Visual Arts Alberta Association, I would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and international Trade Canada for their support of the presentation of this exhibition, human/nature, in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Likewise, I want to thank the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Community Development, Government of Alberta, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for their sustained support of the visual arts in Alberta, and in particular, for their generous allocation in support of this impressive exhibition of work by four Alberta artists.
    It is one of the major objectives of the Visual Arts Alberta Association (VAAA) to promote actively the work by Alberta artists, not only in the province, but also Canada wide and abroad. It is exciting projects, such as this one, that give me great pleasure and pride in my association with the VAAA. My special commendation goes to Allison Argy-Burgess who, since her appointment as Executive Director of the VAAA, has been actively promoting Alberta art through innovative and far-reaching programs like this human/nature exhibition.
    I am most impressed by the art installations selected for this important show. The work selected for human/nature demonstrates that the artistic vision of these four artists is vast in scope; yet, the individual works of art are full of telling detail and compelling insights, which cumulatively create rich reflections on cross-cultural Canadian sensibilities of belonging, of place, and of beauty found in nature. Therefore, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the four artists, Liz Ingram, Amy Loewan, Lyndal Osborne, and Laura Vickerson, because their dedication in enriching the quality of our life through the art in this exhibition human/nature, is an inspiration to all.

   Jeske Sybesma, President, Visual Arts Alberta Association