The Art Gallery of St. Albert in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, hosted its seventh Slow Art Day on April 11, 2026. Director Leah Louden and her team encouraged visitors to engage deeply with art through a variety of self-guided activities. The event focused on the current main exhibition, “Ephemeral Language / Langue éphémère” by Sébastien Gaudette, and the staircase feature exhibition, “Knotty Enigmas” by Zana Wensel.
Upon arrival, visitors were invited to use a Slow Looking Guide drafted by the Curator to practice slow looking while exploring the current exhibitions. Staff were on hand to provide additional information.
Visitors of all ages were also invited to participate in several additional activities:
– An iSpy activity encouraged close observation to identify detail shots of 12 artworks throughout the building.
– For the “Ephemeral Language / Langue éphémère” exhibition, an activity booklet offered drawing and educational activities such as drawing a paper illusion, completing a word search, or crafting a paper balloon.
– A drop-in Art Nook activity, called “Creative Crumples,” invited participants to create imaginative drawings from crumpled paper.
Light refreshments were also available, encouraging guests to linger and slowly enjoy the artwork. The event was promoted through their website and social media, and a total of 37 people attended.
One of Sébastien Gaudette’s artworks, “Langage éphémère,” a 2026 paper installation from the “Ephemeral Language / Langue éphémère” exhibition, was featured in an Art Minute video prior to Slow Art Day. This piece was chosen to highlight how a seemingly simplistic artwork could reveal its complexity and beauty through close, slow looking. Guests were surprised by the material of many artworks in Gaudette’s exhibition.
We at Slow Art Day HQ are grateful to Leah Louden and the Art Gallery of St. Albert for their continued dedication to fostering deep engagement with art and were impressed by their innovative self-guided activities. We look forward to seeing what they create for Slow Art Day 2027.
— Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl
P.S. View them on their website and Instagram.