Kamloops Art Gallery Shows " Hordes of Lead "

Saturday, 06 January 2007 08:43

Kamloops, BC, Canada - The Kamloops Art Gallery is delighted to present the captivating and fun-loving exhibition Kamloops, BC, Canada - Hordes of Lead, from January 6 to February 4, 2007 in the Gallery Under Glass.

This exhibition of gaming miniatures and intricately designed terrains shows the adventurous side of crafts.  A modern-day spin on the 18th and 19th century European lead toy soldier tradition, these tiny soldiers and mythical creatures are cast in plastic or pewter.  These ‘leads’ have been elaborately painted and modified by Kamloops gamers Pat Badminton, Nathan Bosa, Cory Doyle, Ryan Lopes, Scott Hutcheson, Lorne Owen, Danny Seedhouse, Mark Vermette, Randy Wagner, and Dane Zado.  Equally worth noting are Nathan Bosa, Steve Delany, Morris Rugalo and Christina Vermette’s realistic terrain pieces, fashioned out of materials such as wedding cake decorations, scrub brushes, and straws.

The gamers use these pieces for their table-top gaming events at High Octane Comics in Kamloops once or twice a week.  Gamers set up their ‘leads’ on large handmade terrains, where the figures stand guard and do battle, moving inches at a time in a series of strategic moves.  Participants use miniature pieces to replicate historical battle scenes, science-fiction scenes, or fantasy scenes like the battle at Helm’s Deep in Lord of the Rings. 

The detail and care involved in creating these miniatures are a source of pride for the gamers.  At national championship tournaments, gamers vie for painting awards.  The artists modify their miniatures by carving with jewel saws and melting or even piercing the figures to create individualized pieces.  An example of the endless horizon of creative expression, Hordes of Lead offers a glimpse into ingenious uses of materials and innovative workmanship.