Strathcona Arts Studios member June Burns says the Strathcona Arts Studios club provides creative Hatters a space to learn, develop their arts skills and socialize.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
The Strathcona Arts Studios has been providing Medicine Hat and area artists over the age of 50 a space for community, connection and creativity for more than 30 years.
Established in 1990, SAS is an intermediate watercolour paint club that meets twice-weekly at Medicine Hat’s Veiner Centre for structured and unstructured art sessions, followed by a group lunch. The group also runs an eight-week beginner watercolour course annually.
“It’s a marvellous club,” member Marian Ho told the News. “It’s a very supportive group and a very social group. We learn a lot and we have a wonderful time. There are a lot of great friendships that have been made (at SAS).”
Despite being a member for roughly 15 years, Ho says the club is never boring as members constantly work together to learn new techniques or share those they are already versed in.
“Watercolour is considered the hardest of all the media,” said Ho. “So, I don’t think you’d find anybody in this group who’s actually said they have mastered watercolour, but we’re constantly learning and that’s really good for the brain.”
While the club’s membership is open only to Veiner Centre members and requires an additional $25 annual fee, there is no shortage of individuals interested in taking part.
Member Bob Townsend, who has been with the club for roughly 12 years, says the club has its largest membership ever, with 55 active members, as well as a wait list.
“The problem is that were too successful,” said Townsend with a laugh.
While the focus of the club is watercolour, members sometimes work with other mediums as well.
Recently, SAS members used acrylic paints to decorate an array of birdhouses, which are being raffled off Friday as part of the centre’s Seniors Week celebrations, with all money raised going to support future centre programming.
Raffle tickets are being sold from now until Friday at noon for $5 each. Tickets can be purchased at the centre’s reception desk.
Veiner Centre executive director Cori Fischer is grateful to SAS members for all they contribute to the centre, as well as the local community.
“SAS has been meeting here for a number of years,” said Fischer. “What I love about SAS is they allow us to display their artwork down the hallway of the Veiner Centre … It really provides us an opportunity to share some very beautiful work and talent that we have in our community with the rest of our our members and the general public.
“I think the other benefit is that, even though they are their own group, they’re very open to new people coming in (and) they’re very open to sharing their skills, their talent and their knowledge. So I think … having them here expands the opportunity for all of our members and members of the community to embrace a new hobby and a new activity, as well as meet with a lot of great people.”
As well as at the Veiner Centre, artwork created by SAS members can periodically be viewed at various locations throughout Medicine Hat, including at Verve Cafe, Police Point Park, the Stampede’s visual arts exhibit and elsewhere.
