The Arts Council for the South Shuswap has been awarded $9,700 by the BC Arts Council to put towards a community engagement piece in their new home.
Shuswap artists Melissa Nasby and Lynn Erin will spearhead “A Journey Begins,” a project that will become a permanent installation in the Arts Council space on the lower level of Carlin Hall, which was recently renovated.
“We have a bulkhead that drops down from the ceiling and it’s proved a little challenging in how to not only have it blend in with our beautiful space but also work to our advantage,” says arts council administrator Karen Brown.
“A fibre art installation fit the bill for sound absorption, so the arts council turned to its resident artist and teacher Lynn Erin and to contributing artist, Melissa Nasby.
Together, Nasby and Erin will oversee a number of community engagement projects to bring the fibre art project to completion.
“A Journey Begins” will depict clay sculptured spawning salmon traversing over a rock face on one end wall. It will then travel up to cover the bulkhead in a fibre art piece that will represent the blue and green waters of the Shuswap, finishing off at the other end of the foyer/gallery with Nasby’s commissioned piece boasting the earthiness and natural beauty of the Shuswap.
“This is a community space built by the community,” arts council president Lona Heinzig says. “We certainly could not have achieved what we have to date without the many volunteer hours put in by residents and sub-contractors.”
A number of interactive community workshops have been planned so that residents of all ages and abilities can contribute to the project. Handiwork such as knitting, felting, paper-rolling, quilting and such will all contribute beautifully. Upcoming workshops hosted by a variety of talented artists include needle felting leaves (Feb. 20), Bugs on a Board Kids Activity (March 5), Organic Dyeing & Printing (March 12), Metallic Snails Kids Activity (April 9) and Wet Felting Instruction (April 16).
The first Saturday of every month is always Kids Day in the Art Studio.
“We plan on opening this up to the school community as well; we’d love for kids to feel the pride in contributing permanently to a community project and to take ownership of that wonderful contribution,” says Brown.
“The arts council has created opportunities for everyone in our family,” says Carmen Massey. “Our boys are able to take music lessons after school, I am able to sing and my husband Troy is even getting into drawing and painting.”
If you are interested in contributing to ‘“A Journey Begins,” contact the arts council at 250-515-3276, or email admin@shuswaparts.com. Check out the website www.shuswaparts.com for all classes, workshops and cultural events.
