Alongside opening for appointments and studio use on June 2, The Arts Station has launched a number of summer programs to keep the community creative.
Each Wednesday, The Arts Station is hosting Station Creation art video tutorials for youth. Making a variety of art projects using basic household crafting items, the videos are available via their YouTube channel, The Fernie Arts Station.
The Arts Station is also running Art History with Jackie sessions, with videos launching Thursday afternoons via their YouTube channel. Introducing a new prolific artist each week, program officer Jackie Graham delves into artistic style and biography while offering participants creative weekly challenges.
“Though everyone has had to remain at home as much as possible, what has been getting many people through is continuing to be creative,” said Louise Ferguson, executive director of The Arts Station. “Joining in on these programs is a great way to continue connecting while we can’t be physically together.”
Prior to video releases participants are invited to the Arts Station to practice art in the style of each week’s featured artist from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. The free Art on the Deck sessions allow creatives to interact and connect with one another while participating in interactive art history. Previous artists of the week include Keith Haring and Lawren Harris, with Edward Hopper, Salvador Dali, and Claude Monet to come. Self guided, the sessions require those attending to bring their own materials.
Two of The Arts Station’s summer camps are also kicking off, starting with their Teen Improv Camp hosted by local actor Michael Bull. The camp ran from July 14 to 16 for children aged 11 to 15, offering them the opportunity to practice improv and comedy skills via a series of creative games and activities.
The Arts Station’s Summer Shine Camp also runs from July 21 until July 23. The camp is for children aged seven to 10 and offers them the chance to learn filmmaking skills including performance, dance, singing, writing, improv and filmmaking. The camp costs $205 and is limited to 10 participants. To register, visit The Arts Station website.
The Arts Station’s Club Cre8 also runs each Monday from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. for kids in kindergarten to grade six. With a half day and full day option available, the workshops are held by Rachel Behan and Heather Senior, encouraging youngsters to get funky with creative art projects in a relaxed atmosphere. All questions related to the club can be sent to jackie@theartsstation.com.
The Arts Station’s Banner Project also launched on July 10, highlighting the diversity of the Elk Valley’s artistic community and adding vibrant imagery and identity to the city. As of this week, all 40 banners displaying the selected pieces of art, created in a variety of mediums, are available online for both viewing and purchase. The banners will hang in downtown Fernie and along Highway 3 for a year, after which they are given to banner sponsors. The funds raised from sponsorships cover the cost of banner placements.
“The idea of the banner project was to bring art downtown,” said Ferguson. “Fernie has a really vibrant cultural scene, and this is a way to have artists’ work shown downtown all year round, so locals and businesses can see how many amazing local artists we have in this city.”
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