A new program will kick off on April 13 at Centretown United Church, bringing together an up-and-coming community of visual artists that residents have probably never heard of.
Centre 507 on Bank Street is starting the Artistic Expressions program, a collective of artists who may be experiencing challenges in their lives. The hope is that despite a person’s economic situation, he or she will be able to create art – and perhaps share it with the wider community in a new studio space at the outreach hub.
Diane, who asked that her surname not be published, is a painter who frequents the drop-in centre. She says she’s been painting for 11 years, specializing in portraits. But supplies are expensive and she has always been on the hunt for facilities that can provide her with materials to create the acrylic artwork she loves.
“I paint wherever I can find paint and a canvas and paintbrushes. That’s hard to find,” she says. “You have to make do.”
As a member of the Artistic Expressions program, for two afternoons a month Diane will not have to “make do.” In January, Centretown United started selling off the pews from their chapel and used the funds generated to renovate the space into a multi-purpose room. One of those purposes will be to house an art studio. The church also provided Centre 507 with volunteers and enough seed money to buy a modest amount of art supplies. Diane and artists like her will now have a place to meet, showcase their art, and share lessons and tips.
The manager of the centre, Caroline Giekes, said the idea for the new program spawned from the centre’s arts and crafts program that is open to everyone. She and the Life Management Skills Worker, Margaret Johnson, were getting people “who were way, way beyond the arts and crafts table,” Giekes said. Inspired by people like Diane and other artists like Mike Gericke a.k.a. “Mikey G,” a photographer profiled in Centretown News in February, the centre wanted to start a studio.
“We’re not talking about your average doodler. We’re talking about folks who are truly artists.”