CANMORE – Celebrating a landmark anniversary, the Canmore Art Guild will be ringing in their 40th birthday in style.
Rejoicing in 40 years in the community the Canmore Art Guild will be hosting a duo of exhibits honouring the milestone anniversary on April 24.
The Canmore Art Guild was started with a simple mission that has been maintained for 40 years, Canmore Art Guild director Sue Hayduck said, “helping artists thrive.”
“They were all artists who’d shown there work at different shows but wanted something that they could have a bit more of a community around,” Hayduck said. “The intention was… to make it a hub where anyone can come in– it’s a place to develop and grow.”
“Celebrating 40 years in 40 Day” will feature showcase art pieces from past and current members of the Canmore Art Guild. The show runs from April 25 to June 2.
One of the founding members of the Canmore Art Guild, original secretary and acclaimed watercolour artist Donna Jo Massie remembers the establishment of the group like it was yesterday.
In the summer of 1980, a grant was awarded for the 75th anniversary of Alberta to host an art show featuring local artists in a show celebrating the arts in Canmore.
A group of 12 artists sat around a kitchen table deciding how they would host the first show.
“I was at that first meeting,” Massie said with a grin. She still has the minutes along with a treasure trove of items from over the years.
“Every vibrant town needs an arts community that they support,” Massie said. “I don’t think it would have been what it was without the help of Jean Luthier who was the librarian at that time – we had a space for people to showcase their work.”
Luthier opened up the library, at the time located in the senior's centre, creating a space for local artisans to showcase their art.
The group got to work creating giant walls to create a gallery space for the inaugural Canmore Art Guild show.
“When we sent the call out to participate in that show the response was overwhelming,” she said. “Nobody knew there were all these artists that were just waiting for the opportunity to come together in a group and promote art in Canmore.”
The group found success with the show and the group incorporated to become an official art guild. Within in a year membership in the guild swelled to more than 40 people.
“We wanted to have a strong foundation for the arts in Canmore and have established artists coming together with people who were just starting on the journey as artists so they could mentor and share their knowledge and hopefully create a stronger community,” Massie said.
The watercolour artist continued to play an important role with the Canmore Art Guild writing the history of the first decade for their 10th anniversary.
While members have come and gone from the group Massie said they were able to build a foundation that has proven to thrive in the community.
“Every civilization, town and community needs an art group. You just have to look at the painting in the caves in France to realize how important artists have always been,” Massie read from a blurb she wrote for the 10th anniversary of the Canmore Art Guild. “When this little group was sitting around that dining room table dreaming dreams this is what we dreamed.”
Massie will be playing a role in the 40th anniversary and is working to connect with all past members so their work can be featured in the show.
It is still amazing to think that they are celebrating 40 years in the community.
“It just kept going,” Massie said. “I think when you dream you dream certain things and sometimes your dreams come true… but you’re always surprised when it happens.”
The Canmore Art Guild has maintained the same thread as serving as an incubator for artists that make it easy for people to work, paint and share what they create, Hayduck said.
She said in preparation for the big day are hosting their “Pay it Forward Show” at the Canmore Art Guild Gallery at Elevation Place from March 7 to 17.
“The idea is that from one good deed comes another,” she said. “It helps keep us all going and motivated.”
The exhibit will serve as a fundraiser for the guild and will feature about 40 donated pieces of all mediums from prices anywhere between $25 to $1,000.
“It’s trying to give the community something back by having prices that are set to bring money directly to the gallery,” Hayduck said. “A hundred per cent is going back to the gallery.”
The goal is to raise $2,000 for operating costs, gallery upgrades and a 40th-anniversary celebration.
“It's the spirit of the gallery– letting people know that we have this great resource, space, a hub of creativity– We have this great little gift in Elevation Place,” Hayduck said. “It survives because people volunteer and it survives because people donate.”
