The Canmore Art Guild (CAG) is seeking new members and to help convince local artists to join the 34-year-old guild, it’s hosting a drop-in evening of information and socializing.
CAG president and sculptor Peig Abbott said the evening, which will be held at Elevation Place in room 212 on the second floor, Monday (March 31) from 7:30-9 p.m., is meant to invite the public to discover CAG and learn what it offers.
It’s also meant for the roughly 125 current members to come and network and socialize, Abbott said.
“New members are needed to stimulate the energy in CAG. I think CAG is an ever-evolving guild and I think the opportunity for new members to come in and bring that energy into the guild increases the guild’s outreach and provides opportunities for new members to share,” she said.
“It’s gone through a lot of different faces and the opportunity to be a member in the new space is spectacular. Foot traffic has really increased and our gallery sales have increased.”
Anne Noel-Martin joined CAG when she first arrived in Canmore in 1995. She has remained committed to the organization since, as it has given her a place to learn, share her work and gain inspiration, guidance and, perhaps most importantly, friendship.
“My intention was to come here and become an artist. I had watched my husband draw for, at the time 10 years, and I said I wanted to do it. I finally did it and moving to a new place was my intention; The Banff Centre was here. When I first moved here the first thing I did after I found a place to live was I found the guild,” she said.
“At my first meeting, Zelda Nelson (Canmore painter) took me under her wing. I said I came there to learn and she said ‘if you ever want to paint give me a call,’ so I did and we’re best friends now.”
While she is not a professional artist, Noel-Martin said she is very serious about it, painting three days a week and, as part of the guild’s membership obligations, showing regularly in the CAG gallery in Elevation Place.
Along with a willingness to show your work, members are expected to volunteer and be part of the CAG community.
“Wanting to create and be willing to become part of a community is important because I think CAG has somewhat lost that; we have so many members now. If you are joining this guild, you have to be willing to be part of the guild and focused on its success,” Noel-Martin said.
CAG treasurer Linda Cranston said the event started out as a windup celebration for current members, but grew to include the opportunity for people interested in the guild learn more.
“We’re a community of artists, full-time and part-time artists. We want the public to know you can come and join us,” she said.
As part of its mandate as a community organization, CAG provides a scholarship to a high school student moving on to art school. The guild also provided $6,000 to the Rotary Club’s flood relief fund and supports the annual kids’ art exhibition.
The Monday evening event will also include refreshments, a couple of draws and a 50/50 raffle.
Membership fees are $40 per year, $60 per family.
Gallery tours will be offered from 7:30-8 p.m.
Go to www.canmoreartguild.com for more information.
