SUNDRE – A local art group is celebrating half a century of presenting to the public the work of talented creators who are inspired by the world around them to interpret what they see by putting brush to canvas.
The Sundre Creative Arts Group, once known as the Sundre Arts Society, plans to host its 50th Sundre Art Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27 at the West Country Centre from 1-5 p.m. on the first day and 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the next.
Leading up to the event, several members participated on March 22 in a workshop hosted by the group at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Sundre.
In recognition of the show’s milestone anniversary and celebrating 50 years of creativity, this year’s theme will be Golden, said Lila Weiss, president.
“To celebrate 50 years as a continuous art organization we will be offering free cake and coffee, as well as free admission and door prizes,” she told the Albertan.
“We will also have four paintings for silent auction with proceeds being donated to the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee.”
Offering some historical context, Weiss said a small group of people back in 1975 who were pursuing continuing education classes in art decided to host a small exhibition of their work.
“The art was set up in a small venue that was the public library at that time,” she said.
“With a very successful turnout of people, it was quickly decided to form an art club and move the show to a larger venue for the next year.”
The Sundre Art Club was also subsequently formed as a result and the annual show was held in various venues. By the early 1980s, the club had become a registered society and was renamed as such, she said.
The group eventually found a permanent home at the Sundre West Country Centre, where the show and sale has been hosted annually ever since with the only exception of two years during the pandemic, she said.
In more recent years, the organization allowed its society status to go and became the Sundre Creative Arts Group. There are two annual workshops, both hosted at the Catholic Church, as well as monthly paint-ins at the Sundre Municipal Library.
There are approximately 15 active members, and the upcoming show and sale typically features at least 100 paintings that include a variety of artistic mediums such as oil, water colour, acrylic and pastel.
Anyone who is interested in joining the group – regardless of whether they have an existing background in arts or might perhaps be interested in exploring their untapped creative potential – is invited to get involved.
