Families in Prince Albert and the surrounding area used the Family Day Holiday to enjoy a bonding time at the Mann Arts Gallery in Prince Albert thanks to their Free Arts Day on Monday, Feb. 16.
Mann Art Gallery Education Programs Manager Lana Wilson said the Free Art Days are part of a continuing series designed to make art more accessible.
“Art is definitely for everyone,” Wilson said. “It is an activity that is based on the current arts exhibition so it’s always really fun for a Family Day because it always lines up with our winter festival Arts Show & Sale.”
The Free Family Arts is usually held every month in the year, for all ages, both adults and kids. It has been going on for the past 12 years. Moreover, this is the 50th Anniversary of the Arts Show & Sale, and Wilson said that adds to the attraction.
“It’s absolutely the ideal time for people to visit the gallery and to see all the artworks. This year we have 160 artworks on exhibition,” Wilson said. “First we encourage people to look through the gallery and then let what they see in the gallery be inspirations for what they are making in the studio.”
Wilson said they wanted attendees to think about the theme of their own personal gallery, then create it as best they could.
“If you were in-charge of your art gallery what would you put in your art gallery? So, we are making three dimensional artworks, drawings on the walls, little frames, images and collages that all come from Prince Albert or images from the Mann Art Gallery permanent collection,” Wilson explained.
“The arts day is such a great day for families to bond together to make things, be creative in a way that includes the family members,” she added. “We love having people in the Gallery. It is a really super successful day.”
The Family Day activities included a gallery tour, visual scavenger hunt, colouring, painting, and collage paper arts making, among others. Many families came around to see the arts work or make some arts works with the kids and have fun,
“We came last year and we are back here, so today we are doing some collages, some drawings making our own art gallery,” said Brynn Jones who came with her family (Michael Whitford, Mary Esopnko, 10, Estelle Kowalski, six, Hunter Whitford, nine) to the gallery.
“I am making an art gallery of some random pictures that I found here, like colourings in the Manna Art Gallery, so I am enjoying myself,” said 10-year old Mary.
“I am having fun, I am making colours of some pictures here,” added six-year-old Estelle.
“I am taking part in the scavenger hunt, ” said seven-year-old Jasper Robin. He was already going on with his Virtual Scavenger hunt. He had hunted two of the artworks already. He was accompanied by his mom, Kyla Robin.
Some artists who have their artworks on display for the Winter Festival Art Show & Sale were also available.
“I feel honoured and humbled that my work is on display. I wanted to do a portrait of my mother as she was ascending from here to heaven, so of course I have the angels wings on her, looking at the spirits of loved ones,” said Marjorie Roden, one of the artists.
Her piece “Matriarch” which is an acrylic paint of her mother, is on display at Show and Sale.
“We came here together to make some crafts and colour and use our imagination,” said Kallie McDonald the mother of Berkeley and Emery McDonald.
“I am making a house and having fun,” six-year-old Emery said as she was seen constructing a paper house under the direction of Kendall Kerr, one of the volunteer guides.
“I am just volunteering today to help the Art Gallery with its activities,” Kerr said. “It’s been busy. It’s been steady. We have been helping the kids make different things. Show them what to do and guide them through some of their activities.”
Kerr has been volunteering for several years at the Gallery.
”It’s a good time down here and it goes quick,” Kerr said.
The turnout was impressive with about 131 people in attendance. The event started at 10 a.m. and ran till 3 p.m.
