Duane Hicks
Borderland is beautiful during the summer months, providing no shortage of creative inspiration.
Why not take advantage of it and make art outside?
Thanks to Community Living Fort Frances and District (CLFFD), and a grant from the Moffat Family Fund, local art therapist Lindsay Hamilton will be hosting a free open air art studio each week at locations around town.
The first one will run tomorrow (June 29), in conjunction with “Mall Day,” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in front of the studio at 335 Scott St.
Then every Thursday thereafter, it will run from 3-7 p.m. at various locations around town, with the last session set for Aug. 24.
The CLFFD art studio opened last August. Since then, it has hosted weekly drop-in sessions for people of all ages and walks of life.
Hamilton said the open air art studio idea “evolved organically,” as CLFFD looked at the success of the open studio over the fall and the winter and wanted to build upon it, acknowledging that “folks want to be outside in the summer.”
“Instead of stopping the art studio for the summer, we wanted to take it to the community,” she noted.
The schedule indicating where the open air art studio sessions will be hosted each week, and what activity is being done, is posted on the Facebook page, “Community Living Fort Frances and District Open Air Art Studio,” as well as in the Daily Bulletin.
Sites will range from local public parks to businesses such as Lowey’s Greenhouse and Market Garden.
Hamilton said if the weather is very poor on a given week, the activity may be moved to the CLFFD art studio.
But she stressed most of the locations, such as parks, have some form of shelter, and she will be bringing a tent to sites, as well.
All of the projects will be “eco-art”–art made in response to, or in conjunction with, the environment, Hamilton explained.
They will range from making kites and flying them at McIrvine Park to gathering natural mater.als like rocks and fallen leaves to make mandalas (a mandala, which translates to “circle” in Sanskrit, is a geometric pattern with meditative qualities).
All of the projects are meant to connect people to their environment and “find the creative potential in their own backyard,” added Hamilton.
Anyone can drop by, with no registration required. They can do the activity and leave as soon as they’re done, or take their time and make more than one project.
While some of the projects might require a child to get assistance from an adult, Hamilton will be able to provide that.
“The idea is to make functional works of art without having to use expensive materials or having art experience,” she noted, adding everyone is welcome and materials are supplied.
As noted, the CLFFD art studio at 335 Scott St. has been a successful endeavour so far.
Hamilton said 300 individuals have dropped by and expressed themselves through painting (including splatter painting), collage, knitting, drawing, or other means.
She added if there’s any common thread between participants who have attended the open studio, it’s that they seem to show a sense of joy in the freedom to create.
“I try to create a space that’s accepting and welcoming,” she remarked.
A pair of individuals who regularly have attended the Thursday open studio praised the program.
“It’s very therapeutic,” said a woman who asked to remain anonymous.
“She looks forward to coming here,” she added, referring to her companion.
“It’s very calming, very cathartic,” enthused the woman.
Anyone with questions can contact Hamilton at 276-5662 or via e-mail at dustoffthesoul@gmail.com
