Kevin Berger – Leader Staff
To celebrate Alberta Culture Days, several local organizations and businesses are teaming up to host an “Art Walk” in Barrhead this Saturday, Sept. 28.
From 12-4 p.m., Barrhead residents will be able to visit eight different locations throughout town where local artists and groups will be doing various demonstrations.
At the Barrhead Public Library, for instance, painter Travis Ladouceur will be showing off some of his work. There will also be some live music, photography displays and weaving demonstration by the Barrhead Weavers and Spinners Guild.
The seniors at Hillcrest Lodge also plan to serve tea, while artist Marilynn Jeffrey will be set up at DeHerdt Gardens. The Barrhead Centennial Museum will also feature rugmaking and their own weaving demonstration.
The other locations where artists and activities will be set up are the Barrhead Centennial Museum, The Ripple Connection, the Barrhead Art Gallery, the Barrhead community garden and the Flower Shoppe.
Notably, the community garden will feature an outdoor tent unless the weather is extremely foul that day — if that’s the case, activities will be moved over to The Ripple Connection and the Centennial Museum.
While no one is obligated to visit all eight locations, those who do so will be entered into a draw for a free T-shirt.
Maria Sieben, who came up with the idea for the Art Walk, said that anyone can pick up a brochure and a map at any of the eight locations. Wherever they go that day, they can receive a checkmark on their brochure, and then hand in the completed checklist at any of the eight locations.
They will then be entered into a draw for three T-shirts that have been decorated with a design by Ladouceur.
Although Barrhead has celebrated Alberta Culture Days in the past, this is the first time that there has been an Art Walk, Sieben indicated.
“As far as I know, it’s never happened in Barrhead,” she said.
Sieben, who is with the Barrhead Art Club, said art walks are fairly common in bigger urban centres, but not small towns.
“The fact that we can get eight locations (taking part) is fabulous,” she said. “It’ going to be an interesting thing.”
Although she came up with the idea, Sieben said the organizing duties have been shared with Anna Churchill of the Barrhead Historical Society and librarian Elaine Dickie, who applied for a provincial grant to help with expenses.
If successful, the Art Walk may become an annual event in Barrhead, she noted.
Alberta Culture Days is an annual celebration of art, heritage and community spirit that takes place every year during the last weekend in September. It always coincides with National Culture Days, which is observed in 300 communities across Canada.
