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Exhibit showcases work from the Art Machine

Retrospect Four runs throughout February at the Hope Arts Gallery
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The February exhibit at the Hope Arts Gallery is Retrospect Four

Another year has passed at the Hope & District Arts Council sponsored Art Machine located on 5th Avenue in Hope and what a spectacular year it has been.

The facility now has eight pottery wheels funded through a New Horizon for Seniors Program. Seniors, 55 and older, have been making mugs, bowls and all sorts of wonderful turned pottery with the help of Billie Shauer, Jan Kinna and Diane Ferguson. Soon adults of every age will be able to ‘play’ with these wheels. In the meantime children, youth and adults are hand building clay items with instruction provided by Pamela McBride and  Diane Ferguson. There will be a new electric kiln (donated by Farm Credit Canada) installed so that firing the clay creations can be done on site.

Jan Kalinski, Jan Toland,  Pamela McBride, John LeFlock with helper Melissa from Chilliwack, Andy Tucker and Diane Ferguson have been giving instruction on acrylic and watercolor painting, collage, drawing and sketching, art trading cards, papier mache and a variety of crafts. Ask any of the numerous people who attend these drop-ins and workshops what they think and you’ll hear nothing but enthusiastic praise. Students Jessica Rhodes and Ally LeMay and senior Jane Pinter have been invaluable volunteers assisting with many of the children’s projects during the past year.

One project worked on in 2012 was the papier mache sculpture called “Annabelle.” Over 50 youth, adults and seniors helped build a chicken wire foundation, cover it with strips of glue soaked paper and then painted her hat, dress, gloves, stockings and shoes. Local artist Linda Bishop volunteered to paint the face and did an excellent job. Annabelle now resides at the Hope Library, but will be spending the month of February at the Retrospect exhibit.

Many of these finished works will be displayed in the back room of the Hope Arts Gallery on Fort Street in during the month of February. Aptly called “Retrospect Four” in recognition of the fourth year of the Art Machine project, a reception will be held Feb. 2 from 7-9 p.m. Many of the participants and instructors will be on site, so drop by for a chat, meet “Annabelle” and enjoy some refreshments.

Sharon Blythe,

Hope