Following the successful evening of musical talent, Alberta Arts Days continued on a high note with its second instalment of culture on Oct. 1. Local crafts-men and women showcased their art and held interactive workshops for those in attendance at the Bold Center Cenovus Fieldhouse.
The day’s events not only were about showing local artisan talent, but also about getting the kids involved in something artistic. This was the highlight for most of the parents and families there.
“For us this is great to have something like this here and for it to be free,” said Jodi Weening as two of her children creating wonderful water colour pieces. “It’s great to have it closer to home. There are no line-ups and I can see everyone from one side of the room. It’s nice to not have to wait in line two hours to get your kid’s face painted.”
The fieldhouse was set up with six local artisans of varying forms showing their crafts and hosting activities for the children to participate in on display at the show, which included a leather maker, the Lac La Biche Art Club, and an antler carver. All the tables had curious children and adults alike trying out various form of crafts.
Aside from the arts on display, the fair also provided an array of activities for the children and “Funky Lunches” in various fun shapes like spiders, houses and ice cream cones were provided.
“It’s nice when they have something to do like this,” said Allison Gingras. “It’s nice that [the county] is doing something for families. We have the Bold Center and most people think it’s just skating rinks and for hockey, but it’s good that they are doing something else with it. It’s good because we are so far from everything else.”
Gingras’s son, Kai enjoyed very much creating art on a piece of bread for his Funky Lunch.
“There were cardboard boxes set up and there was someone there to show the kids how to make puppets,” said Recreation and Culture Program Coordinator for the county, Lauren Koster. “We also had a face painter in the Devon room where there was a concession area.”
Even the adults got in on the action as many of them took part in the water-colour painting area that the Lac La Biche Art Colour had set up for all to enjoy.