St Albert Place Visual Arts Council: Where art guilds keep creativity flourishing

The City of St. Albert is a lucky city because it has the St. Albert Place Arts Council (SAPVAC). This non-profit organization connects five St. Albert arts guilds, the Art Gallery of St. Albert (AGSA) and the City of St. Albert Cultural Services Department together so that this city can have a thriving art culture. From bringing together amateurs and professionals to providing classes to those who want to learn a specific art form, SAPVAC makes sure that art—in all its forms—remains visual and accessible to everyone. In making sure this happens, every two years AGSA hosts a juried exhibit called Guilded that showcases artwork from the members of the five guilds. This exhibit is on now at the Art Gallery until November 26^th. For those who aren’t familiar with SAPVAC or the different guilds, here are a few facts for you to get to know your local art community.

SAPVAC

• It began in 1985 when the St. Albert Arts and Crafts Guild ended and separate guilds were formed for each art and craft. The new St. Albert Place was just a year old, and it contained a whole art wing with up-to-date equipment, the Sybil Laubenthal Art Studios and Profiles Public Art Gallery on the second floor.
• It’s a part of the ArtWalk Committee and StArts Festival, operates W.A.R.E.S Gift Shop and hosts the annual Country Craft Fair in November.
• Between 2011 and 2013, it provided $15,000 for the St. Albert Place Visual Arts Wing to get new equipment for the studios and W.A.R.E.S. Gift Shop.
• It pays the insurance for its members in order for them to use the St. Albert Place Visual Arts Wing.

FLORAL ART SOCIETY OF ST. ALBERT

• It began in 1978 to bring together like-minded artists and to show others that floral arranging is a unique form of artistic expression.
• Its members meet at least 10 times a year for “design nights,” where they enjoy socializing, exchanging ideas and providing support and opportunities in floral-industry functions. Membership is limited, and openings are available every June.
• It offers two types of courses: “Basics” is an eight-week introductory course; “Beyond the Basics” is a six-week intermediate course. It also has a special workshop offered on December 10th where people can learn Christmas floral art.

ST. ALBERT QUILTERS’ GUILD

• It began in 1980. The members first met at each other’s homes until 1984 when St. Albert Place opened and a studio was made available for them; the guild was one of the contributors for St. Albert Place.
• Its members made a quilt for the late Madame Jeanne Sauvé, Canada’s first female Governor General, as well as a quilt that showcased the life of Lois Hole, Alberta’s 15th Lieutenant Governor. The members also created a tactile wall-hanging for Youville Home’s “Dreamtime Room” as a therapy tool for dementia patients.
• It helps charities and fundraisers by making and donating quilts, promoting the art of quilting through classes and presenting quilt shows every five years (the next one is in 2020).
• The guild accepts members year-round.

ST. ALBERT PAPER ARTS GUILD

• It began in 2007 when expert paper and book artists came together to form the guild. The guild accepts members year-round.
• Its members meet regularly to support, share, exchange ideas and techniques, as well as get involved with the community via exhibitions and projects.
• Guild members make paper and bind a number of St. Albert commemorative books. They also take part in the biennial “Guilded” exhibition at AGSA.
• Some of guild’s areas of expertise are book conservation and preservation, calligraphy, cyanotype (a.k.a. blueprint process), letterpress, suminagashi (ancient art of Japanese paper and ink marbling), and traditional and historic bookbinding.

ST. ALBERT PAINTERS’ GUILD

• It began in 1987 due to the desire of visual artists of all mediums wanting to meet other artists and learn from one another.
• Its members meet the second Wednesday each month and present weekend workshops. The members learn from one another, help solve problems and share successes “without fear of judgment.”
• Apart from the Guilded exhibit hosted by AGSA, the guild has two shows each year—April and October—in the main foyer of St. Albert Place. The members also take part in the Country Craft Fair in November.
• The guild accepts members year-round and are currently over 90 members strong.

ST. ALBERT POTTERS’ GUILD

• It began in 1962 in the original St. Albert Arts and Crafts Guild.
• The members learn and help each other in all levels of pottery, hold workshops for members and classes for non-members.
• It has an annual sale the weekend before Mother’s Day and takes part in the Country Craft Fair and the Guilded exhibit.
• For more information on the Potters’ Guild click here.

For more information on SAPVAC click here.