Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery has opened their art programs to online registration before the holidays for those looking for interesting gift ideas.
Their available programs explore art in a variety of themes, mediums, and styles. They are designed for everyone from kids to seniors.
MJMAG’s over-the-phone art classes for seniors have been a tremendous hit this year. The classes are coordinated with Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW), which was started in Moose Jaw in 2020 to help relieve the harmful effects of isolation in the 55+ age group.
COVID has made social isolation much worse. Many international studies examining the effects of social isolation on health and well-being have shown that high-quality social connections are a fundamental human need. Without those connections, health risks across many categories rise sharply.
Helping an older relative who may be feeling isolated to connect with others using art is a wonderful holiday gift idea. SCWW’s programs are easily accessible over the phone – and completely free.
MJMAG education coordinator Christy Schweiger, who instructs the art classes over the phone, says the program has been very successful in increasing participants’ sense of connectedness. Participants have also succeeded in terms of creating “real art,” which can be a surprise and a pleasure for many who have never tried being creative before.
SCWW art projects with MJMAG’S Christy Schweiger are Thursdays from 10 to 11 am. There is a different theme each month:
- January 6 –Make art supplies from recycled materials at home
- January 13, 20, 27 – Fire (watercolour, scratch art)
- February 3 & 10 – Water (watercolour, using water in art)
- March 3 & 10 – Air/Wind (mixed-media birds)
- April 7 & 28 – Earth (recycled art, clay)
- May 5 & 12 – the colours of Spring (colours and flowers)
MJMAG classes offer a combination of online and in-person programming. The in-person programming requires small group sizes to comply with public health guidelines, and participants must be masked and double-vaccinated if they are over 12.
The art class categories are youth (11 & under), teen/adult (12 & up), CREATEabilities (for individuals with learning differences), and senior (55+).
Some of the art themes coming up in 2022 include winter art, Easter and Valentine’s projects, and elemental/spring colours and ideas. The mediums which will be explored include water- and oil-based paints, acrylics, clay, etc. as well as combinations of them all.
Check out www.mjmag.ca/artprograms to give a gift of art this Christmas.
