A new Grant Hall Art Committee aimed at finding, promoting, and celebrating local creatives in the Moose Jaw region will hold its first art show during Sidewalk Days, the Notorious City’s biggest summer festival.
The Grant Hall Art Exhibit will feature artwork from a collective of approximately 15 artists in the historic building’s basement banquet room, Knight’s Hall, from July 6 to 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A silent charity auction on Saturday, July 8 from 3 to 4 p.m. will feature donated works from the artists, with proceeds going to Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw.
“This started with Terry Tian, (general manager at Grant Hall,) and he has initiated a Grant Hall Art Committee that consists of Terry, myself, and Merna Prevost,” explained Carly Jaye Smith.
Smith is a local mural and pop artist whose contributions to public art in Moose Jaw have contributed to a growing reputation. Her recent work includes murals at the Palliser Regional Library headquarters, The Mad Greek Restaurant, and Lindale School.
“We’re definitely in the early stages of what we hope to achieve with this committee, but basically we’re trying to create a larger arts community within Moose Jaw and surrounding area, where we are connected to as many local creatives as possible,” Smith said. “Down the road, we have big plans on what we hope to do with this group, from hosting larger arts festivals in Wakamow Park and area, to greater involvement at Grant Hall and with other local committees.”
The group includes Jess Zoerb Art, 32 Flavours – Art by Kayla Hanson, ThimbleBerry ArtWorks by Merna Prevost, Carly Jaye Art, Shelley Phillips Portrait Art, Faith Morrell, Lao Sen, Burke Wood, and Gail Prpick.
“We have a great art community here already,” Smith said. “But I think we’ve just been in the early stages of having these meetings and trying to connect further, and we’ve all been surprised by how many more creatives are out there in our local area and city that we weren’t familiar with.
“So, that’s kind of our overall goal, is to find them and get more awareness out there about how much art is being created in our little city.”
Each artist will get a shout-out during the show and a chance to showcase their work to a wider audience. The Grant Hall Art Committee will direct visitors to each artist’s website or social media profiles, and hype them up to visitors who have come out to see them in person.
Plenty of signage will be up during Sidewalk Days to direct potential art viewers down to the show, Smith said, and the majority of the art will be for sale. Along with the auction, part of the total proceeds from the art sales will go to Heartland Hospice.
