Not just for art’s sake

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This article was published 23/08/2023 (938 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Siloam Mission’s arts program gives its clientele an outlet for artistic expression.

On Thursday, participating artists will have the chance to cash in on their creative pursuits.

The mission will open a public gallery at its 300 Princess St. drop-in centre from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Patrons can buy original works directly from the artists. Live-art painting, a cake auction and sealed-bid auctions of works are also on the agenda for the day, as the mission marks its 36th anniversary.

“So many of the artists producing art at Siloam are just phenomenal. So, we wanted it to also be an opportunity for them to make an income,” said CEO Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud. “They get to keep a large percentage of the sales, and then the other goes back into them getting to choose what supplies they’d like next.”

The art program provides more than technical skills; it’s an outlet for healing and reconnection. Often, more reserved participants open up after picking up a paintbrush or stringing beads onto thread.

“We’ve heard people talk about reconnecting with art as a way to reconnect with their identity and the strength that that’s given them in their recovery journey,” Blaikie Whitecloud said.

She said the program was developed out of the organization’s Longtin Resource Centre. It operates through a labour of love from volunteer instructors and generous donations of craft supplies from community members. Participants can work on their own projects or join in on a variety of workshops, from painting to beading.

“We wanted it to be space for people to connect with their capacity to create, to find healing, but also to be a place that sparks their recovery journey,” she said.

To keep up with high demand, Siloam is rebuilding the resource centre to accommodate more participants. For now, it’s operating out of its old drop-in space on 300 Princess St. in which a trio of volunteer artists runs the program three times a week. After opening the new facility, Blaikie Whitecloud said they hope to offer more scheduled programming.

Aside from the many wellness benefits that come with creating art, the opportunity to sell works helps clients get a financial head start.

“When you buy an art piece in person (Thursday) or from the website later, you literally could be making the difference between somebody having enough money for their damage deposit and getting housed or not,” Blaikie Whitecloud said.

After Thursday’s sale, buyers will be able to purchase art through a virtual gallery on Siloam’s website. All proceeds go to the artists.

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca