Artists find community in St. James group

St. James-Assiniboia

Chatter, laughter, and mutual admiration fill a sunny community room of artists practising in several different media. There’s painting, pastels, ink, and charcoal. The forms and techniques may be different, but the words of support cross all styles.

This is the St. James Assiniboia Norman Art Group, which meets every Wednesday at Woodhaven Community Club. Today’s session is especially animated now that they’re preparing for their annual art show and sale happening Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 at the community centre.

“For me, it’s less about the sale and more about the show,” said Gabe Kraljevic, a painter who has regularly attended the Wednesday meetings for the past four years. “I don’t work towards it, but it’s nice to see everyone’s finished art.”

Kraljevic started with ink and is now experimenting with watercolours. He says people in the group are like mentors for each other.

“It’s just a fun group to join and every Wednesday it’s like this,” Kraljevic said. “It’s such an inclusive community space, you’re welcome no matter the skill level.”

“We belong to a community, so we do community endeavours,” said Eunice McKay, group president since 2024. Together, the group has painted community garden bins at Winnipeg Harvest and contributed to the tile mural on the side of Midland Appliance World at 1797 Portage Ave.

McKay sits at a table, paint brush in her right hand and an oil-paint palate to her left. In front of her is a painting of Rainbow Falls in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. She starts from a photo for reference but turns away from the visual exemplar and lets her mind fill in the rest, she said.

Watching her is Connie Christianson, who oil paints at home but not with the group — she’s nervous to transport the oil paints. McKay explains what shades to use to get skin tones, how reds should be used sparingly, and how whites make other colours look muddy.

She flips over her painted canvas, rips the kraft paper off the back, and starts demonstrating exactly how to mix the colours.

For many, the group is a chance to learn from each other and socialize.

“It’s like musicians who like to play together except instead of notes, it’s colour,” said Kirsten Laughren, who’s preferred medium is Crayola crayons.

“As artists, we see the world differently,” Christianson said. A tree is not just a tree with branches, it’s the light, and the shadows too, she added.

The St. James Assiniboia Norman Art Group art show and sale will feature 38 artists and will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Raffle tickets and 50/50 will be available both days to help fundraise for the group.