Art mentorship for community care
Offering supportive, judgement-free visual art education
For individuals seeking a sense of self-worth, creative outlet, community belonging, and skill sharing, the Art Mentorship Society of Alberta (AMSA) seeks to empower groups through affirming programming for wide-ranging techniques of artistic expression and connecting to others through celebrating differences and common interests. AMSA believes above all, that artistic expression is critical to the mental health of individuals and wellbeing of the broader local community. The non-profit society’s mission is to reduce barriers to art creation by providing open access to free art mentorship programs, funded by the Canadian Mental Health Foundation - Edmonton region.
As Interim Executive Director of AMSA and Peer Facilitator of the online group, I see first hand how the relationships fostered and meaning created by each one in AMSA’s in-person and virtual drop-in Art Studios keep people coming back to their art practice week after week. Being vulnerable in shared spaces laden with anxiety and misinformation is not easy during the best of times, but art mentorship programs are here to make it more pleasurable, even on dark days. It is natural that people consistently choose to return to the joyful spaces offered through The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts and online platforms by AMSA.
Stephen Hobbins is a core member of the group that meets for art mentorship open studio from 1-3 pm on Fridays at the Nina Haggerty Centre and enjoys creating in a range of mediums from canvas to comic books. His work can be found on exhibit at Bleeding Heart Art Space and in stores such as Warp 1.
"It brings me a sense of accomplishment when I’ve completed an artwork,” says Hobbins.
“I have been a member of the AMSA community for 10 years. I like the fun group at the drop-in on Fridays. You can work on various mediums like collages, contour drawings, watercolour, acrylic painting, or you can work on your own project, and go according to your schedule. All the supplies are provided and it is free. It's a regular social event to go, something to look forward to every week. I am happy to do art as a hobby. There is no pressure.”
Weekly Friday workshops are facilitated by Jai Tanninen, an established local artist and peer mentor with AMSA for 10 years, and Krista O'Brien, recreational therapist with AMSA for six years.
“Jai is a great instructor. He gives good advice and knows about upcoming events to submit your art to. Krista is great too. She hands out art supplies and helps people apply for art shows. She is also good at helping with print orders,” says Hobbins about the team. “Chelsea helps members by attending markets like Art From The Unknown to represent AMSA member's artworks, helps us find new markets for our art, and sets up shows like the community art exhibition at The Aviary.”
If you passed by The Nina Haggerty Centre in February on a Friday afternoon, you might have looked through the plate glass window unto the artist Vee putting final touches on their latest painting. For four consecutive weeks, they have braved freezing in -20°C and below temperatures, amid other setbacks, to work on transmuting their vision into acrylic for a piece they call The Circle of Life. Vee is no fair weather friend! Follow along their art journey on instagram (@xipha7) or attend the Art Mentorship Open Studio in the future to see the finished work up close and congratulate Vee on their labour of love.
With mobility being of concern to so many people, AMSA also hosts a virtual drop-in art mentorship group weekly on Thursdays from 12-2 pm. The online meeting is facilitated by a peer mentor like myself and sometimes visited by guests who have a connection to the community. A visit to the virtual drop-in art mentorship program will teleport you inside my studio, the space of a working artist, community organizer, and arts administrator.
This cozy video call brings together participants from multidisciplinary creative practices for a validating experience while sharing announcements, talking shop, linking assets, or referring services. Like a university seminar or art workshop, presentations investigating the historical and contemporary practice of visual art encourage group discussion and prompt new lines of thinking.
Get in touch with the online community of participants sharing skills and discussing artworks when you subscribe to receive AMSA updates includes receipt of a supply list and topic of discussion by email in the week before the session.
AMSA is calling on the community to support and empower passionate local artists with inadequate access to materials, art space, and community care by donating to the Canadian Mental Health Association in Edmonton. Please give the gift of art education and peer support to AMSA members.
Contact AMSA for more about programs, to become a member, or to receive updates.
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Congratulations Rat Creek Press for this article. Publisher Karen Mykietka is truly responsive to what’s going on in our Edmonton communities around Alberta Avenue.