The Gypsumville Art Club

Gypsumville Art Club - History

The Gypsumville Art Club (GAC) was established in 1989, providing an opportunity for the community to participate in the Visual Arts. Meetings were held at the Gypsumville School on the first Wednesday of each month with a painting session following a meeting.

In 2006, the GAC procured space at the Northern Interlake Recreational Complex (NIRC). Here, we have a permanent meeting place. The GAC Art Center is open every Wednesday evening form 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and meetings are scheduled as needed.

The club has had various instructors over th years. These individuals have introduced us to a variety of mediums, including oil, pen and ink, pencil, watercolors, acrylics, multi-medium and stain glass.

The GAC had its first Art Show and Sale, October 1st, 2005. We had more than 100 people sign our guest book. There were 91 paintings on display as well as other works, including painted rocks, painted glass, cards and ceramics. Our second Art Show and Sale took place May 26, 2007.

We have participated and shown our paintings at the Festival of the Arts in 2005. Also, the GAC has shown our work at various other venues throughout the Northern Interlake. When there are special functions at the NIRC we are occasionally asked to open the Center and display our work.

Each year the GAC celebrates Manitoba Arts and Culture Week. The GAC had a Show and Tea in 2006, and in 2007 we had an open house so the public could experience art by trying their hand at it. As well members created a mural to show their creativity.

In 2006 a major undertaking for us was the introduction of children in the community to the Visual Arts, with a "Kid's Day". This has blossomed into a Club which meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

In 2008 Manitoba Arts and Culture weeks there were a number of special events taking place. On the Saturday, March 8, there was an Art Auction; March 9 a Workshop with George Gartrell; on the March 11 was the Kid's Club where special events were planned for that evening; On March 12 the doors were opened to the public to come meet the members, try their hand at the Visual Arts and have coffee/tea and Daintiest. On March 13th, Muriel Alexander instructed a workshop in flower arranging.

In 2007 the Gypsumville Art Club became a member of the Manitoba Arts Network. Audrey Lute is on their Board and represents the Interlake Region.

A number of "firsts" were done in 2007. Our First Cookbook, the Art of Cooking Vol. 1, was a fund raiser that proved to be very successful. Equally as successful was the Christmas Bazaar, which will become an annual event.

2008 was a very busy year. Our schedule was extensive and busy. 16 Children had enrolled for the GAC Juniors at the end of the season in May of 2008. We had a number of workshops directed by the members of the GAC. We enlisted Linda Munro from The Pas area to instruct us in a two day class.

We had our second successful Christmas Bazaar.

In May of 2008 the GAC hosted it's first ever Art Exhibition. ARTmarks an Exhibition of over 80 bookmarks, was an initiative of the Manitoba Arts Network. Artists throughout the province of Manitoba were invited to create and submit three bookmarks each. One would be sent to another Artists who participated in the project, one was put on display in the Exhibit that would tour the province, and one was to go towards fundraising. Five individuals from the GAC participated in the project, each receiving a unique bookmark from other Artists in the province.

The Gypsumville School was invited to view these little masterpieces. While waiting to view these the students created two of their own bookmarks. One bookmark was for them to keep, and one was going to another school. The participating school also created 2 bookmarks one for themselves and one for a participated in the Gypsumville School. Everyone enjoyed visiting the Exhibition and putting their creativity to work.

The GAC Volunteers made themselves available to open the Art Centre for anyone wishing to view the Exhibitions Special invitations where sent out to Seniors to come and view the Exhibition, have coffee and danties.

For a list of all the activities in the past years, please go to the Archived link and here you will find our Goals and Achievements for that year.

2009 will again provide the Membership with an opportunity to stray from the normal. We encourage positive input and ideas. We will try anything. If it works, bonus, if not, well, not a problem, we just will try that again at some point in the future. All ideas are considered.