BY CYRIL BRABANT
Lacombe Express
Residents can take a quick trip to the past and explore the wonders of art with Michener House Museum’s new weekly program ‘Art in the Garden: Painting Lacombe’s Past’.
The program, which takes place at the Michener House Museum every Saturday morning, welcomes visitors to join them for some free artistic fun regardless of talent or expertise.
“It’s for anyone and everyone,” said Becca Stone, the programming and archives coordinator at the Michener House. “Anyone of any artistic ability or lack thereof, and all ages, are free to join us.”
Visitors don’t have to worry about bringing their own paints or pencils as the Museum supplies various art mediums and supplies including easels, paper and pens.
Participants are free to draw whatever they feel and are encouraged to draw inspiration from Lacombe’s historic downtown core but photocopies of archival photographs will also be available for anyone who isn’t sure what to draw.
“We had someone in the garden a couple of weeks ago that decided to just paint some of the greenery in front of the museum,” Stone said. “We also had another paint the Lacombe logo not too long ago.”
The idea of Art in the Garden came about with the help of Marie Peron, the executive director of the Museum, after receiving its annual funding.
“Marie is definitely the driving force behind the historical society,” said Stone. “It wouldn’t be what it is now without her hard work and dedication.”
The program originally started at the beginning of June and will run until the end of summer.
Stone said officials with the Museum were thinking to plan something for the Cultural and Harvest Festival for Art in the Garden that will hopefully feature some of the art participants have made throughout the summer.
“A lot of the pictures people are doing are taken from historic photographs,” Stone said. “We really want to promote the history in Lacombe.”
Stone said anyone that comes by and takes part in the program is also free to take their art home with them.
“We’ll often have members of the public walking by and ask us what we’re doing,” said Stone. “People find it very therapeutic to be able to just sit in the garden, relax and just do some art.
“It’s a free art program, if you have nothing to do, just grab a cappuccino from next door and come draw a picture with us!”
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