 An annual tradition is when our festival guests get to experience the excitement of watching 10 unique artists creating in real time! Sharing their process, artists will give the public the opportunity to try their hand in the artform! Artists at Work took place at the Didsbury Train Station, 1812 - 20 Street - right in the heart of downtown Didsbury!
We were proud to have been selected as a Host Celebration Site for Alberta Culture Days, and join with the province to honour Alberta's Month of the Artist this September. Here's who came in 2024.
Bill Anthony | Connor Fullerton | Crystal Fullerton | Marilyn Johnston | Dalmane Owchar
Robin Rohl | Ena Samuelson | SASART | Diana Steer | Blair Thorson
Bill Anthony
Bill Anthony is a stained glass artist with over 30 years experience. Working in his storefront studio, Unique Stained Glass Works in downtown Didsbury, Bill creates custom work, commissions, does repairs and restoration work in the three techniques of stained glass. Since 2008, the art students of Didsbury High School have taken the classes and created pieces now hanging in the school.Bill, and his wife Merrilee, teach workshops throughout Central Alberta. These have included home school associations, charter schools, libraries, girl guides and seniors groups. Recently, two specially created art pieces were selected by the Town of Didsbury to be featured in their Art Banner Project. Bill Anthony has been nominated twice for the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award, most recently in 2023. Website
Facebook |
 
|
|
Connor Fullerton
Connor has always had a creative side and enjoyed dabbling in a variety of arts and crafts since he was a kid. Two that have always stuck were photography and origami. He has competed with both at provincial 4-H competitions, is an active freelance photographer and certified drone pilot, and enjoys using his origami skills to turn humble sheets of paper into loved momentos by friends and family. He is excited to show you how to do the same, and teach you how to create a variety of origami designs!For this event, he'll have a variety of designs on display and is happy to walk through how to make them. Learn a fun and shareable art form that anyone can pick up. Fold along and take some art home with you! Website |
 |
 |
|
Crystal Fullerton
Crystal started drawing as soon as she could hold a pencil and sold her first commission at the age of 9! She has been creating art in one form or another for over 45 years and loves the creative process and the people involved in the arts community. Her journey with the common pen was the result of jetlag and looking for something to occupy herself with until she normalized her sleeping schedule. A simple Inktober challenge asking artists to post a daily piece had her hooked before the first week was finished. It has been four years and Crystal is still enamoured with the medium.Join Crystal and explore how to let your creative juices flow with simple and easy to obtain materials. Website
Facebook |
 |
 |
|
Dalmane Owchar
Dalmane Owchar was born in Calgary and moved to Central Alberta as a young adult. Art was always a part of her life and was expressed in multiple mediums. Only later in life has she recognized it as her true calling. The creation of Dalmane ART Shepherd stems from a time of winter soul searching. "Over the past years we have had a chance to examine what is important to us and seek out ways to live in our authenticity."Dalmane designs, creates and teaches Fluid and Mandala Art. She has developed her niche over the last few years and believes that surrounding yourself with art that evokes positive emotions brings you closer to an energy that fulfills the soul. Fun Fact: OWCHAR (Originating in East Central Europe) means SHEPHERD in Ukrainian. Dalmane's grandparents, Fred and Nancy Owchar, arrived in Alberta in late 1920s. Her love of art started when her grandmother taught her to embroider when she was a child. Facebook |
 
|
|
Robin Rohl
Born in Calgary AB, Robin moved to the small hamlet of Westcott in 2014. There she has been inspired to expand her artistic knowledge and explore new creative techniques. Robin will use a diverse range of mediums and durable materials while she creates innovated works of art. Her art form is as unique as she is, and she strives to never limit her style. She loves tactile texture and shows many visual components in her work. They often become perceptible by touch or visual feel. Robin allows for the natural flow and movement of her work and her desire to construct undefined creations.Sculpting with passion, Robin uses a variety of many sourced and organic materials found from her personal journeys. She encourages community involvement and has donated her time and art work to local charities and events throughout the years. Robin finds her contributions have become part of so many memorable experiences. She enjoys sharing her own art perspectives with students in her workshops, while encouraging them to incorporate their own personal influences. She has had her art displayed in many galleries in Alberta and has been involved with many art projects over the years. Website
Facebook |
 |
 |
|
Ena Samuelson
Ena has been an artist since the moment she was able to hold a pen, says it was her first language. Ena's art is visual stories that share her humour and lighthearted perspective of life. It has always been her strength in expressing her stories where words would fail her. She still analyzes the world; it is what inspires her to create. She is mostly self taught through hours upon hours of doodling and a few art classes. Her peers feed each other's creativity, inspire and encourage one another. That is always her goal when creating, to inspire others. She advocates that anyone can create art. Everyone has an artist in them, they just need to set it free. |
 |
 |
|
SASART
SASART was created with a vision in mind: do what you love and love what you do. The artist does exactly that! Based in Lacombe Alberta, she focuses on selling original creations, working at home or on site for hired commissions, and in-between it all: teaching art classes and lessons offered locally in Lacombe, booked privately, or with travel in Central Alberta.All ages and skill levels can "Make It Take It" at the Festival! Website
Facebook |
 |
 |
|
Diana Steer
Diana Steer is a prolific artist whose vibrant works span acrylics, oils, watercolours, and encaustic paintings. With a decade-long tenure teaching workshops across Canada, Diana's expertise has significantly influenced many budding artists. Despite a temporary hiatus due to illness, her creative spirit remained undeterred, contributing to two remarkable book projects that showcased her exceptional talent.Looking ahead, Diana aims to explore the realm of Abstract Realism, which will allow her to convey deeper emotional layers and enrich the storytelling aspect of her art. Diana will be doing abstract realism at Arts Festival, inviting the public to contribute to the piece(s)! Website
Facebook |
 |
 |
|
Blair Thorson
Blair is of First Nations heritage, moving from Whitehorse to Central Alberta to establish their new home. Blair has been interested in art, and was encouraged to explore different techniques and mediums as a self taught hobby artist. As a hydrometric surveyor, he travelled throughout Northern Canada and this travel influenced his present style of art as he observed wildlife and First Nations people indigenous to the lands.Blair has always loved maps and did his first illustration on a map. When he had an opportunity to acquire old maps, he began doing watercolour illustrations on maps. Each illustration depicts what the subject might have done while living off or on the land that the map drawn on reflects. Since retirement, he has expanded his artistic horizons by learning to do Bark Carvings and creating his illustrations onto leather. At the Festival, Blair will be creating in bark carving and letting you try carving in soap. Website
Facebook |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
FREE ADMISSION - Beverages and Desserts
Spend your Sunday afternoon at the Didsbury Elks Hall and take in some great Alberta musicians, including the ever-popular, Polyjesters!!
Harvest Tea and Old-Tyme Sing-a-Long with the "Local Vocals", Saturday afternoon at the Didsbury Museum
Overheard at the Arts Festival: "It was amazing - be warned though - you may need to drag your children out at closing time. Our kids had an absolute blast and didn't want to leave."
Game Zone at the Elks Hall Saturday
Pick a game, sit down and play or learn to play with friends.
Featured Games: Learn to play one of our featured games.
Learn to Play TCG (trading card games) including
Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Disney's Lorcana, or Star Wars Unlimited!
More Game Zone at the Elks Hall Saturday
Savour the amazing music of video games with a live band! Pokémon, Minecraft, Super Mario Bros, and more music, games, at the video gaming concert.
Shows at 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4 pm
Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, take the kids to the Didsbury Library to experience a taste of Indigenous art. Urban Society of Aboriginal Youth will be bringing Virtual Reality headsets to tour Blackfoot Plains culture through the Library's Oculus.
Indigenous Reflections puzzles stimulate children's interests in traditional teachings and animals. Spend time at the Michelle Stoney Colouring Station too!
CLICK TO PRINT OUR POSTER & HANG IT ON YOUR
FRIDGE OR ON YOUR OFFICE BULLETIN BOARD!
|
