A celebration of the arts, culture in St. Catharines

Artist Robin Nisbet watched a young girl as she visited the displays and took part in activities set up at Silver Spire Church Saturday.

The girl visited every station set up by the St. Catharines Art Society, learning to weave, creating pictures using bits of fabric or adding to a community painting created to celebrate Culture Days.

The professional artists at the event spent time with that girl, teaching her and just being with her while she did all of this, Nisbet said.

“It was awesome. It was that sharing of what we were doing with her, and allowing her to experience it, too, which was huge,” she said.

“I think that’s what Culture Days is. It’s experiencing each other and sharing what we all have to offer.”

St. Catharines Art Society was one of several groups that took part in Culture Days during the weekend. Activities were set up at venues throughout the city by those participating in the annual celebration of arts and culture.

At Rodman Hall Art Centre, dozens of people participated in art activities such as creating sculptures and painting, exploring the art exhibition as well as touring the historic Thomas Rodman Merritt House.

Zelma Roubi joined her fiveyear-old daughter Eloise to create decorative masks and a picture frame at Rodman Hall.

While it’s not unusual to find art activities for children, Roubi said it was nice that she was able to work with her daughter side-by-side.

After moving to St. Catharines a little more than a year ago, Roubi said she soon discovered Rodman Hall, and signed up for art classes.

“It’s just nice to have a place to do that.”

Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts also held an open house with hourly tours, and numerous activities were held at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

The Robby on Church Street was a hub for artists throughout the weekend as well, where participants were invited to etch a design of their favourite aspects of St. Catharines onto bricks to add to a mural.

Activities continued on Sunday at Mahtay Café on St. Paul Street and at private art studios and city facilities.

ALLAN BENNER/STANDARD STAFF St. Catharines artist Bev Seddon adds to a St. Catharines Art Society painting set up at Silver Spire United Church, created by dozens of artists of all ages as part of numerous activities that took place at several locations throughout the weekend...