Sheep Creek celebrates 50 years

By Tamara Neely
Staff Reporter

Back in 1958 when the Sheep Creek Arts Council Society formed, they provided women with a respectable escape from the drudgery of housework.
This is the way June Danforth, an original member of the society based in Turner Valley, described the cultural landscape when the society began offering art classes.
Residents of the High Country area had far fewer opportunities for cultural exposure back then.
Fifty year’s later, Danforth is still an active member and together with Wilma Chalmers, also an active original member, will be honoured at the anniversary celebration.
On April 5 and 6, the society will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an art show and sale on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will continue on Sunday starting at noon, followed by a slide presentation by the Oilfields Camera Club at 2 p.m. The society’s annual general meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m.
Back in the early years, Danforth left her four children with her husband on their ranch six miles southwest of town, where she and her husband still live, and headed to downtown Turner Valley every Thursday night to attend painting classes.
“When we started out, everything was sports,” said Danforth of the limited activities available in town. “And it was a bug to me that they thought, ‘if you painted it was stupid, you should have been golfing or something.’”
The society offered leisure activities that women were welcome to enjoy – as well as men – and the activities were an escape from the boredom of homemaking.
“For a long time the housewives were washing diapers and baking fancy cakes,” said Danforth. “It gave the women a break from the drudgery that my generation lived; the washing, carrying water, emptying the pot from under the bed.
“It was our only opportunity to continue our education, as it were.”
The club was started during a time when there was a greater divide between what men and women were allowed to do and when a woman’s place was in the home.
“There was dancing and beer parlours in the hotels, but when I was young women couldn’t go in there,” said Danforth, adding, “Not that I wanted to.
“So, things have changed a lot in 85 years.”
Throughout Danforth’s 50 years of membership with the society, including 25 years she acted as president, her husband supported her interest and dedication to the group.
“I just hit the jackpot when I got my husband,” said Danforth. “He let me be me. He never objected.”
She, on the other hand, has periodically questioned her pursuit of art. While she loves being creative, and has a portfolio of photography, creative writing, paintings and folk art like most artists, she has questioned her own ability.
“I sometimes look at my stuff and think, ‘Why are you wasting your time?’ I could be eating burgers and drinking beer instead,” the 86-year-old mused.
Classes in varying artistic techniques have always been the main thrust of the society and it continues to offer inspiring and skill-refining classes. Artistic instruction has included beading, calligraphy, creative writing, folk art, pen and acrylic wash, pottery, quilting, scrapbooking and even basket weaving.
Since 2000, classes have been offered at the society’s homebase on Sunset Blvd., west of Cougar’s Sports Bar and Grill, in a building they share with the Valley Neighbours Club.
For the first 42 years the club operated beside the Flare ‘n’ Derrick in an old cookshack relocated from an oilfield. Original president Dalt Hinman, who was the backbone of the society, was instrumental in finding that first home.
The society’s current home was purchased from former Turner Valley mayor, Jack Pitter.
There is ample room for classes and the space has an open area to showcase members’ art, which they have been doing once or twice per year, and to welcome the public in to sample treats during the annual rhubarb festival which coincides with Turner Valley’s Discovery Days in June.
Being community-minded, the society awards youth scholarships to support their education in the arts.
Muriel Dais, secretary of the society, is proud of the contributions the society makes to up-and-coming artists living within the Oilfields High School bus zone. One scholarship allows a youth to attend a week-long arts program at the Red Deer College; another offers $500 for a student to put toward post-secondary education in the arts. The society encourages youth to apply
Dais is also proud that Danforth and Chalmers are still active in the society.
“How many 50-year-old groups still have original members participating?” asked Dais.
Danforth is a fixture in arts classes and Chalmers coordinates the team that serves tea and rhubarb goodies and helps during the annual rhubarb festival.
“Wilma’s a marvellous lady and a very active member of the arts council,” said Dais.
Membership, however, has fluctuated over the years, with a current surge up to 180 members.
“We dwindled down to about five members at one point,” said Chalmers. “I think (the society) is much more visible and our facility is used lots more.”
The Sheep Creek Arts Council Society welcomes new members. In addition to a connection with like-minded people, the membership, which costs $10 per year, provides access to the economically-priced classes the society offers.
Run by volunteers and a dedicated board, the society keeps overhead costs down to continue offering classes for as low as possible.
For information about upcoming classes call society president Evelyn Richmond at (403) 933-3947. The Sheep Creek Arts Council Society is located at 133A Sunset Blvd. at the east end of the building

By Tamara Neely
Staff Reporter

Cayley artist Shannon Lawlor, shown here with Ghost, is garnering international attention as a western artist. photo by Kaili Dale

Cayley artist Shannon Lawlor lost her 10-year plan, but it turns out she’s on track anyway – ahead of the game, actually.
Three years ago Lawlor decided to dedicate her career to drawing and painting western art and formed a list of goals to strive for in the next 10 years. She included things like shows she wanted to participate in and magazines she wanted to be included in.
Recently as she was poking through forgotten corners of her computer’s hard drive, she found the plan. To her surprise, she had achieved some goals that sat at the five-year mark in the plan. That’s when she realized all is going well.
“I’m trying to establish myself in the fine art world,” said Lawlor. “In the meantime, I’m making a living at trade shows.”
Lawlor exhibited her work in art and trade shows and rodeos across Canada and the United States, including as the Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Canadian Supreme in Red Deer, the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo in Nanton and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This year Lawlor landed a place within the 10-day salon art show at the Calgary Stampede.
“This is the first time I’ve been in the 10-day salon and that’s a good stepping stone in my career,” said Lawlor.
Horses have been a part of Lawlor’s world since she was a child. Her career with horses spans veterinary, feedlot and ranch work, as well as raising horses for pleasure and for show.
She also has plenty of experience starting colts.
“That has always been my favourite thing to do,” said Lawlor.
However, she found herself at a point of burnout from riding and found herself physically and mentally exhausted. She needed a change.
Drawing and painting had been an interest for many years and the shift to creating western and equine art was a natural one; horses fascinate Lawlor.
“Ever since I was in diapers that’s all I cared about; it’s why I get up in the morning,” said Lawlor. “Horses have influenced my life more than any single thing.”
Since dedicating her life to pursuing art, Lawlor has spent the past three years balancing the creation of new artwork with the promotion and sales. What works for her is to spend the first part of the year painting and producing art, and six months travelling to shows. Lawlor has found that through travelling to rodeos, art and trade shows, she has had exposure to a world of equine history and tradition broader than she had experienced in her hands-on career with horses in western Canada.
“When I’m away doing the business part of my work quite often what happens is I get a lot of the subject matter that in the end I use in my work,” said Lawlor.
She is currently intrigued with the history of California Bridle horses and the Mexican vaquero traditions and is pursuing an understanding of how both traditions spread across the United States and into Canada.
“I have a real need to understand things that capture my attention,” said Lawlor.
Evidence of Lawlor’s drive to master her subject matter can be seen in her ability to portray tiny intricate detail in her drawings and paintings. The attention and time required to create, for example, the design pattern in a Mexican leather-tooled saddle; the texture of a horse’s coat; and a horse’s eyelashes lit with afternoon light, is impressive.
Lawlor’s treatment of western and equine subjects has also been capturing the attention of an ever-widening audience. She recalled feeling enamoured, in the beginning, when someone would actually purchase a piece she created. Now she is accustomed to selling work, but groundbreaking moments continue to propel her career forward.
“I sold my first painting for more than $10,000 and that is a landmark for me,” said Lawlor. “It’s getting to where I know I’ll make it as an artist and I’ve done a lot in a short period of time.”
Lawlor’s prints start at $50 and are available through her website. To view more of Lawlor’s prints and original paintings, go to www.shannonlawlor.com

New Yorkers Crowmatix fill in a pinch

By Tamara Neely
Staff Reporter

The Crowmatix will play at the The Flare ‘n’ Derrick April 12. They are, from the left, Bobbie Van Detta, Professor Louie, Gary Burke, Frank Campbell and Miss Marie. photo submitted

They say every cloud has a silver lining — here’s a perfect example.
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, scheduled to play for the Beneath the Arch concert series on April 12, cancelled their appearance, so Beneath the Arch had to find a replacement. The band they’ve found is even better.
Beneath the Arch is very pleased to announce that Professor Louie and the Crowmatix will play at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall on Saturday, April 12.
The Crowmatix, from New York, have toured and recorded together for the past eight years. But their individual careers span many decades and they’ve played with the who’s who of the music world, including Levon Helm and other members of The Band, Bob Dylan, Guy Davis, Cyndi Lauper, Asleep at the Wheel, Taj Mahal, Joe Jackson and many others.
Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz plays keyboards, accordion and he’s an extraordinary vocalist. He has performed extensively as a duo with the late Rick Danko (The Band). Anyone who attended Beneath the Arch’s November concert featuring Guy Davis will remember Professor Louie, who played keyboard and accordion for that amazing concert — perhaps the best-ever show at Beneath the Arch.
Other members of the Crowmatix include:
• Marie Spinosa, an accomplished singer and songwriter.
• Mike Dunn, one of the finest American roots bass players, has been the backbone of the Crowmatix since its inception.
• Jim Eppard (guitar, lap steel, mandolin and vocals) specializes in country and R&B music.
• Gary Burke, an amazing drummer, percussionist and arranger, is consistently in demand in recording studios and for road tours. He has recorded and toured with many musicians in the business including Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, Joe Jackson and Rick Danko — to name a few. Gary also played with Guy Davis when he appeared at Beneath the Arch in November.
• Mike Demicco on guitar and mandolin is a guitar virtuoso and master of all styles of music. He has recorded and toured with Dave Brubeck, the Brubecks, Warren Bernhart, Rory Block, among others.
Tickets issued for Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (April 12) will be honoured for the Crowmatix concert.
The Crowmatix concert is generously sponsored by James Lozinsky Law Office the (Okotoks and Turner Valley), The Energy Shop (Black Diamond), and Tubby Dog (Calgary).
Doors open at 7 p.m., the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Rush tickets (adult $20, youth 6-18 $8) are available from Coyote Moon Cantina (Turner Valley), Terra Cotta Gallery (Black Diamond), the Millarville General Store, and Harvest Moon Health Foods (Okotoks). For more information call 933-5811 or 933-7040.