Teaching art in classrooms isn’t enough for an Okotoks artist.
Multimedia artist Jennifer Stables is inviting families to get creative during Picnic in the Park at the Okotoks Public Library June 11.
The event will be held in conjunction with a showcase of Stables’ whimsical illustrations and colourful landscapes at the Okotoks Recreation Centre through May and June.
Stables said families can bring a picnic lunch and take part in creating nature art, puppets and collage cards while she talks about her art and shares poems she wrote to accompany her pieces.
Stables is an artist in residence who has been teaching art to children in the Calgary area for three years, going beyond cutting, pasting and colouring in the lines.
“Too often we give them a step-by-step project to do,” she said. “Gluing cotton balls on Santa’s beard is not art. What I do is give the kids the skills and let them create.
“It helps them to take risks and step out of their comfort zone.”
Being creative also offers students another avenue to express themselves, Stables said, particularly for those who can’t verbalize their feelings or write them down.
“I see it as a language in a classroom,” she said. “Many kindergarten kids can’t write full sentences. Doing a drawing or even a scribble that has something to do with an emotion bridges that gap.”
Before starting a career as an artist in residence, Stables taught primary school in Calgary for 11 years.
She found she wanted more time to create her own style of art, which often appeals to young children.
“When I have a display of my work everyone turns into a five year old,” she said. “I see the smiles on their faces. A lot of my work ends up in small children’s bedrooms.”
Stables has a bachelor of fine arts degree with the University of Calgary and then moved to Montreal where she worked at the Visual Arts Centre, teaching children.
She also studied art therapy and education at Concordia University while in Montreal.
It was in Montreal that Stables realized her passion for working with children, which prompted her to return to Calgary to take a master of teaching degree, specializing in early education.
Now that Stables is spending less time in Calgary classrooms, she plans to connect with youngsters in her community to continue offering art education while working on her own projects and showcasing her paintings and multimedia work in local venues.
“You have to make art as accessible as possible,” she said. “Sometimes people are a little intimidated to walk into a gallery. It doesn’t have to be formal.”
The event runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.
There is no cost to attend and registration is not necessary.
