BELLOWS FALLS — Canal Street Art Gallery presents: the Community Art Studio Program, providing a free to use space within the gallery, including artist grade supplies, for the public to make art while overlooking the Bellows Falls Canal.
The Community Art Studio Program is now open through Feb. 24. All ages are welcome to use the studio on a walk-in basis during gallery hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artwork made may be donated and hung on the walls of the program. Donated artwork is then mounted and given in clear sleeves by mail as rewards to supporters of the program. Artists also have the option to mount and take their work home with them in a clear sleeve, allowing visitors to create finished pieces ready to transport and frame.
A campaign launched by the gallery using the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform, if successful, will fund the building of a permanent space to keep the free Community Art Studio Program. The all-or-nothing goal of $1,500 must be met by February 3rd at 8pm. Of this amount, $1,032 will build and paint movable walls, and provide more lighting. To donate, go to kickstarter.com/projects/canalstreetart/help-us-keep-our-free-community-art-studio.
The Community Art Studio Program is inspired by the success of incorporating an art making table within the Charles W. Norris-Brown Distant Thunder Studio exhibit. During this exhibition, visitors of all ages were inspired to make art in the gallery by using Norris-Brown’s supplies, and being surrounded by his work. Currently, the Community Art Studio Program is open in the Working Artist Program space and is provided by Canal Street Art Gallery and the Charles W. Norris-Brown Estate.