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Channelling the inner artist: Alberta Culture Days

It wasn’t too long ago that retired Lacombe teacher Jeanette Van Hyfte struggled to draw stick figures. As a drama teacher she was always immersed in art and culture but it was only until Van Hyfte retired that she had time to focus on channelling her inner artist.Van Hyfte knew she had found her niche after witnessing a zentangle demonstration. She was drawn to the simplistic and meditative art.Zentangle is a form of line art that combines patterns to form intricate, free form pictures.
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Lacombe's Jeanette Van Hyfte demonstrates zentangle

It wasn’t too long ago that retired Lacombe teacher Jeanette Van Hyfte struggled to draw stick figures.

As a drama teacher she was always immersed in art and culture but it was only until Van Hyfte retired that she had time to focus on channelling her inner artist.

Van Hyfte knew she had found her niche after witnessing a zentangle demonstration. She was drawn to the simplistic and meditative art.

Zentangle is a form of line art that combines patterns to form intricate, free form pictures.

Van Hyfte, 67, learned the craft through books and online programs about five years ago.

“You don’t have to be artistic,” she said.

“You learn the patterns and go from there. Anyone can do it.”

Van Hyfte showcased her creations and guided others as they tried their hands at the line art at the Alberta Culture Days 2014 celebrations on Ross Street in Red Deer on Saturday.

There was something for everyone in Red Deer with pop-up art galleries, performance art, films, dance, heritage displays, musical entertainment filling various locations.

Artist Margaret Roome said culture days is a good opportunity to showcase the talent in Red Deer and for others to be exposed to new art and culture.

“And appreciate what people are doing,” she said.

“You get to see things that you normally would not be in contact with.”

Painter and chalk artist Laura Lind said it is wonderful to see different art forms and cultures come together and showcase Alberta and Canadian life.

“Even if you are not interested in art people will come down and see the creativity and say, ‘oh I could never do that,” said Lind.

“But they can be a part of it.”

Annette Scheper, the city’s community and program facilitator for special events, said culture and art is extremely important in life.

“It’s one of the things that give us a reason to live,” she said. “If all we were doing was basically going to work and eating basic meals, that would be a boring life. Art enhances our lives. It gives us a form of communication whether it is verbal (or physical as in dance or drawing), it is a form of communication. It is essential. It is a form of communication that anyone can tap into.”

If you missed Alberta Culture Days, you can still experience all things culture through the Alberta Arts Council and Culture Services at the City of Red Deer. Visit www.reddeer.ca for more information.

crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com