An art hive of activity for community creativity

Everyone is an artist, or at least that’s the philosophy behind the Wonder’neath Open Studio in Halifax’s north end. Drop by and you’ll see people of all ages and abilities making art of all types: everything from homemade play-dough to screen printing to needle felting and more.

The open studio, a pilot project of the Open Wonder Art Society and funded by the 4Cs Foundation, started in December 2014 and was scheduled to end in June. But thanks to additional funding from the 4Cs Foundation, the community artmaking project will continue opening its doors — and its art supplies — free to the public every Saturday until mid-August.

Heather Wilkinson and Melissa Marr are the founders of the Open Wonder Art Society and owners of Wonder’neath, an artists’ studio that is home to 10 artists. Wilkinson and Marr created the nonprofit society because they wanted to improve access to artists and art projects in their community.

A conference on art hives in Montreal last spring was the impetus they needed.

“The art hive is a model of a community art space that’s free and invites everybody in the community in as an artist whatever your level of experience,” says Wilkinson. “The great thing about it is that whatever community you set it up in it reflects that. So ours is unique because it’s in a working artists’ studio.”

The open studio is well stocked with all kinds of art supplies, art books and — most importantly — snacks. Visitors are welcome to bring along their own project to work on, make something new from the supplies, or join in with an existing project.

“We usually have a couple things set up that people are welcome to jump in on. Today we have wire sculptures and felted juggling balls,” says Wilkinson.

Certain supplies and equipment are almost always on hand, especially the crowd favourites, such as the typewriter, sewing machine and needle felting table.

“[The felting table is] the quilting bee kind of place,” says Wilkinson. “People who don’t know each other all end up finding their way in and someone who’s just learned earlier in the day can teach someone who’s never done it before.”

Though popular with families, Wilkinson says the open studio is a place for all ages, clarifying that you don’t have to come with children to participate.

And while community is a strong feature of the studio, people who aren’t feeling social are also welcome. “We have a taller table where you could work with your back to people. We recognize that some people want to have a communal social space and some people want to be able to focus on their thing and not have to talk to anybody,” says Wilkinson. “Those are all legitimate ways of working here.”

Wilkinson encourages newcomers to the open studio to take some time to explore the space and adds that though people work independently there’s always someone available to help if you need it.

Jennifer Beamer and her seven-year-old daughter Isobel make art at the open studio often. Beamer says Isobel loves crafting, but that she herself isn’t very “artsy crafty.” “Here you see what other people are doing and you can experiment and there’s people who can give you hints and ideas of what to do and it’s inspiring,” she says.

Rowan Beetje, 8, is on her second visit to the open studio.

“I learned to use the sewing machine here yesterday. I just started making this snake. I started off with the sewing machine and then I started doing the hand sewing,” says Rowan.

Her mom, Tanya Beetje, says they try to make art at home but with a three-year-old and no dedicated space for art in the house it can be difficult.

It’s not only Rowan who gets to enjoy artmaking at the studio.

“It’s especially nice because as a mom I don’t actually get to do creative things very often except for things that are related to my children. So it’s really cool to get to do my own art project,” says Beetje.

So far, the open studio has on average 35 people a day coming through its doors, and with this pilot project Wilkinson and Marr are hoping to see if there’s a community need to continue year-round.

Wilkinson says that though visits to the studio have slowed down slightly with the warmer weather, they’re hoping to get involved with summer events and festivals. “So if you’re making a costume for the pride parade, this is a place where you could come,” she says. “There are lots of events we’d like to tie into as a resource.”

For more information on the Wonder’neath Open Studio, visit their website: wonderneath.com.