December 1, 2018 sketchout

We will be sketching at historic Rutherford House (11153 Sask Drive) for our Dec 1st sketchout. Thanks to Rutherford House staff, we get the group admission rate of $4.50 each and we can start sketching at 11am. We can meet in the lobby inside the house and sketch throughout the house (except for cordoned off areas).

Then at 1pm we can head over to HUB Mall for lunch and sharing sketches. There are several food outlets open in HUB on Saturdays, so you can pick up your food of choice and then bring it upstairs to the Riverside Lounge at the far north end of HUB.

Hope to see you there!

Posted by Marlena Wyman

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University of Alberta Hospital, November 3, 2018

There was a small but dedicated group who came to the University of Alberta Hospital to sketch on November 3rd.

Most of the sketchers headed over to the beautiful calm of the Guru Nanak Healing Garden in the Mazankowski Heart Institute.

Sketches by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Stephanie Jansen

 

Sketches by Janet Bertsch

Joanne took on the complexity of the U of A Hospital interior.

Sketch by Joanne Wojtysiak

Instead of opting for relaxation, I decided to continue on my Historian Laureate quest to sketch Edmonton’s heritage buildings, so I got myself agitated by sketching the Nurses Home across from the hospital (presently the hospital’s Research Transition Facility). Every time I go past the Nurses Home, it upsets me that the ugly pedestrian overpass has bullied it out of view. I wish I had enough time to go to the healing garden afterward, but I had to run off so I missed lunch with everyone too!

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Here is the view of the Nurses Home today. Cripes.

I was out of town for the October 6th sketchout at the Legislature Building, and only two sketchers posted their drawings on the Facebook page, but they are very worthy sketches of an important heritage building, so here they are:

Sketch by Barry Hollingshead

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Looking forward to more sketching!

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

November 3, 2018 sketchout

Thanks to our sketcher Karen (and an Artist on the Wards) for planning this sketchout at the U of A Hospital

We can meet at the 112 St entrance which is #7 on this map, with a lobby area and art gallery to wait in (if it’s open.) The hospital has a healing garden and various interesting views over the campus and waiting rooms full of models and of course all the usual hospital things to draw. The cafe is closed on the weekend,but there is a Burrito Libre across the road on 112 St where we could meet for lunch at 1.00.

If you’re not familiar with the place, it is immense but here is a handy map.

Hope to see lots of you then.

Ortona Armoury Arts Building, September 1, 2018

Urban Sketchers Edmonton are joining me in one of my goals as Edmonton’s 5th Historian Laureate: sketching Edmonton’s architectural heritage (or as much as we can!)

Another off-and-on rainy day greeted Urban Sketchers Edmonton at the historic and arty Ortona Armoury Arts Building, 9722 – 102 Street, but that did not deter our hardy little gang.

A City-owned historical resource built in 1914 as the Hudson’s Bay stables and warehouse, the building has been home to many of Edmonton’s businesses and organizations over its 104 year history.

Sketch by Barry Hollingshead

Sketches by Heather Jenkins

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

For the last 30 years or so, the Ortona has been a vibrant part of Edmonton’s arts community, providing much needed artists’ studios and arts spaces. I had my studio in the Ortona for many years and have a great fondness and regard for it, and helped to have it designated as a municipal historic resource in 2004. In 2019, the artists must move out and the building will be closed for up to two years while the City brings it up to code.

Urban Sketchers Edmonton in the Ortona 2nd floor kitchen (this was the  HMCS Nonsuch wardroom bar during the Navy years)

The artist-tenants and I have been in discussions with the City to retain as much of the historic Navy era interior as possible, which works perfectly for artists who appreciate and gain inspiration from spaces with character and heritage.

Sketch by Irina Kruglyakova

Sketch by Irina Kruglyakova

The floorplan layout has remained largely unchanged for 80 years, and I was able to locate Navy era floor plans at the City of Edmonton Archives that indicated the Navy’s use for the rooms that the artists now use. For example, the present Ortona Room (multi-purpose arts room) on the main floor was the Navy’s Chief and Petty Officer’s Mess; the artist-run Ortona Gallery on the second floor served as the Navy’ Clothing Stores; artists’ studios were the Navy’s WRENS’ Mess (Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service), the offices of the HMCS Nonsuch Officers, storage for sails, ropes & rigging, and much more.

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

As expressed by arts writer Agnieszka Matejko who was reviewing a group arts exhibit in the Ortona Gallery, “…the strongest impression I am left with is the building’s palpable sense of rich community life among artists of all backgrounds.” Vue Weekly 21 January 2003, “Ortonary People”.

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

October 6, 2018 Sketchout

Thanks to Angie Sotiropoulos for planning this sketchout:

Hello everyone! Marlena will be away for the October sketch out so I’m posting an event suggestion that was made at September’s sketch out. Meet spot will be at the west entrance of the Federal Building (9820 107St NW) facing Capital Plaza. It’s located on the Legislature Grounds. We can sketch the grounds or if the weather is bad go into the Federal Building. It has a large living wall, gift shop, art gallery and small movie theatre inside. As well I am told it houses some interesting art related installations in the corridors. Sketch time is 11am-1pm. I will be there a bit earlier to sketch as I have to leave at noon for an appointment. This means I won’t make it to lunch but I’m going to suggest the District Cafe and Bakery a short walk away (10011 109st). Since I won’t be there if anyone has a better suggestion or wants to act as the meet person please feel free to suggest away and I can update the event info.

 

September 1, 2018 sketchout

For our September 1^st sketchout, come on out to the historic and arty Ortona Armoury Arts Building, 9722 – 102 Street. We will meet inside the lobby at 11am, or start sketching outside on your own. There are no restaurants nearby, so pack a picnic lunch that we can eat in the courtyard. If it rains, we’ll eat in the 2^nd floor kitchen. Microwave, fridge and tea kettle available.

This City-owned historical resource, built in 1914 as the Hudson’s Bay stables and warehouse,  has been home to artists’ studios and arts spaces for two decades. In 2019, the artists will have to move out and the building will be closed for up to two years while it is being brought up to code. The artists and I have been in discussions with the City to try and retain the historic Navy era interior, for which the layout has remained unchanged for 80 years.

The Ortona is located across from Telus Field, north of 97 Ave.   https://bit.ly/2vTlQvJ

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

Mill Creek Ravine Park, August 4, 2018

Urban Sketchers Edmonton are joining me in one of my goals as Edmonton’s 5th Historian Laureate: sketching Edmonton’s architectural heritage (or as much as we can!)

Included in Edmonton’s built heritage are bridges, and the recently restored pedestrian bridges in Mill Creek Ravine were once the trestle bridges constructed between 1900 and 1902 as part of the Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway.

Photo by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Terry Elrod

We had a great turnout of 14 sketchers at Mill Creek Ravine Park. A few showers here and there did not bother our dauntless crew. Most of us gathered to sketch across the creek from the historic pedestrian bridge near 76th Avenue and 92nd Street, and other sketchers made their way through different parts of the ravine.

Photo by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Irina Kruglyakova

Sketch by Irina Kruglyakova

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos 

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Karen Wall

Another part of Edmonton’s valued heritage is the natural history of the river valley, ravines, trees and green spaces. As noted on the City of Edmonton’s website, we are very fortunate to have the largest urban park in Canada, with more than 160 kilometres of maintained pathways and 20 major parks throughout the River Valley.

Sketch by Terry Elrod (I happened across this sketch of Terry’s on the Waskahegan Trail Association website when I was researching the ravine)

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos 

Sketch by Karen Wall

According to the City of Edmonton’s Mill Creek Daylighting Plan, the City is considering a new initiative that would re-establish the natural, surface flow of the downstream reach of Mill Creek (94 Avenue to North Saskatchewan River) through a process known as “daylighting.” In the 1960s and 1970s, this portion of Mill Creek was diverted to a tunnel and concrete outfall structure several meters above the North Saskatchewan River.

Human alterations to the creek have resulted in the loss of a number of environmental and recreational benefits previously provided by the creek. 

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Edmontonians are lucky to have our beautiful trees, green spaces, ravines and river valley to enjoy. They are all Edmonton treasures.

Posted by Marlena Wyman