June 1, 2019 sketchout

Thanks to the Highlands Historical Society for inviting us to sketch in historic Highlands for our June 1st sketchout. We will meet at 11 AM in front of the Owens Residence at 11227-63 Street. (Rain out, Highlands Junior High 11509 62 St).

At 1PM, we will retire to the Highlands Golf Club (6603 Ada Blvd) to share sketches and good company. Drinks and food are available for purchase.

For more details see the Highlands Historical Society event.

See you there!

Eda Owen in her backyard, Highlands, Edmonton 1916. Glenbow Archives photo NA-4844-11

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Royal Alberta Museum 4 May 2019

Urban Sketchers Edmonton got inspired by the beautiful new Royal Alberta Museum on the May 4th sketchout, with lunch afterward at the Museum Cafe.

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Mammoth/mastodon? skeletons provided ancient models.

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketch by Julie Daley

Human history…

Sketch by Jason Waselenko

Sketch by Lysia Waselenko, Age 11

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Andrea Ch

…and natural history.

Sketch by Julie Daley

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Jason Waselenko

Sketches by Shannon O’Blenes

Sketch by Jason Waselenko

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Shannon O’Blenes

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Julie Daley

Sketch by Andrea Ch

I wasn’t able to join the group on May 4th, but I went for a museum sketchout on my own.

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

We have sketched at the old Royal Alberta Museum in the past, and you can check out some of those sketches by typing Royal Alberta Museum in the Search box in the right hand column of this page.

Posted by Marlena Wyman

May 4, 2019 sketchout

Thanks to Yvonne Rezek for organizing this sketchout.

“Let’s celebrate Alberta with a sketchout at the new RAM downtown on May 4. Let’s start in the rotunda at 10:45 just to get organized and so we can start roaming the museum and sketching by 11:00. We’ll meet up again in the cafeteria on the main floor at 1:00 pm.

For access to all galleries, please see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/visit/ for admission prices.

There are also free sketching opportunities. There is good people and architectural sketching from cafeteria tables, the Manitou Asiniy stone is in its own area and affords a bird’s eye view of the rotunda, mammoth sculptures next to the admission desk, an airplane, and other possible sketching views. If the weather is fine, you can also sketch outdoors.

Once past the admission desk, there is the Bug Room, the Human History Hall, the Natural History Hall upstairs, and the “Vikings: Beyond the Legend” exhibit which is on until October 20.”

Chin Yin Buddhist Temple, 6 April 2019

There was a great turnout for this sketchout! 21 of us were warmly welcomed by Robert Rosinski, Dharma Instructor, in the colourful and meditative (yes, it was both) Chin Yin Buddhist Temple  at 12688 – 148 Avenue. Chin Yin Buddhist Society is associated with the True Buddha School, founded in Taiwan by Master Sheng-Yen Lu.

The Edmonton temple was built in 2002, its design based on the traditional pagoda style of Buddhist architecture. Before the present temple was built, the Chin Yin Buddhist Society operated out of a building that was originally a church in the Chinatown area, and if I recall correctly, Robert said that the society met in the basement of one of their member’s home before that.

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Julie Daly

The interior of the temple is abundantly decorated with traditional Buddhist sculptures, wall hangings, lanterns, and beautiful and colourful decorations and offerings that all inspired some wonderful sketches.

Sketches by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketches by Julie Daly

Some families with children joined us this time, which was great! Jason Waselenko, father of Lysia and Breeya, said : It was fun and you know it’s a success when they say “Let’s do that again”.

Sketch by Jason Waselenko

Sketch by Lysia Waselenko (age 11)

Sketches by Breeya Waselenko (age 9)

Sketch by Berta Beltran

Sketch by Yong Fei Guan

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketches by Marlena Wyman

This statue was a popular subject. Robert told me that he is Jia Lan Bodni Sattva, the protector of the practitioners of the Dharma, and protector of those who act morally.

Sketch by Lucy Rachynski

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Terry Elrod

Sketches by Shannon O’Blenes

Many sketchers drew in the main shrine room of the temple, and several went downstairs to sketch in the columbarium rooms.

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketches by Brenda Raynard

 

Sketches by Janet Bertsch

Sketch by Stephanie Jansen

Stephanie said “I sketched the shrine to the unborn babies who passed away. I feel like it is so healing for families to have an opportunity to honour the lives of their unborn children and at the same time it made me feel sad to see the baby bottles, toys and treasures and the grief that must encompass those who placed them there. The Buddhist temple was such an amazing place to sketch with the chanting and bells and the incredible welcoming attitude.” 

 

 Much of the above information is from memory of the day, so if I have made any mistakes, I would appreciate anyone who is familiar with Buddhism to let me know, and I will be happy to make corrections. Thank you kindly. – Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

 

April 6, 2019 sketchout

Chin Yin Buddhist Society has welcomed us to sketch in their temple at 12688 – 148 Avenue on Saturday April 6th from 11am to 1pm. If it is a nice day, we can sketch outside too. We will then head over to nearby CỐ ĐÔ HUẾ restaurant at 12819 140 Ave for lunch and sharing sketches.

Please note that shoes are to be removed upon entering the temple.

Indian Fusion:The Curry House, March 2, 2019

On a cold March day, fourteen of us came to sketch and enjoy the visual and culinary delights of Indian Fusion: The Curry House in the Oliver district.

Indian Fusion represents two levels of heritage in Edmonton – the cultural heritage of Indian and Fijian food and design, and the architectural heritage of the building that it occupies. The  owner, Parkash Chhibber, also has a legacy of kindness.  There is a sign on the side door of his restaurant inviting those in need to enjoy a free meal.

Sketches by Karen Wall

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Joanne Wojtysiak

Sketch by Shannon O’Blenes

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Jo-Anne Farley

Sketch by Misty Totman

Sketches by Marlena Wyman

The restaurant stands on part of what was originally the Canadian Northern Railway yards. The Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways were both later absorbed into the Canadian National Railway. The rail yards were built in 1905, and extended from 101^st Street and 116 Street, between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue. The area extended even further with the Canadian Pacific Railway yards that were located between Jasper Avenue & 104 Avenue, and 109 street & 111 Street.

These extensive rail yards (20 tracks wide) dominated much of Oliver and the western portion of downtown until 1988, when the rail yards were phased out of operation and by 1996, the tracks and most buildings had been removed or demolished. This photo shows the huge extent of the yards ca, 1970.

From CN Tower looking west along 104 Ave. Provincial Archives of Alberta #A1086e 

The historic brick building that the Indian Fusion restaurant now occupies, along with its neighbours the Louisiana Purchase restaurant and Privé Nightclub, was built in 1944 alongside the tracks in the rail yard by British American Oil Co. as an oil warehouse, tank storage and pump-room. The smaller brick building to the north of Indian Fusion, which is now the flooring store Urban Timber Reclaimed Wood Co., was originally built at the same time as the B.A. Oil garage. Somehow, both of these buildings survived and now stand as a part of our railway history.

Photo of Oliver Crossing building from Yelp website, Summer 2015

 

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

March 2, 2019 sketchout

We have sketched in restaurants before and it was suggested that we try that again, so we are heading to Indian Fusion – The Curry House at 10322 – 111 St. for our March 2nd sketchout. The very kind owner, Parkash Chhibber, is allowing us come in to sketch at 11am, one hour before their usual opening time. Then we can stay and enjoy a delicious lunch!

NOTE: Please indicate if you are going for sure because I need to make reservations for this sketchout.

Mr. Chhibber is also known for his kindness in feeding those in need. See this Edmonton Journal article here.