Trail Art Club

Address: c/o Visac Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, BC, V1R 4C7
Phone: (250) 367-7335
Fax:
E-mail:
Website:
Contact Person: Elaine Martin

History:

During the War years the Knox United Ladies Auxiliary had the desire to study Art History & try their hand at painting. They met each week in Tadanac homes, had critiques & helped each other. As time went on they decided to hold an Art Exhibition, instead of the usual Craft and Bake Sales. The Art Exhibition was a huge success. They decided to hold one every year. At this point they asked the Trail Art Club to help them.

The Trail Art Club was organized under the leadership of Mrs. Joyce Christie, who taught Art at Trail Junior High School at Night School.

The Trail Art Club was pleased to help with the Exhibitions and by the mid 1950’s they amalgamated as Trail Arts Club and drew up the Club Constitution.

For many years the Exhibitions ere held in Tadanac Hall, and were attended by up to 1200 viewers. Many schools in the area were invited to guided tours of the Exhibitions, and a scholarship was given each year.

Every second year some prominent Artists were invited to exhibit their work, along with all the local Artists.

There was excellent leadership and good cooperation in the membership. They were well organized and worked hard and especially writing and arranging dates of guest Artists, unpacking and packing of Art coming in by freight.

Tadanac women had their husbands, many of which were local doctors, help with manual labour.

There were no computers, no faxing, or e-mail in those years, yet they took time for thank you cards and letters.

The City of Trail respected all that was being done and obliged in any way they could help.

Each year CM & S (Now Tech Cominco) sent their Trail Art Club a cheque in appreciation of all that was being done in our community.

The meetings were limited to 30 in the Tadanac homes, and there was a waiting list! The club really grew so we rented Halls to hold our monthly meetings.

With some sixty members we rented various halls for most monthly meetings and also Halls to have our Fall Exhibitions at. All our panels etc. were stored and had to be trucked each year to the Exhibition Hall.

Trail Art Club wanted to have a Gallery and storage space of their own, our leaders were there on the spot to ask when news was out, of restoring the Trail Jr. High Building and space was given to Trail Art Club.

We all worked hard, painting walls, and furnishing the space alloted to us. The opening was a happy day.

There have been many changes over the years. The Visac Gallery is a good outcome, though the Trail Art Club itself is much smaller, we still meet each month and see the importance of being affiliates of the VISAC Gallery and The Trail & District Arts Council.

Scholarship:

We continue to give the Scholarship each year (The Dr. V. Fanderlik Scholarship) and we are proud that the Art classes of area schools exhibit their art at the VISAC Gallery each year.

Activities:

Trail Art Club decorates a Christmas Tree each year for the Trail Regional Hospital Foyer. We hand-make our own decorations. For many years we have looked after the “Paint In” for Kiddies Capers on Silver City Days. We have had an annual picture rental in a number of Business places, over quite a number of years.

Exhibition:

The Club has an Exhibition in the Gallery each year, along with the Rossland Art Club.

We welcome new members.

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