“People who have nowhere to go when they’re on the streets usually have something to do by
coming here to the Armoury to keep themselves out of trouble and themselves safe from gangs
and that. This is like a safe environment and with the (YESS) shelter where I go it’s a night
program. It provides a safe sleeping place for homeless youth.”
In expressing his desire for a safe space, Alec happens to echo the vision of Glenise whose
own dream was to create a safe and nurturing place.
Theo points out that the Youth Emergency Shelter on Whyte Avenue is just a walk through the ravine from the gallery and studio in Strathearn. The space, in a strip mall at 95th Avenue and 87th Street, was once occupied by a seedy massage parlour above a notorious pub. Its reinvention as a non-profit gallery and studio came about because of the extremely affordable rent offered to tenants willing to take temporary digs until development in the neighborhood necessitates a move.
The rent is a lucky break and for now Glenise and Theo are focused on the present, getting
ready next for the next show and enjoying the ability to give back.
“Community is important to us,” says Theo. “Maybe by doing these sort of projects, we open ourselves up to meeting other people in the community. Every show changes. You choose a different group of people who don’t often get an option to participate in a workshop that allows them to express themselves visually. And people might lose stories that should be heard.”
Her words on community resonate with Tianna. She credits YESS, Allison Tunis and several
others with helping her progress as an artist.
“I’ve learnt the value of community endeavours in making any dream of yours possible,” says
Tianna. “There’s community available in art fields and anything you want to do. All it takes is pushing yourself to get off the proverbial couch. I was able to make art that I've turned into prints and being apart of Dandi-lines is validation that anyone can be an artist and that in the Edmonton arts community we value all that come to be apart of it.”
Photographer: Ian Stewart
The Opening of "The Way We See It" is on January 25, 2018 from 4:30-8:30. The show will run until February 25, 2018. The Gallery is open on Fridays from 10:00 to 4:00 or by booking an appointment via the website.