THE MARIAN CENTRE

I LOVE FRIDAYS.  I USUALLY START OFF WITH MY AQUAFIT  AND END WITH ‘DATE NIGHT’.  BUT  IN THE MORNING I AM ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE AFTERNOON HOLDS.  YOU SEE I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED INTO THE PRIVATE SPACE IN THE UPPER ‘CRAFT ROOM’ AT THE MARIAN CENTRE , EDMONTON , TO PAINT AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MOST FRIDAYS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS THANKS TO A MAN NAMED PATRICK STEWART , THE FORMER DIRECTOR AND FELLOW ARTIST. 

TODAY, I BUNDLED UP FOR OUR -15 WEATHER ( WHICH CERTAINLY FELT A LOT COLDER WITH THE WIND CHILL) AND MADE A PIT STOP AT TIM HORTONS FOR A NICE , HOT COFFEE. 

THEN I DROVE DOWNTOWN AND FOUND MY PARKING SPACE AT THE MARIAN CENTRE, A WONDERFUL HOME THAT FEEDS AND CLOTHES THE POOR OF EDMONTON.  THE ‘FAMILY’ ( A LAY APOSTOLATE )OF MADONNA HOUSE ( THERE ARE MANY MANY HOMES AROUND THE WORLD ) WAS STARTED BY CATHERINE DOHERTY AND PART OF HER MANDATE WAS TO BECOME A ‘WHOLE’ PERSON…BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT …AND SHE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO CREATE. 

SO ON THIS FRIDAY I CAME TO START A NEW PAINTING. AND SINCE BEING ON TOUR THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN BACK TO PAINT IN OVER TWO MONTHS.  THERE IS SUCH A COMFORT TO ENTERING THIS WONDERFUL SPACE, TO BE SURROUNDED BY EASLES AND POTTERS’ WHEELS, LOOMS, AND ALL MANNER OF ART SUPPLIES TO ENCOURAGE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. 

THEY LET ME KEEP MY EASLE AND SUPPLIES HERE AND ALTHOUGH I ACTUALLY HAVE MY OWN HOME STUDIO NOW I STILL COME HERE AS IT’S THE PEOPLE, THE FAMILY HERE THAT I MISS SO MUCH WHEN I’M AWAY. 

AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE STARTED A NEW PAINTING BUT IT HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE I CAN CALL IT FINISHED. I AM REALLY ENJOYING WORKING ON THESE BLACK CANVASSES.

I PUT A C.D. ON , (SOMETIMES I LIGHT UP THE POT-BELLIED STOVE), APPLY MY APRON, FILL UP MY WATER , CHOOSE MY PAINTS , AND GET TO WORK.  I HAD A CHANCE  TODAY TO VISIT WITH THE WHOLE MARIAN CENTRE GROUP AS I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND MASS AT THE END OF THE DAY.  BEAUTIFUL. 

STAY TUNED FOR A PEEK AT THE FINISHED PAINTING SOMETIME….