Yarmouth Creatives thriving in Yarmouth Mall

Empty space in a local mall is being filled in a beautiful way thanks to a partnership between the Yarmouth Art Society (YAS) and the Yarmouth Mall.

The project is called Yarmouth Creatives and features the work of YAS members available for sale.

Each artist is allowed to have 10 square feet in the space (formerly Bentleys) for $10 and there is no commission on work that is sold.

The range of medium is impressive and includes watercolour/oil paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery and many unusual forms of art including ships in bottles.

Recently, Yarmouth Creatives held its first art show in the location, in partnership with Conseil de les Art de la Baie.

YAS president Judy Jenkins says the show was “quite successful” with all available tables being booked and filled with handmade crafts and artwork ranging from folk art, watercolour and acrylic painting to sewing.

“We also had demos of knitting, rug hooking, weaving, drum making and assembling ships in bottles,” she says.

“Many shoppers stopped by. Some were just curious. Others bought Christmas gifts or a little something special for themselves.”

Vice president Cynthia Perry says the Yarmouth Mall provides the free space and YAS volunteers staff it.

The society has another new initiative called Circle of Friends. Members can donate funds or provide in-kind support to assist YAS with bringing people together with art, which “allows all involved to see, experience and understand the world in new ways.”

“It’s for people who really believe in, and want to support, the arts,” says Perry.

The funds would help the society to become more inclusive.

Cynthia Perry, vice president of the Yarmouth Art Society. “We want to be able to offer more workshops – for seniors, after-school-programs and other groups at a reasonable fee instead of charging a high price,” says Perry.

Donations would assist with expanding YAS programming to the public, increase the number of workshops, and support special presentations and festivals.

There are now 160 members belonging to YAS, which was founded in the 1950s.

Meetings are held monthly from September to June and an annual membership is $15.

Books and DVDs are available on loan for a period of two weeks.

This month’s featured artist Kelliann Land says she appreciates Yarmouth Creatives "as a place where diverse artists of various levels engage with the public through displays and the workshops."

“It’s a place to promote local art and engage with the community," says Land. "It’s a simple cooperative venture between the visual arts and crafts community and business. A much-needed space during the pandemic for the artists and the public.

Ivan Blades, who is known for the ships in bottles that he carefully constructs says Yarmouth Creatives is what Yarmouth needed. He finds it interesting to see the depth of the artists in the area .

"Younger artists and well established ones enjoy this common space," he says.

“It’s for people who really believe in, and want to support, the arts.” Cynthia Perry Yarmouth Art Society vice-president