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Art Focus fetes May Days

It was an event at Port Coquitlam's Carnoustie golf course that got the ball rolling.

It was an event at Port Coquitlam's Carnoustie golf course that got the ball rolling.

Colin Craig, the president of the Port Moody Art Association, was speaking with John Grasty, the ArtsConnect president, about the need to start another Tri-City arts club because dozens of artists wanted to join his group but, because of fire restrictions with the room size, they were were on a two-year waiting list.

With Grasty's help, Craig got in touch with Port Coquitlam arts and culture staff and set up a meeting at Hazel Trembath elementary, calling many people on the PoMo waiting list.

About 50 Tri-City artists showed up at the inaugural meeting on Nov. 13, 1993 and, from that, Art Focus was born. Today, the group has 55 members working at all levels and in all mediums. And last month, it recognized Craig for founding the non-profit organization, bestowing him with the title of honourary member.

After 19 years, Art Focus "is an awesome group. It's way better than what I ever imagined it to be," Craig said. "We have very supportive members. It's a very nurturing environment."

The group meets three times a week at the Leigh Square Community Arts Village, a venue that Craig helped to design with a city advisory group. Its first monthly meeting is an open workshop, the second zeroes in on club business while the third offers a public demonstration.

Education plays a big part in Art Focus' mandate, providing $200 scholarships to art graduates of Archbishop Carney, Riverside and Terry Fox secondaries with money raised through 50/50 draws and at art shows. As well, Art Focus members set up a station during Canada Day at Castle Park to help kids learn to paint.

Besides the tri-monthly meetings and outreach events, Craig said Art Focus limits its shows to two a year: a large pre-Christmas gathering in November and during May Days, the latter of which happens this weekend at The Outlet (2253 Leigh Sq., PoCo). The spring sale runs on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Craig, a retired shipbuilder who paints images of boats and marine life in acrylics and watercolours, will have four works on display. Dozens of other original paintings as well as giclees, photographs and sculpture will be available, with many of the artists on hand to answer questions.

For more information, go to www.myartclub.com/artfocus.

jwarren@tricitynews.com