Community Art Events & Volunteers

Community Art Events, brought to life by dedicated volunteers, are a testament to the power of community. While art making is often a solitary pursuit, these events provide a platform for us to connect with other creative souls, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging the flourishing of the innovative spirit.



As an artist, I understand the tendency to retreat into our own worlds. However, my move to Nova Scotia presented an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. It took courage, but I decided to volunteer with other creative individuals in my local community, inspiring me to grow and connect in new ways.

When I saw the announcement in the local newspaper about the fundraiser competition, Paint It Out - Battle of the Brushes, I was immediately intrigued. The thought of challenging myself in such a unique event was exhilarating. Without giving myself a chance to back out, I signed up. The only cost? A bit of courage and my own brushes and easel. 

The OLD SCHOOL supplied a few dobs of acrylic paints and a fair-sized canvas to paint for each competition. Artists were set up at the front of the room with their easels and a side table for paints & brushes. The audience quickly filled the room, with standing room only, which made for a lively and spirited auction of all the artworks at the end of the day, raising much-needed funds for the Old School... excellent!

'Bee Nice' 20-minute acrylic painting on canvas by Minaz Jantz 
Theme 'Natures Dance' (photo by Tobbi Dyer)

Theme 'Natures Dance'; 'Bee Nice' 20-minute acrylic painting on canvas
 by Minaz Jantz at the Old School. 
(photo by Tobbi Dyer)

Seven brave artists showed up for the Battle of the Brushes, a mix of ages and artistic abilities. To start the competition, three themes (Vibrant Community, Tangled Gardens & Nature Dance) were written on paper slips and then drawn randomly from a hat. Each idea is destined for 2-20 minute challenges, and the final 2 remaining artists get 30 minutes to paint for the win and $50.00! 

It's a good time for the audience to be entertained, watching the frenzy and flurry of paintbrushes as they slap paint on the canvas for 20-minute sessions. After 20 minutes of painting, the audience votes to list their favorites, with each session eliminating two artists until the last two artists compete for the win. I was voted out in the first round, which was okay by me, as I got to have fun watching the rest of the artists in the competition and had time to connect with a few people in the audience. What a fun day for all, and I will certainly sign up for next year's 2017 Battle of the Brushes!

Dog Day Afternoon, (soft pastel)

My favorite local paper, the Eastern Shore Cooperator, featured an interview by Richard Bell with a local artist from the Old School Gallery in Musquodoboit Harbour.  I contacted the artist Karen Schlick, as mentioned in the article. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of programs offered at the Old School facilities, including the fine art gallery, live music performances, author readings, and art classes, all of which were organized by mostly volunteer staff for the Old School Community facilities. 

MOM was a huge advocate of volunteering for many community organizations and events, such as making Christmas floats, where the family helped make boxes of Kleenex flowers. Then there were the fun community event fundraisers, dances, and banquets, with 'OHH' counting the buckets of coleslaw prepared from her Braun chopper!  Mom also served on the board of art councils for years to promote the arts. Her solution for self-healing loneliness, depression, and boredom is to find a place where her talents can help empower others and nourish the soul by doing something to improve her community. I grew up volunteering for various organizations, including those focused on the arts, animal welfare, children's programs, and community garbage pickup. 

Dog Day Afternoon
 Pastel by Minaz Jantz. Being an artist by trade usually means that, somewhere along the line,

 there will be times when you are asked to volunteer for group art shows. I was very pleased to be accepted by the OLD SCHOOL Art gallery group, and I was just in time for the SEASON OPENING! It was joyful to connect with a few local artists whom I have since met at various other functions. 

The Old School art group has such an impressive range of talent & painting styles to suit many tastes in art and craft. The volunteers do a great job with the art & craft displays, which look well in the ambient light of the old school room, a charming place to showcase art for the community & tourists to view and purchase local art & crafts. 

What I liked is that THE OLD SCHOOL gallery changes the art throughout the season, so it encourages us, artists, to keep bringing in fresh art, which is more enticing for the local people to regularly drop by to engage in the latest art display.
  

This year, the OLD SCHOOL gallery has also offered one dedicated wall space, FEATURING one artist to showcase their series of artworks. The feature wall changes every two weeks with another artist's series. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! I took the opportunity to attend as many featured artists' openings as I could, to say hello and discuss their artwork.  

Minaz is on the far right, talking about pastels!
(In the meeting room at THE OLD SCHOOL, photo by Harry Hamm)

Another event came up for me to volunteer at THE OLD SCHOOL this summer season... I signed up for the Petals & Paint event, where artists collaborate with local gardeners to showcase their gardens' beautiful petals, all arranged in artsy displays for the competition. I do not know how they can judge flowers, as they are all winners!

Karen Schlick is decorating clay pots for 
art demonstration at The Old School. 
(photo by Harry Hamm)

Meanwhile, back in the room, are Karen Schlick, Barb King, Betty-Ann Gaetz, and I at our dedicated tables, demonstrating various painting mediums for people to watch and ask any questions. I showcased soft pastels and various pastel papers to enchant people with the beauty and versatility of soft pastels. I have not talked so much in one day since moving to Nova Scotia! I had a delightful time in such an easy-going venue. 

West Ship Harbour Rd. Lower Ship Harbour,  Nova Scotia. 

This was going to be my dock to paint from for the day! The weather started out with menacing, heavy, dark clouds, but it turned out to be a sunny, hot day without winds, which is unusual for being on the ocean.

The Deanery Project, organized by Kim Thompson, the Executive Director of the Deanery Project, decided to try out a spontaneous Plein Aire event, sending word out to as many creative persons as they could find. I received an email from Karen Schlick and signed up immediately for the weekend event. This year's personal goal was to participate in one plein air painting session with oil paints, and here was my opportunity. The day of painting was free to attend, and we received a complimentary vegetarian lunch as a token of appreciation for our hard work. It could be said that all of us who attended were not only inspired by the natural, gorgeous views, but what was most enjoyable was gathering together to talk and do art. What a treat to also have FREE homemade snacks & a vegetarian lunch to share with us all.

The Deanery Project: One of the small building projects on site.

'The Deanery Project is a not-for-profit organization with a focus on the environment, youth and community, natural building, and the arts.  We are open year-round, offering programs and projects connected to a wide variety of learning, recreational, and research opportunities, especially those related to energy, forests, health, active transportation, and rural living.' from their website here...

'The Red Cottage at Ship Harbour, NS', oil on canvas board.

I started out with moody, dark clouds, and it was high tide when I began to paint. However, by the end of the day, it was low tide, revealing the bright yellow seagrasses and abundant sunshine. I was chasing the day's changes in scenery and trying to capture them on the canvas! 

Usually, I use a pencil and pastel for Plein air paintings. Still, I decided to challenge myself with a minimal oil paint palette, as used by 19th-century French landscape painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. His paintings had a defused glow of natural earth tones, featuring soft blues, yellows, and a single green. 

Portable Palette by Mijello
Cottonwood Canvas painting boards in a booklet.

Portable Palette by Mijello
Minimal paint palette with Titanium White, Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Chromium Oxide (green), and Alizarin Crimson (red).

What a glorious day, once again, with a group of artists sharing the joy of painting outdoors. We all donated our paintings for a silent auction to raise funds for The Deanery Project. 

Portable Palette by Mijello
Minimal paint palette with Titanium White, Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Ultramarine Blue, 
Chromium Oxide (green) and Alizarin Crimson (red).
Photo by Jeffrey R Fish

Minaz Jantz & Kim Thompson, Executive Director of the Deanery Project. 
Photo by Jeffrey R Fish

Spinderella Soap...read more here

'Fall for Books' was the final event that allowed me to challenge myself this year. I was invited to join the list of authors to read from my illustrated adult storybook, 'Spinderella Soap'. I tell ya, it was nerve-wracking for me to get up in front of people and perform a read after being reclusive for several years, but I DID IT and kept saying to myself, " I will not DIE and will live through the experience, so smarten up, you've done more life-threatening things than this!". 

Spinderella Soap #12 Sand Castle Shrine by Minaz Jantz
read & view more illustrations here

What a surprise to be in a room full of seasoned published authors. I had no idea how the day would transpire, as I had never attended a writer's reading and was engaged in listening to them share their writing styles, personal struggles, and insights into the world of writing. Another inspiring day for me, and I did not die of fright!

It's been a beneficial year for my creative pursuits, having stepped out of my comfort zone to connect with other local volunteers & participants who all helped to exhilarate my creative soul!  Minaz