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The arts
Strathcona's
permanent art collection
Strathcona County is proud to display 77 pieces of local
artists' creations in their permanent art collection.
This collection consists of many different media types including watercolours,
mixed media, photography, primitive fired pottery, oils, acrylics, bronze, earthenware
sculpture, steel sculpture, slate, fibre art, gouache, intarsia, monotype, charcoal,
etching, and quilting.
These pieces are located throughout the County in various
municipal buildings and properties, for example many are located at County Hall,
some at the Recreation, Parks & Culture Administration Building, the Library,
Strathcona Public Service Yard, the Transit Centre, Strathcona County Museum
and Archives, County Hall Annex, Heartland Hall, and Strathcona Wilderness Centre.
The pieces that are in the Permanent Collection are in locations which are accessible
to the public. For more information about this collection please contact the switchboard at
Recreation, Parks and Culture at (780) 467-2211.
Smeltzer House Centre for Arts and Culture
Smeltzer House Centre for Arts and Culture offers a variety of courses including watercolour, drawing, stained glass, pottery and crafts.
- Pottery courses
- Visual arts courses
- Registered historic resources
A Registered Historic Site
Maurice Smeltzer was born in 1867 in Huron, Ontario. In 1891, he delivered work horses to Edmonton from Ontario on one of the first trains to reach South Edmonton (Strathcona) from Calgary. He returned with more horses in 1892 and settled on the 480 acre homestead in the Salisbury area on November 14, 1892. The boundaries of what would become Sherwood Park include this Salisbury area.
In 1899, Maurice married Eliza Pithie, a descendent of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. The Smeltzer family were a typical farm family, active in church, local activities and school events. Mr. Smeltzer's success in establishing and operating a farm was evident in the various prizes he won in local exhibitions for grain and livestock.
Smeltzer House was built in 1920 as a residence for the Smeltzer family. Cyril Fry, Maurice's brother-in-law was the architect; Marshall Hughes, a contractor and friend of the family built the house which was Canadian Four-Square style, a common design from 1900-1925.
Smeltzer House was built of solid brick – two walls with an airspace in between. Even the footings are of brick. The bricks were purchased from Acme Brick near St. Albert and shipped by train to the Clover Bar siding. They were moved by team and sleigh to the building site.
Frank Smeltzer, Maurice and Eliza's son lived in the house until 1976 when Recreation, Parks and Culture purchased Smeltzer House and two garages on the three acre site. The three bay garage which is now the Clay Hut Pottery Studio was constructed in the early 1930s. Studio One, the smaller building was the original garage.
Designated a Visual Arts Centre in 1985, Smeltzer House is now home to visual arts programs, art shows and summer programs.
In December 1986 Smeltzer House was designated a Registered Historic Resource by the Minister of Alberta Culture.
The Loft Gallery at the Ottewell Centre
The Loft Gallery is located at 590 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park (in the old Red Barn) and is an art gallery operated by the artists of the Art Society of Strathcona County. The gallery is open every Saturday, from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. (except holidays), and Thursdays, from 5 to 9 p.m.
For more information call (780) 467 4481.
Performing
arts
Festival Place
Sherwood Park is home to this 500-seat Elizabethan-style
performance theatre and meeting location. For a list of upcoming concerts, plays
and performances, or assistance with planning your next meeting or event, please
call Festival Place at (780) 464-2852. For tickets call (780) 449-3378 or visit the Festival Place website.
Josephburg
Presents
Josephburg Presents is a cultural series of 5 or 6 performances that's in its 30th year of presentation. The shows take
place at the Moyer Recreation Centre in Josephburg. For more information contact Adrian Hykaway at (780) 998-7358 or Diane Smith at (780) 998-2740.
For more information on arts, call the Strathcona County Community
Information Line at 780-464-4242 or look in our on-line visitor
directory.
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