History
An excerpt from our archives...
Artists of Kerrisdale, formerly the Kerrisdale Art Club celebrated its 67th anniversary in 2022. It had its beginnings as the Kerrisdale Sketch Club in 1955 and started in the basement of the Kerrisdale Community Centre, Vancouver B.C. In a time when men & women were referred to as Mr. or Mrs. and female teachers were called instructress .
"The Kerrisdale Sketch Club was organized in the Kerrisdale Community Centre in September, 1955. It began with evening classes, and in February 1956 afternoon classes were added; later the evening classes were discontinued because of lack of attendance.
Mrs. Nina Saunders took an active part in organizing and working with the Sketch Club until her departure for Toronto in 1958. During this time Miss Mary Lorimer and Mrs. Mary Wye also contributed greatly to the success of the club.
In September, 1958, Mrs. C. Ketchen was elected President of the Sketch Club, and Mrs. Mildred Valley-Thornton was engaged as instructress.
In September, 1959, Mrs. G.V. Rhoades was elected President, and Mrs. Mabel McWilliam replaced Mrs. Thornton as instructress. Mrs. Rhoades held the office of President for two years, and Mrs. McWilliam was also retained for a second term.
In 1960 the Club had an exhibit of its pictures in the Community Centre, in April. Because of the success of this show another followed in December of the same year. A third show was staged in June, 1961, and following the exhibit the pictures were transferred to the Library, where they were on display for the month of July.
There were various instructors, including Gordon Kit Thorne, until Mrs. M. McGill, who had been with the Art Club from 1968 to 2012.
The group of 26 members holds its weekly sessions on a Thursday morning in the Kerrisdale Community Centre. The name of the club was eventually changed in 1980 to the Kerrisdale Art Club. In 2010 they celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Kerrisdale Art Club. It subsequently changed its name to the Artists of Kerrisdale and maintains a group of 26 artists with a rotation of professional instructors teaching each week."
Artists of Kerrisdale, formerly the Kerrisdale Art Club celebrated its 67th anniversary in 2022. It had its beginnings as the Kerrisdale Sketch Club in 1955 and started in the basement of the Kerrisdale Community Centre, Vancouver B.C. In a time when men & women were referred to as Mr. or Mrs. and female teachers were called instructress .
"The Kerrisdale Sketch Club was organized in the Kerrisdale Community Centre in September, 1955. It began with evening classes, and in February 1956 afternoon classes were added; later the evening classes were discontinued because of lack of attendance.
Mrs. Nina Saunders took an active part in organizing and working with the Sketch Club until her departure for Toronto in 1958. During this time Miss Mary Lorimer and Mrs. Mary Wye also contributed greatly to the success of the club.
In September, 1958, Mrs. C. Ketchen was elected President of the Sketch Club, and Mrs. Mildred Valley-Thornton was engaged as instructress.
In September, 1959, Mrs. G.V. Rhoades was elected President, and Mrs. Mabel McWilliam replaced Mrs. Thornton as instructress. Mrs. Rhoades held the office of President for two years, and Mrs. McWilliam was also retained for a second term.
In 1960 the Club had an exhibit of its pictures in the Community Centre, in April. Because of the success of this show another followed in December of the same year. A third show was staged in June, 1961, and following the exhibit the pictures were transferred to the Library, where they were on display for the month of July.
There were various instructors, including Gordon Kit Thorne, until Mrs. M. McGill, who had been with the Art Club from 1968 to 2012.
The group of 26 members holds its weekly sessions on a Thursday morning in the Kerrisdale Community Centre. The name of the club was eventually changed in 1980 to the Kerrisdale Art Club. In 2010 they celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Kerrisdale Art Club. It subsequently changed its name to the Artists of Kerrisdale and maintains a group of 26 artists with a rotation of professional instructors teaching each week."