New face at Hope Bridges Up-Cycling program

Times Contributor      

 

A new face has appeared at Hope Bridges’ Up-Cycling program in art facilitator Trish Nelson who started on April 3.

Nelson hails from the Calgary area and now resides in Strathmore with her husband and two elementary-aged children. Her background of expertise comes from her two degrees, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and a Bachelor of Education, obtained at the University of Lethbridge. Currently she is also employed as a Family Support worker with Stepping Stones Triple P as a practitioner and a substitute teacher with Golden Hills School Division. Nelson has a lot of experience in teaching art privately and through various offered courses with further education in Wheatland county and surrounding areas

Nelson’s heart lies with those who are challenged, both children and adults. Her dream is to see an integration of the whole community, all adults of all abilities, coming to the program. Hope Bridges is a place where Nelson’s abilities to teach and be creative will shine. Her dream for the Up-Cycling program is to continue to encourage more community members to come out, for those who want to be creative, make connections in the community a great place for seniors and stay-at-home Moms.

Art is very much about process. Nelson’s motto is to “Step out and try it and see what can be discovered about yourself in the process. Think outside the box without any preconceived expectations and see what you can produce.”

One recent project that continued with the theme of the Up-Cycling program was to use a pop bottle in three ways, which saw three wonderful take-home projects completed in the morning. The bottom of a plastic pop bottle was used to create Easter baskets, the middle was used to make magnetic butterflies for on the fridge and the top was used to create a flowerpot. While it is rewarding to make and take projects, the Up-Cycling program is also very concious of making “community projects” and working on bigger items such as their FLIGHT, DREAM, and BELIEVE auction items coming up for sale in their Art Auction night on May 10.

Nelson invites everyone to come out on Thursday mornings at the Leary Centre to check out all that the Up-Cycling program is doing.