Library showcases up-and-coming artist

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

When Susie Thursby required surgery on her right shoulder and arm two years ago, she was forced to utilize her left side.
The task wasn’t difficult for the Strathmore local who is considered ambidextrous – using her right and left hand equally well – but the left hand quickly proved itself her artistic hand.
Having grown up in a family of artists, Thursby never considered herself in the same league as her relatives and therefore never pursued art as a passion. Yet her predicament in 2016 meant the mother of four and grandmother of three turned to canvases and acrylic paints to suppress her boredom.
The hobby quickly blossomed into a bright colourful body of work that can now be viewed for the first time at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“I never thought I was good enough, so I didn’t really pursue it,” said Thursby. “I come from an artistic family, I’m generation three. At first I was really apprehensive about my work, because I find that my family (is) much more talented than I am, but they’re not doing anything with it. I have a dream. I was finally putting my life somewhere, even if it was on a canvas with a whole bunch of colour. I feel like I’m accomplishing something in my life, which I always wanted to.”
Thursby grew up in Alberta, and recently moved to Strathmore to be with family shortly after fulfilling another dream to visit Canada’s east coast – inspiration that can now be seen in a number of her paintings. While she considers herself to be an abstract artist, she’s incorporated floral and landscape elements into her work. Carmen Erison, the assistant director of library services with the Strathmore Municipal Library, came across an online inquiry by Thursby to display her art. A total of 26 of the pieces are now hanging in the library’s gallery space for the month of March.
“I think people typically think that an art gallery is strictly for professionals and that’s not true, especially our art gallery (where) we like to feature all levels of art and photography,” said Erison. “Susie is one of our first amateur artists. What really inspired me about her art was how good she is for being only less than two years in this hobby of hers. That struck me as wow we need to showcase her.”
Thursby has no professional training but is already receiving interest from other establishments and organizations eager to display her work or make use of her talent.
While she said she was always creative – quilting and stenciling – art allows her to express herself and inspire others.
“It’s a new hobby,” she said. “Creativity has always been a part of my life but it never really came to the forefront so this is a really big part of my dream already. Here I am in this short time sharing part of me with other people and other people are enjoying it. I don’t intend to get rich doing it, that’s not my goal; but I want to go away from this life thinking I inspired somebody else.”
Susie Thursby’s paintings range from $60 to $120 and will be on display at the Strathmore Municipal Library until March 31.