Youth and young adults can make their mark on a piece of art for the month May in Regina. An art exhibit called “Make Your Mark” at the George Bothwell Branch at Southland Mall, officially opened Friday. The exhibit is in partnership with the Dunlop Art Gallery and Ranch Ehrlo Society. “This is our fourth year doing the program, So basically this is everything we’ve finished within the year,” said Dustin Ritter, an arts facilitator with the Ranch Ehrlo Society. Ritter is the lead on the project. He said anyone from ages three to 60 have made their mark on a piece in some way, using bingo dabbers, acrylic paint and much more. “We’ll do a kind of draw-along session where they follow me for the steps on how to draw the subject matter they choose and then afterwards they can color their own or help me do a portrait,” Ritter explained. Beyond adding a touch of colour, the exhibit helps to promote inclusivity among the participants. “We have quite a diverse group of folks that are working on this piece. They share a little bit of their culture with each other too. They share stories together which is how they develop what they’re going to do for their art [and] what kind of subject matter their are going to be looking at,” said Sarah Pitman, an arts educator with the Dunlop Art Gallery. It also allows individuals to express their emotions and mental well-being. “I think for mental health is huge. Having projects for people to do where they’re using their hands is the most important. I think is a very good thing for working on confidence and self esteem and all that,” Ritter said. The “Make Your Mark” exhibit will be on display at the George Bothwell Branch Library until May 31.
