Christmas at Casa holiday sale showcasing city artists

By Lethbridge Herald on November 19, 2021.

Terry Beaton, of the Chinook Woodturning Guild, peers through a kaleidoscope he crafted. Beaton is among the artisans involved with Christmas at Casa. Herald photo by Al Beeber

Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald

The Chinook Woodturning Guild has been a part of Lethbridge’s art scene for about 15 years and its members were out in force on Friday on the first day of the Christmas at Casa holiday sale.

The two-day event runs today from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Casa, 230 8 Street South.

People who want to attend the free timed event must, however, sign up at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/christmas-at-casa-2021-tickets-199300863247.

Casa is involved with the Restrictions Exemptions Program and all attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination. Masks are mandatory.

Christmas at Casa is now in its ninth year, said Kelaine Devine of the Allied Arts Council. But after last year’s event was staged online, the 2021 version has the doors of Casa open again.

The event is one of several running this weekend which includes the Art & Craft Passport. Attendees hitting the Casa show, the Holiday Market at SAAG, the Indigenous Market at Fort Whoop-up and the Galt Museum store can have their names entered into a draw to win a gift basket.

The Casa sale features 39 vendors throughout the building representing numerous disciplines including pottery, glassworks, jewelry, fine art, textiles, photography and wood-turning.

Terry Beaton, who runs Terry’s Wood Products, is among the woodturners selling his works. Beaton utilizes numerous kinds of wood including Purple Heart, a Central American wood and Canary Wood from Brazil which is often used for railway ties. Zebra wood, walnut, ash and plum wood from Magrath are also used in his works which range from kaleidoscopes to rolling pins.

The guild has about 40 members and meets twice monthly, he said.

Roger McMullin, the founding president of the guild, said interest has grown strongly in Lethbridge. McMullin, whose pieces range from bowls to woodwork, says “it takes a few years to get up to speed” with woodturning.

The guild is also staging a fundraiser at the show for the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation selling handcrafted ornaments on a tree in their sales area. They are also selling hand-made wooden tops for $5, the proceeds of which go to the Lethbridge Food Bank.

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