Galt program paints winters of the past

By Theodora MacLeod - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on January 19, 2024.

Herald photo by Theodora MacLeod The Galt Museum gave attendees the chance to learn about winters past in Lethbridge and paint their own snowy scenes as part of Wednesday's Creative Communities program.

On a fittingly snowy day, a small group gathered at the Galt Museum for the Creative Communities program to learn a little about winters past in Lethbridge and paint their own snowy scenes.

Through the floor to ceiling windows the coulee was blanketed in snow, near white out conditions that made even the university campus hard to spot across the river.

Opening the activity, Kristin Krein, Community Program Coordinator at the Galt, shared the Blackfoot word for the season, Akaisstoyiiwa, and a slideshow of photographs to inspire the small group of artists.

The featured photographs showed snowy scenes throughout Lethbridge’s history-all of which can be found in the Galt archives-providing a sobering perspective of the challenges winter brought to those without the comforts of modern technology.

While winterwear this week means down-filled coats with water-resistant fabrics and easy-to-fasten zippers, cold weather fashion of the early 20th century meant layers, wool, and for those fortunate enough to have access to them, furs.

When the paint on canvases had finally dried and the artists had fulfilled their vision, the few attendees ventured back into the cold with their masterpieces in hand.

The next Creative Communities session is on Black history Feb. 7.

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