Stitching Together Keeps Us Young

Marina Parsons Feel and Smell the Salt Air

“We are not governed by age. It is only a number. We are governed by how much we can and are willing to do,” says Joanne Peddle, a member of the Smile, Stitch and Stay art group. “I think a lot of people in the generation before us, they stopped living when they were sixty-five or seventy, whereas our generation is striving to go forward.”

Willie Loder My Father’s Fishing Shed

Being creative, being together, and staying active into their senior years are some of the driving forces behind this group of artists whose work is now in the Rotary Arts Centre Open Galley. 

“They come to my place on Wednesday afternoons,” says Bride Field Locke, who informally leads this group and helps to teach them new techniques. “They all have lots of good ideas!” Bride grew up doping fabric art. “I work with wool now, and wood, as well as thread painting,” says Bride. 

Maxine Brake Miss Rumphius Was Here

Now that the exhibition is up on the RAC walls, artist Maxine Brake is already planning her next artwork. Her next project will be of a blue heron, using many different kinds of textile mediums.When asked about how she feels to be part of the Smile, Stitch and Stay art group Maxine says, “When you are in a milieu where creation is enjoyed, it motivates and inspires you. I love it”

Katie Wadden The Fish

“It is a nice idea for seniors to get together and do something constructive, whether it is art or something else,” says artist Katie Watton.”I never thought in my life I would put my work in an exhibition!” continues Katie. I have crossed something off my bucket list which I didn’t even know I wanted on my bucket list!”

Check out their exhibition from Jan. 22 to Mar. 5 2025 in the Open Gallery at the Rotary Arts Centre.