Amid the sea of shinny at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre this weekend, artist Sue Penry passed out paintbrushes and pressed sports fans to get in touch with their artistic side for her Rogers Hometown Hockey legacy project.
“For wellness in our lives, we need both sport and creativity,” said the Cochrane-based fine artist. “To me, they just fit so well.”
Penry parked herself in the lobby of the sports centre for two days, and started off Saturday by painting two hockey players on a blank canvas – then asked passersby to “make their mark” around them.
As the weekend continued, the palette became more packed with pictures of hockey paraphernalia, team names and logos, abstract designs … and lots of love.
“Look at all the hearts,” said Penry, as she admired the artwork. “As you look, you see the layers underneath.”
Penry said the Town of Cochrane will ultimately decide where the legacy project will make its home to commemorate the hockey weekend –it may remain at the sports centre, or possibly hang at the Cochrane RancheHouse.
No matter where it ends up, she said the painting carries with it the spirit of the sport and the warmth of the weekend.
“I picked up on the energy and the spirit, which goes along with it,” she said. “This community (has) that spirit.”
