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June is Membership Month at the Niagara Artists Centre. We asked NAC members about art in Niagara and the number one reason to join the NAC. In this interview, artist Alexa Fraser tells us about giant puppets, an artist whose work makes her happy, and that beauty, affordability, and a “small and supportive community” make Niagara the perfect place to be an artist.

Sign up for your very own NAC membership online or stop by NAC at 354 St. Paul Street in St. Catharines during gallery hours to get your membership in person. Sign up in June, and your name will be entered in a draw for a Special STRUTT Wearable Art Weekend package that includes a pair of Curator’s Row tickets (front row seats) to the Saturday night runway show.

Alexa Fraser is a St.Catharines native who has returned to the Niagara Region to join in the growing Arts and Culture scene. With a B.Des in Fashion Design from Ryerson University and professional Design experience in the States, Alexa’s very excited about creating Art and Design locally. Since returning to St.Catharines, Alexa has contributed to STRUTT, Canada’s Largest Wearable Art Show, for the past five years, sold work at the past three Niagara Artist Centre’s Small Feats Art Shows and created interactive installations in the past three In the Soil Arts Festivals. She recently had pieces featured in the City of St.Catharines/NAC Emblemata display at Centennial Gardens and in the inaugural Art City, the Niagara Nights of Art, St.Catharines Edition put on by the St.Catharines Downtown Association in 2012. Alexa was very thrilled to produce her first solo art show in the NAC Dennis Tourbin Members’ Gallery in 2013, entitled “It Surely Must Be Time to Boogie.” This was a show of embroidered illustrations and was supported by the Ontario Arts Council Exhibit Assistance Program. Alexa greatly enjoyed sewing costumes for Garden City Productions‘ “The Full Monty” in the fall of 2013 and was very excited to start her first season as a seamstress at the Shaw Festival Theatre in 2014. For the Summer of 2014, Alexa’s looking forward to teaching kids sewing camps at the Sewing Room in St.Catharines and working as the co-Costume Designer for Guilty by Association’s production of Antigonick by Anne Carson, being staged at the Toronto Summerworks Festival.

When did you become a NAC member and why?
In 2009, when I moved back to St.Catharines. I wanted to join the growing Arts community in St.Catharines and I knew that the NAC is a huge part of all this awesomeness!

Are you an artist, an art appreciator or both?
Both.

What’s the best thing about being an artist in Niagara?
It’s a very small and supportive community. It’s a beautiful and affordable area to live in, which makes a creative living attainable.

Name a Niagara artist whose work knocks your socks off.
I’m a big fan of Kevin Richardson, an amazing painter and musician from Welland. I have a few of his pieces at home and just looking at them makes me happy.

Tell us about a memorable NAC experience.
I had a couple of giant puppets in the last STRUTT Wearable Art Show and seeing them on stage with the Sadies playing live was a pretty incredible moment.

What’s the number one reason to become a NAC member?
To be a part of a growing creative community and to find out about great events and artistic opportunities.

Check back for more Member of the Moment interviews throughout June.

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