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June is Membership Month at the Niagara Artists Centre, which means it’s the perfect time to launch our new Member of the Moment feature. We asked NAC members about art in Niagara and the number one reason to join the NAC. Artist Christine Cosby tells us how she became a NAC member, about creating a STRUTT Exquisite Caterpillar, and that one of the reasons she loves NAC is that it “provides so many unique and oddball collaborative experiences.”  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.

Christine Cosby is co-founder of Swizzle Studio. Her art practice humourly skews traditional women’s crafts, such as quilts, baby books, and stuffed toys. Cosby also hosts regular “craftercize” get-togethers to encourage spontaneous creativity from artists and non-artists alike. She curated the international collaborative project  (the return of) 3-D Exquisite Corpse exhibition at NAC in 2008. She has also created several pieces of eye-popping wearable art for STRUTT. Cosby is currently working on a Fall Fair series of textile projects for a future exhibition at NAC. She lives in Toronto but visits her parents (also NAC members) in St. Catharines often.

When did you become a NAC member and why?
I joined NAC eight years ago. I met NAC director Steve Remus at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and the rest is history!

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

What’s the best thing about being an artist in Niagara?
Collaborating with other NAC artists.

Name a Niagara artist whose work knocks your socks off.
Melanie MacDonald.

Tell us about a memorable NAC experience.
STRUTT, STRUTT and more STRUTT! Specifically when we worked with young artists (age 10-12) to create the STRUTT Exquisite Caterpillar. It was inspiring and challenging to give the boys the materials and see the results of their creative energy. NAC provides so many unique and oddball collaborative experiences. LOVE IT!

What’s the number one reason to become a NAC member?
Keep art ALIVE in all of us!

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

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