Cultivated features the work of eight MHC Art and Design Alumni, and showcases where they have gone since they have graduated (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

reflecting on college days

Esplanade exhibit highlights MHC artist success stories

Jan 22, 2022 | 10:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Artists Theresa Eisenbarth, Maureen Newton and Melissa Chinski all have one thing in common. They are all graduates of the Medicine Hat College’s Art and Design Program. Eisenbarth graduated from the program in 1989 and remembers well, what life was like all those years ago.

“Medicine Hat College was a great place to go to school. They had very small class sizes. I think in our class we had about 12 to 15 students at a time,” Eisenbarth said.

Unlike today, computers were a bit of an enigma when Eisenbarth was in school.

“When I went they had bought computers, and they put them into a room and no one knew how to work the computers to do graphic design. I mean it was an easy course I think at the end of the course you got a printout with a whole bunch of lines on it, no one knew, it was so foreign back then,” she said

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Most of the work was done manually, and that meant a lot of time spent on assignments. But the ggruellingwork created memories that Eisenbarth still looks back on today.

“I remember being up at 3 a.m. sitting outside the print-making studio because we had a silk-screening project that was due so again bittersweet because there were just so many hours that we had to put into graduate. But I loved all of it,” she said.

Now many years later Eisenbarth is most known for her paintings in and around Medicine Hat. She does a lot of commission work and recently branched off into painting southern Alberta Landscapes. Her work and the work of seven other alumni are featured at the Esplanade. Cultivated is a showing of talent from those whose roots all started off the same.

Maureen Newton remembers what it was like being a student at the Art and Design program. She graduated in 1985 and went on to study at the University of Lethbridge afterward.

“I think I was pretty quiet. I remember one of my instructors, I did a painting and I was small and quiet and didn’t say too much and then all of a sudden did these larger expressive, colourful, paintings, and people were like, ‘wow that came out of you? That’s pretty surprising,”’ she said.

Now Newton is the owner of Inspire Studio and Cafe in the city’s downtown core. Her piece at the Esplanade is called “Beauty Revealed” and it was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her art piece features the painted faces of women in Medicine Hat who are all wearing masks which can be removed by the person viewing the art.

“I realized that I really missed people’s faces, and I really don’t recognize people that I know very well,” she said of her piece.

Another graduate, Melissa Chinski, came through the program in 2005, and unlike the Eisenbarth and Newton, she went into graphic design. Years later, she established a successful graphic design business, Flag Five. Her company is responsible for the graphic designs of businesses and buildings in southern Alberta, including the Esplanade. Reflecting back, Chinski credits the program for helping her build success.”

“I would say that all of the teachers were really motivating to get you to where you want to go as far as your career,” she said.

Three women, three success stories, and an appreciation from the place that helped them get started.

The Cultivated exhibit is on display until Apr. 9. Admission is pay what you will.