Empowered by Faith to Restore Hope, Serve with Grace and Purpose.
OUR MISSION
Erie Community Canvas is a nonprofit art initiative dedicated to transforming public spaces and community life through creative expression, cultural dialogue, and accessible art education. Our mission is to provide free or low-cost art workshops, exhibitions, and creative programs that foster community healing, empower local voices, and inspire connection among neighbors.
OUR VISION
We envision a city where creativity is accessible to all—a community where art is a bridge that unites diverse stories, celebrates culture, and nurtures hope.
USING TALENTS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
1 Peter 4:10
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Every participant’s creativity is a way to serve and build up the community.
Creating art together encourages and uplifts the spirits of the community.
Opening the Day: Tents, Tools, and Teamwork
As the sun rose over the Erie-Ellington Playground, teams of volunteers, artist-instructors, and coordinators arrived with quiet determination and joyful anticipation.
Setting the Stage for Creativity
Fabrice Dorante, a dedicated Erie Community Canvas (ECC) instructor, carefully arranges vibrant acrylic paints, preparing each palette for art subjects from landscapes to abstract designs. His attention to detail ensures a smooth creative process and inspires students to explore the harmony of colors and the endless possibilities each brushstroke offers.
Preparing the Tools of Inspiration
Another team—Mimi Desir, Orphelie Philius, Edna Chery, and Maroocia Saint-Jean—work together to arrange paintbrushes by size, preparing them for the day’s creative sessions. For some of these volunteers, it was the very first time meeting each other, yet their shared passion for art and community instantly sparked a sense of camaraderie.
Building Spaces, Inspiring Art
Another dedicated team—Dezaree, Diana, Joanessa, Francesca, Moise, and Pastor Feder—works together to prepare the setup for the event, carefully arranging easels, positioning chairs, and securing tents to create a comfortable and welcoming space for participants. Their coordinated effort ensures that every detail is ready, transforming the area into an open-air studio where creativity can flourish.
Canvas, Community, and the Call to Create
What began as an empty field quickly transformed into a welcoming art village, alive with purpose and ready to receive the community. Soon, neighbors, families, and curious passersby began to arrive.
A Creative Corner for Kids
Children’s art mentor Orphelie Philius prepares her art station with care, arranging materials and tools to welcome small children into a fun and creative painting experience.
Gathering Before the Canvas
Art instructors and their families gather under the shade of a tree in the park, sharing warm conversations and laughter as they wait for the event to begin. This quiet moment of connection sets a welcoming tone for the creative day ahead.
The Buzz Before the Brushes
As the event kicks off, participants and volunteers gather with excitement, moving from table to table to collect brushes, paints, and canvases. Some pause to ask questions or exchange tips, while others eagerly prepare their stations, ready to bring their creativity to life. The atmosphere buzzes with curiosity
Art Stations Under the Summer Sky at Erie-Ellington Playground
Six vibrant art stations were carefully set up throughout the Erie-Ellington Playground, some shaded under tents and others nestled beneath the trees to create a welcoming outdoor studio. Each station featured a unique landscape theme, offering participants six different scenes to choose from—ranging from serene beaches to rolling hills and colorful sunsets. After selecting their preferred landscape, participants were guided to the corresponding art station, where canvases, paints, and brushes awaited their creative touch.
Preparing for Creativity
Participants eagerly collect their art supplies—brushes, paints, and canvases—ready to begin their creative journey.
Edna Chery’s Tranquil Masterpiece
Art Instructor Edna Chery led her class in creating a tranquil landscape that captures the serene beauty of nature at dusk. Two graceful trees frame a still pond, its surface mirroring the soft pastel tones of the fading sunset sky. Gentle hills in the distance and delicate wildflowers in the foreground evoke a feeling of peace and timeless stillness, inviting viewers to pause and breathe in the calm of the moment.
Fabrice Dorante’s Golden Hour Workshop
Artist instructor and ECC event organizer Fabrice Dorante guided participants through every brushstroke as they recreated a radiant golden sunset—blending vivid skies with soft, shimmering waters. With his patient instruction and encouragement, participants of all skill levels were empowered to paint something extraordinary and discover how far their imagination could take them.
A First for Many, a Memory for All
Many participants shared that they had never taken part in a community art event—never painted outdoors, never expressed themselves creatively in a public space, never experienced this kind of joyful freedom. For some parents, it was the first time they created art side by side with their children, and with other families they had just met that very day. For elders, it was a moment of rediscovering a long-lost creative spark. For youth, it offered a fresh and vibrant outlet—a chance to dream in color, in the open air, without limits.
Golden Meadows and Distant Hills
Under Pastor Simon Demosthene’s guidance, participants—many holding a paintbrush for the first time—created this colorful landscape filled with life and warmth. A field of golden-yellow flowers glows against a lush green meadow, leading the eye to rolling hills layered in purples and blues. Above, the sky transitions from soft pastels to warm golden tones, evoking the calm beauty of dusk. The painting captures both the wonder of nature and the joy of learning to mix colors and transform a blank canvas into something extraordinary.
Art Station 1: A Journey to the Tropics
Artist instructor Nixon Leger led a diverse group of students—ranging from nine-year-old children to adults—at Art Station 1. Under his guidance, participants painted a tranquil seaside landscape, capturing soft turquoise waters, gentle waves, and swaying palm trees that reflected the warmth and beauty of a Caribbean escape.
Tropical Serenity on Canvas
Artist instructor Mimi Desir guides students in painting the serene beauty of a tropical sunset, where the golden sun sinks behind distant mountains. A lone palm tree rises gracefully from a small island, surrounded by rippling waters and gentle waves, evoking the feeling of an untouched Caribbean paradise where time slows and nature whispers peace. In the background, the children’s art station adds a lively touch, with young artists joyfully exploring colors and creativity under her encouragement.
Challenged Invitation: Anyone…
Calling All Local Artists!
Pastor Demosthene is challenging the neighbors of Erie Street, Ellington Street, and nearby intersections to showcase their talent. Paint the Erie-Ellington Playground—a scene alive with fountains and summer glow—on a 15x15 or larger acrylic/oil canvas, and receive $200 cash on the spot at the open-air event. Additionally, if your artwork sells within six months, you’ll receive half of the sale price. Let’s celebrate our community through art—this challenge stays open even after the event!
As the sun began to set, the Erie-Ellington Playground radiated with the joy and creativity that filled the day. Participants of all ages—children, teens, and adults—gathered together, proudly holding up their finished paintings. The grassy area beneath the tall trees became a gallery of vibrant landscapes, butterflies, sunsets, and tropical scenes, each canvas telling its own story of inspiration and discovery. Families smiled, neighbors connected, and first-time painters marveled at the artwork they had created, many for the very first time. The atmosphere was warm and celebratory, with laughter, conversations, and shared pride marking the success of an unforgettable community art experience.