idea had been floating around, so when Jane came into our lives it seemed like the Painting Club was meant to be.” Shabrak added that the club has been “nothing but fun” and she appreciates Horton’s knowledge of art along with her kindness and willingness to support and teach the artistic group. The Painting Club is made up of HMC residents who explore their creativity along with Horton and other members of the staff. The club currently has 12 members. Horton feels strongly that the people who are participating in the Painting Club be allowed as free a reign as possible in their artwork. She usually prepares a brief introduction at the top of each class and ensures the proper supplies are available. “After that I push and encourage the artists to soar, create and not be limited to or try to meet the expectations of someone else,” Horton said. The Painting Club is definitely not a paint-by-the-numbers kind of group. Shabrak thinks that Horton’s ability to give a short history about artists and their works has helped the HMC Painting Club expand its horizons. “Jane has encouraged us to try new ways to paint. We tried different mediums and our artists really enjoyed going out of their comfort zones and being creative and trying new things,” Shabrak said. An example of getting the club out of its comfort zone occurred on the
evening when Horton arranged for the class to meet outdoors so everyone could experiment with the drip-and-splatter style of Jackson Pollack. The new setting was, at first , slightly intimidating to the class, as was the technique that was different from anything they had done before. “Even the uneven terrain and picnic tables were out of the norm for some. But once they gained confidence, our artists just took off,” Horton said. The Mankato area will have the opportunity to see some of the Painting Club’s work at an upcoming art show. The exhibit runs from March 1 through April 30 at the Landkammer Building with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 19th. M
MANKATO MAGAZINE • MARCH 2012 • 13