After 44 years of business, it is with a heavy heart, that we announce the closing of Gail Adams Studio of Art in June of 2024.
Gail Adams Studio of Art was established in 1980 by artist and instructor Gail Adams, out of the basement of her home. Over the years, business expanded dramatically. At our busiest, we were teaching approximated 250 students weekly, had 4 classrooms in 3 locations, with multiple instructors, teaching a variety of weekly general and specialized classes, workshops, and camps in different mediums, styles and modalities to all ages from 4 to seniors.
Carey-Lynn Link was one of Gail Adams' first students in 1980, starting classes at the age of 8 yrs old. She joined Gail as an instructor, while in University in 1993, and in 2001 became business partners with Gail, eventually purchasing the studio in 2008. Carey-Lynn moved to BC in 2017, leaving the management of the art school in the trusted hands of Eva Peters-Kooy, a long-time, incredibly talented student of Gail's.
Like many small businesses, the pandemic took a toll on our art school. We had to close our doors temporarily, as many other businesses were required to. When we eventually were able to reopen, we had to do so with class sizes cut in half to accommodate for government restrictions. Our little studio never quite fully recovered.
I am so very grateful to all of the instructors who have been a part of our studio over the years. You have all made a difference in so many students' lives. I appreciate and honour your talent, dedication and hard work on behalf of the studio, for the benefit of your students. I also need to send a huge thank you to Eva. She generously agreed to take over the management of the art school when I moved away. Although I was heartbroken to leave my students, I knew that they were in amazing hands. Eva worked tirelessly over the years to maintain the high caliber of instruction that our reputation was so well known for. She was the one who dealt with the chaos that the pandemic brought, and did an amazing job at re-establishing it when we were able to return. While working a challenging, full time career, she also made the time to dedicate to the success of the studio, answering enquiries, handling registrations, hiring staff, purchasing supplies, as well as teaching. The art school could not have survived without her dedication, determination and amazing work ethic. I will forever be thankful for you.
Over the years, we have taught generations of artists. Our students have become more like friends and family over the years, than simply clients. We have laughed, celebrated, cried, and mourned with our students. We have celebrated graduations, marriages, births and milestones. We have also held space for difficulties in life, health, and mourned the death of several of our art family, both young and old. When I think of all of the lives that we have touched in our 44 years, it makes me so very proud and brings tears to my eyes. We have not only taught our students, but also learned so very much from them. We will hold you all in our hearts and memories. Please keep drawing, painting, creating. We will miss you all so very much.
Much love, Gail, Carey-Lynn and Eva.
Gail Adams Studio of Art
(306) 931-7790
gailadamsartschool@sasktel.net
gailadamsartschool.com