A Colorful Retrospective

October – December 2021
The Jasper Cultural & Historical Centre
Maple Creek, SK

What motivates a prairie gypsy child to choose life-long learning through the arts?

• Gifts of many coloring books and art supplies

• A supportive Maple Creek grandmother

• Children’s arts and crafts camps at Jasper School

• Adult classes from Medicine Hat’s various art clubs and Emma Lake workshops

• Membership in a women’s co-op, Studio 6 (now Studio San Paulo) for 35 years

• The delights of small-town gardens, the grandeur of the Cypress Hills, the prayers, and Glacier National Park

• Exposure to international art galleries and live theatre

Dating from the 1980’s, this small selection of varied themes hints at my love of testing mediums and working in series. My dedication to Medicine Hat Musical Theatre since 1990 creating set designs and painting “big” helps keep me on my toes. In “retrospect” and to avoid the crippling of creativity by Covid, I continue to go to my studio in Medicine Hat and Montana because I, luckily, still see beauty, humor, and magic all around me. When view our worlds and original artworks, it’s so important to just look and then breathe.

CRAZY CONTAINERS

January 2020
Verve
Medicine Hat, Alberta

As a self-taught artist and dedicated volunteer for Medicine Hat Musical Theatre as a set designer and painter, I have also been a 34-year member of Studio 6 (now Studio San Paolo) with my co-owners, Deborah Forbes and Evelyn Kleis. With a background in fiber arts, ceramics, paper-mache, batik, silk painting, mosaics, watercolour, oils and theatre, I love to play with all materials and subject matter. I admit that oils and mosaics are my favorite and I often work in series. The “Crazy Containers” display provides a small sampling of still life often going “sideways.” You will notice that the funny little yellow and green striped vase with odd handles is a joyous example. The influence of mosaics and the therapeutic quality of repetitive patterning seeps into the painting process, as I stare at the same vase a little too long, fancy and fantasy might overrule reality.

FIRE TREES OF MONTANA

October 2019
Verve
Medicine Hat, Alberta

As a self-taught artist, volunteer community and school art teacher, and dedicated to Medicine Hat Musical Theatre as a set designer and painter, I have also been a 33-year member of Studio 6 (now Studio San Paolo) located in the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. With a background in fiber arts, ceramics, paper-mache, batik, silk painting, mosaics, watercolour, oils and theatre, I love to play with all materials and subject matter. I often work in series. I feel my love of the prairie, Cypress Hills, and now Montana’s mists and magic provides me with fuel (fire) for many of my theme-based endeavors. I have had a larger working studio in Montana for the past 6 years. This small showing of some of the “Fire Trees of Montana” was inspired by 2015-2018 summers of actual fires and “fiery” foliage. Mother nature’s power, perfection and “painting” skills will always fascinate me.

EYE OF THE HEART ART SHOW

January – February 2014  
Solo Show. Esplanade Art Gallery
Medicine Hat, Alberta

In this age of technological wonderment, I like to imagine the thought processes of like-minded artists and craftspeople who create without reliance on photographs, projectors or computer generated images. I am captivated by what springs from unfiltered sources-from the subconscious. Refining the myriad of thoughts and ideas flowing from my natural love of art, architecture and history, and seeing the thoughts take visual shape is the alchemy that delights me.

Creating for me becomes a co-operative venture with the subject and materials. I don’t consider it an intellectual exercise.  It’s more a release of images that have to find expression. I enjoy giving the work a life of its own. Each member of this muster of peacocks by just being there, is on yet another journey and has its own story to tell. My offering to the viewer is the freedom to allow your heart to interpret these endeavors and, thus, join me in becoming part of the creative process.

EXHIBITIONS

January 2020

“Crazy Containers”

Verve

Medicine Hat, Alberta

October 2019

“Fire Trees of Montana

Verve

Medicine Hat, Alberta

January – February 2014   

“Eye of the Heart”

Solo Show. Esplanade Art Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta

April 2003

“A-pear-ently more paintings”

Solo Show, Java Bites

Medicine Hat, Alberta

September 2001

“Thirty-two Pairs of Pears on the Wall”

Solo Show, Cultural Centre Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta

February 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998

“South of 9, East of 23”

Juried Show, Cultural Centre Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta

2000 – 2002

Masters Gallery

Calgary, Alberta

May 2000, 1999, 1998

“Ranchlands & Badlands”

Juried Show, Dynes Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta

October – November 1999

“According to George and the Golden Mean”

Group Show, Yates Gallery

Lethbridge, Alberta

October 1997

“Summer Rages”

Juried Show, Dynes Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta

March – May 1995

“Another Chair Show”

Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery

Medicine Hat, Alberta