Editor: Jody FarrellAssociate Editor: Dymphny DronykDesign, Layout & Advertising: Image Design Professionals Inc.Contributors: Jody Farrell, Dymphny Dronyk, Karen Bass, Susan

ThompsonPublisher: Art of the Peace Visual Arts Group, c/o The Prairie Art

Gallery, 10209-99 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H3; Ph. (780) 532-8111; art@artofthepeace.ca

Printing: Menzies Printers

©All rights reserved Art of thePeace 2004Reproduction in whole or in partis strictly prohibited.Art of the Peace makes every effortto ensure the accuracy of the infor-mation it publishes, but cannot beheld responsible for any conse-quences arising from errors orommissions.

contentsDoes art nurture

a community?

Jobs, housing, schools, adecent infrastructure - no oneargues that these are essentialingredients to a community.But art as economic develop-ment? The topic can open up aheated debate.

By serendipity, the commonthread that runs through thearticles in our second issuegives this question much foodfor thought.

Is it possible the little town ofChemainus, BC, would still bestruggling to exist if it had notbeen for someone who believ-ed in art. Now it thrives, its 33murals drawing over 400,000visitors a year.

Dawson Creek may have lostits historic grain elevator had itnot been converted to a vibrantart gallery.

The new phase of the GrandePrairie Museum at Centre 2000is brought to life, thanks to thetalent of Tim Heimdal.

Repeated studies show thatteaching art and music inschools creates more diverseand successful learners. No-one working at the Prairie ArtGallery would doubt that. Thechildren who visit on the manyschool tours embrace art andbecome its best ambassadors.

Partnerships of diversity arethe key to growth - whetherartistic, or economic. Takingprimary colours and creatingrainbows; turning a flat, squarebuilding into a glorious water-fall; evolving rage into beauty;making a vision become a real-ity. This is the power of art.

Dymphny DronykAssociate Editor

Art of the Peace Magazine

art out there . . . 4

TREX: Taking Art Beyond the Gallery 6

Joint Library & Gallery Expansion 7

Fire & Ash 8

Prairie North Creative Residency 9

Seeing, Feeling Three Peace River Artists 10

where its all at . . . Gallery Directory 12

Art, Integrity and Linear Thought Tim Heimdal 14

grow, ART, grow 17

the artbox 18exhibits & events 19education & opportunities 20artists directory 21

FreeFall with Skygenie 26

4 art of the Peace

Peace River area artists werewonderfully visible through-

out the February Alberta WinterGames. The town was dotted withsnow sculptures, and its landmarkbuilding Athabasca Hall featuredworks of over 20 artists, includingTammy Fischer, Rhonda Warren,Pat Coulter, Ruth Doyen, TrudyPlaizier and Doug Thompson.

Over 70 mosaic pictures (left bot-tom) representing the work of3,538 students from 27 of theregion's schools were assembledand shown throughout town aswell.

The Peace River Riverdrive Mallfeatured more multi-media works

and installation piecesby Vivian St. Andre,Miriam Gair and GeriFrance, as well as anumber of large andluminous paintings byLarissa Doll. An on-siteinstallation by visitorPeter von Tiesenhausenliterally came togetherover the course of fourdays in a then-emptydowntown store.

Peace River artists havelong been looking for apermanent space to

exhibit theirwork. ArtistW e n d yS t e f a n s s o ncoordinatedthe exhibi-tions, andwith the helpof volunteers,turned theonce dowdy

Athabasca Hall basement into aproper gallery for the event.Unfortunately, the space has manyinterested groups vying for occu-pation; its transformation was not apermanent move.

Dawson Creek's "Time OutFor Seniors" group has

made and assembled a work ofclay tiles (above) currently on dis-play at The Dawson Creek Gallery.Area clayworks teacher InezDemuynck says the group donatesa work to a local facility every sec-ond year. Some buildings alreadycarrying the tile works includeDawson Creek's Chamber ofCommerce; the local hospital, andthe Dawson Creek Gallery court-yard. This latest clay artwork willeventually be housed in the newNorthern Lights College.

When Art of the Peacemagazine invited the

Beaverlodge Art Society to talkabout its history and current resur-gence, its president, an area artist,Vicki Hotte was typically humble.

She spoke about how the Societyhad always been an extension ofEuphemia (Betty) McNaught'senthusiasm for the arts. McNaughtwas teaching weekly art at thelocal school as early as 1934. Moreformal instruction, includingcolour harmony and charcoal les-sons took place in her home from1964 onward. Over the decades,people continued to meet, with andwithout Euphemia, to share theirlove of art and learning. Hotte saysall classes ended with tea andcookies. This was always animportant part of the process,Hotte says, adding that for her, itwas perhaps as crucial as theinstruction. The actualBeaverlodge Art Society was offi-cially registered in 1987. Whiletoday's group is not as cohesive orregular in its meetings, it does gettogether for on-location paintingand welcomes any interested visi-tors to join in. For more informa-tion call Vicki, at 538-1947.

art out there . . .

IntimateViolence

Clay tile mural created byDawson Creek Seniors.

This year marks the sec-ond annual Euphemia

McNaught Arts Festival, July23-25, the same weekend as theever-popular Street PerformersFestival. The Prairie ArtGallery, in conjunction with theCentre for Creative Arts, willhost an entire weekend of artand fun for the whole family,

including children's activitiesand a community "Paint aPicket" project. There will bean artists' market that runs from100 avenue south on 99 Street,where you'll meet with some ofthe most creative people of thePeace! It is first come, firstserved for a place to sell yourart - (we're looking for all man-ner of wearable and visualpieces, the funkier, the better!)

Bring your own table or blan-ket and claim your spot on thepromenade. There, you cansell your art while enjoying thefestival.

Art of the Peace, a projectwhich to date includes a

magazine, website, and loose-ly-knit association of Peacearea artists looking to advancethe development and promo-tion of this region's arts compo-nent, is hosting its secondannual Arts Symposium onFriday, Oct. 22 and Saturday,Oct. 23, 2004. The last sympo-sium, a sold out event hostedby The Prairie Art Gallery withfunding from Peace RegionE c o n o m i c - D e v e l o p m e n tAlliance (PREDA), featuredthree artist-speakers whoshared their work and viewswith like-minded arts enthusi-asts from throughout the area.Ted Godwin, whose work withthe Regina Five was the talk ofthe country in the early sixties;figurative painter Tessa Nunn,and GPRC fine arts instructorand artist Tina Martel spoke ofwhat keeps them producing in

a sometimes less than receptiveenvironment. This year, thesymposium aims to create asimilar forum for sharing andlearning. Friday night, October22, The Prairie Art Gallery willhost an exhibition opening andwine reception for participants.Last year, artists exchangedoriginal ‘art cards’ as an ice-breaker. Saturday morningstarts off with a continentalbrunch and later, a lunch atJeffrey’s in the Centre forCreative Arts. For more infor-mation or an application, visit

www.artofthepeace.ca or callJody Farrell at The Prairie ArtGallery at 532-8111. You mayalso e-mail us at art@artofthep-eace.ca

Do you have some artnews? Let us know at

art@artofthepeace.ca or Jodyat 780-532-8111.

art of the Peace 5

Grande Prairie Regional College fine arts instructor TinaMartel was intent on increasing student-community rela-

tions with the mounting of a recent mixed media exhibition"Intimate Violence." Over 30 student, faculty and communityartists explored the all-too common theme of violence in relation-ships for the two day show, which ran April 2 and 3 in downtownGrande Prairie. With the help of local arts philanthropist MurrayQuinn, Martel met and worked with several city residents to makethe project happen.

Martel wanted a content-based exhibition that was relevant to thecommunity. "I was not looking for shock value" Martel explained."I was looking for thoughtful commentary on an issue that hasaffected each of us at some level.” She sees the need for theCollege to mingle with and have a voice in the community. Martelalso chose the off-campus location to encourage arts students effec-tive communication to a wider audience.

GGPPRRCC AArrttss SSttuuddeennttss TTaakkee MMeessssaaggee ttoo tthhee SSttrreeeettss

Painting at left by Debbie Sparrow

Auctions art us . . .Artists and art collectors

love them.

April art auctions contin-ue to be a major

fundraiser for art galleriesaround the Peace. They usuallyhappen around an evening ofdinner and dance, with artlovers and artists comingtogether to bid on or justadmire some of the area's latestworks. The auction generally begins with a call to area artists fordonations. In return, the artist may be offered a tax deductiblereceipt, and, or a ticket or two to the event. The function also givesgood exposure to artists looking for wider audiences and poten-tial clients.

The (Dawson Creek) South Peace Art Society’s recent 23rd annu-al auction, ARTI-GRAS, was a theme-based event celebrating artswith a New Orleans street festival mardi-gras twist. It's the majorfundraiser for the society, which operates the Dawson Creek ArtGallery, a unique facility located in a restored grain elevator.

The Prairie Art Gallery (Grande Prairie) celebrated its 24thannual art auction on April 24, with more than 300 people inattendance. The dinner and dance has long been a favouritefundraiser for arts enthusiasts. This year, the event was held in thecity's new Holiday Inn.

The Centre for Creative Arts has opted for a new kind of auction.The Centre, located in the historic courthouse building in GrandePrairie, is offering to name each of its renovated rooms after awinning bidder in its auction, which happens next fall. It's aunique way to raise funds while helping keep one of the city's old-est public facilities operating and open to the public.

6 art of the Peace

At a recent informationkiosk at the Mighty

Peace Teachers Convention,the most popular brochure wasthe one outlining the AlbertaFoundation forthe Arts TREX( T r a v e l l i n g -E x h i b i t i o nProgram) aproject that sees original artexhibitions tour all corners ofAlberta to reach even theremotest outlets. Servicing thewhole province requires thecooperation of the threeregional galleries and onearts institute that coordinatethe AFA-funded shows. ThePrairie Art Gallery handlesNorthwest Alberta, butworks with those who coverthe other three areas.

"We value our role in get-ting art out to areas that maynot otherwise experienceoriginal art," says SueCloake Millar, TREX pro-gram coordinator forNorthwest Alberta."Exhibits on loan throughthe program are small,ready to hang and come com-plete with an educationalresource package."

The fee is minimal, $50, withno shipping cost. Active partic-ipants may include ruralschools, libraries, communitycentres, arts facilities, muse-ums, tourism and health carefacilities.

The 2004-2005 season willfeature all new touring exhibi-tions, including one calledMusical Endeavors: A Cen-tennial Celebration of Music asPoetry and Art. This exhibi-tion, in honour of Alberta's100th anniversary, marks a

f i r s t - e v e r - c o l l a b o r a t i o nbetween The Prairie ArtGallery and The Grande PrairiePublic Library. Winning poems published in the library's 2003

" M u s i c a lEndeavors"accompany18 AlbertaFoundation

for the Arts Collection art-works in a touring exhibitdeveloped by the Prairie ArtGallery.

Both the pictures and poemscelebrate the music in ourlives, from the frustrating butultimately rewarding piano les-son to the beat of a mother'sheart.

For a catalogue of the otherexhibits available for 2004-2005, call Sue Cloake Millar,AFA TREX Director at ThePrairie Art Gallery, 780-532-8111, or write to her at TREX,The Prairie Art Gallery, 10209-99 Street, Grande Prairie, T8V2H3 or pag@telusplanet.net.

TREXTaking Art Beyond the Gallery

Susan BixbyViola Player, 1986

Collection of the AlbertaFoundation for the Arts

“Exhibits... are small, ready tohang, and come with an edu-cation package.”

art of the Peace 7

Trenton Perrott, executive director of The Prairie Art Gallerymust have been pleased at last fall's Tempt Your Palette

fundraiser when, one by one, the entire lineup of the city andregion's politicians waxed poetic on the merit of the arts in GrandePrairie and, indeed, the entire Peace region.

Later, having sated appetites with a tasteful combination of decorumand chi-chi finger food, he ushered everyone into the Gallery's main

foyer. There, with speakers blaring "God Save The Queen", a fairlyadequate vision of the old gal Herself rose through the throngs tothunderous applause. Lizzy made short work of letting the variouslords know that she was fully behind the arts herself, and that she'dbe keeping track of promises made.

It's a dream kicked around since the seventies that is finally turninginto a reality. The project includes a new library plus an addition tothe existing Prairie Art Gallery. The 55,000 square foot space,renamed The Montrose Centennial Centre, aims to house what willbecome the cultural centre for the city. Its central feature, the"Grande Hall" will be an open, airy space between the gallery andlibrary that will be available for public gatherings. Sculptures, art, agift shop and café will give onto a winter garden.

Marjorie Taylor, president of The Prairie Art Gallery board andmember of the joint Gallery-Library building committee, says theexpansion is a good example of how partnering facilities is the wayof the future.

“The Prairie Art Gallery strives to add to the quality of life in thenorth, and is constantly taking steps to increase awareness of thevisual arts and develop partnerships in the community."

The City of Grande Prairie made clear it was behind the projectshortly after the kickoff with a $4 million pledge. The GrandePrairie Public Library and The Prairie Art Gallery hope to fundraise$700,000 for furnishings, equipment, and permanent artworks,which leaves over $10 million looking for backers. To say the proj-ect – which Perrott hopes to see started this summer and completedin late 2005 in time for a visit by Her Real Self, Queen Elizabeth-hinges on provincial and federal funding, is an understatement. Still,with no less than the monarchy's word regarding support, propo-nents are hopeful.

&Joint LibraryGallery Expansion

8 art of the Peace

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Prairie Art Gallery andBICWA Society invite visual artists to participate in "FIRE

& ASH" a juried travellingexhibition opportunity.Created WITH clay in 15 x15 square inch slabs andfired in the Bishogama kilnin July 2004, the finishedpieces will become part of anexhibition that will circulatethroughout Alberta.

"We present this workshopas a way for artists to bringtheir work and share in thefiring process." says ArtisticDirector Bibi Clement. "It ismagical. Our kilns and resi-dency exist because we believe so passionately in nurturing thearts. Not everyone is able to travel to gain artistic experience. Weare bringing the mountain to Mohammed."

An unparalled wood firing experience awaits interested artists.The BICWA Society of Hythe, Alberta's unique internationalArtist Residency boasts diverse studio and glazing space, as wellas a variety of kilns including anagama, wood fire, salt, and raku.

Established in 1999 with guest artist Yasuo Terada from Japan,the BICWA (Bishogama International Ceramic WorkshopAlberta) Society hosted an intense workshop on traditional andcontemporary Japanese ceramic techniques. It was such a successthat workshops followed each consecutive summer, eventuallyculminating in the building of the anagama kiln.

Anagama wood fired kilns have been used for centuries in Japan,and can be found throughout that country. In North America,however, only a handful are in existence. The anagama kiln is amulti-chambered, natural ash kiln. The artwork can be glazed orunglazed as the ash resulting from the firing process createsunique glazes and surface textures, ranging in colour from softyellow to dark green.

The anagama kiln's huge size requires many willing hands togather and chop the wood and stoke the fire that burns for at leastsix days and six nights. It holds 1500 to 2000 pots.

"In Japan, kilns such as our Bishogama have traditionallybelonged to a family or community of potters. We want it to ben-efit the artistic community of Alberta." Clement continues. "TheFIRE & ASH Travelling Exhibition will be a wonderful way tobring artists together, and to bring their artwork to Alberta."

For more information call Bibi Clement, (780)356-2424

Fire & Ashby Dymphny Dronyk

art of the Peace 9

The Fine Arts Department of Grande Prairie RegionalCollege will host the sixth Prairie North Creative

Residency from May 14 to May 27, 2004.

Prairie North started several years ago with a variety ofartists participating over the years. The residency promotesprofessional growth, mentorship and the opportunity forartists to associate, learn and share with peers in an inten-sive open studio environment. The artists work on their ownapproaches and content. There is no formal instruction, buttwo guest artists are featured.

Last year's residency was led by Peter von Tiesenhausenand Lyndal Osborne, both internationally known artists.During the course of the 2003 workshops, vonTiesenhausen collaborated with Newfoundlanddancer/filmmaker Anne Troake to create a sculpture/danceperformance scheduled for completion during the 2004 res-idency. It will be performed at the Canadian Dance Festivalin Ottawa in June. This is a classic example of what PrairieNorth organizer, Ken Housego, is trying to promote. "It isabout breaking boundaries," says Housego, a GrandePrairie Regional College Visual Arts instructor,"Applications in combined visual studio disciplines areencouraged. We also welcome and encourage applicationsin other creative fields such as writing, poetry, voice, danceand music."

"Consider Prairie North as an open piece of broadcloth,fourteen days and nights, 20 creative peers, two residencyleaders - anything is possible! We create the format, the restis collaboration, creativity and art!" says Housego.

The two-week workshop includes catered suppers, nights inthe college residences and full days of studio time free fromdaily distractions. The suppers provide a common gather-ing time for camaraderie. The evenings are filled with slidepresentations, individual performances, and open critiques.

2004 guest artists are Aganetha Dyck and Walter May. Bothare internationally recognized as dynamic and exciting con-temporary artists. Each explores a wide variety of mixedmedia and installation based works. they were chosen fortheir willingness to give of their own experiences and open-ness to facilitating within a workshop environment.

Past participants enthuse: the "lack of pressure and outsideconcerns," the "refreshing, informal creative environment,"and the "opportunity to engage with fellow artists of variousdisciplines in a relaxing, yet exciting atmosphere."

This event is attended by artists from across Canada and isa wonderful opportunity to promote the community ofGrande Prairie as a cultural centre and an environment forartistic creativity. Pr

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10 art of the Peace

The town of Peace Riverseems blessed with a dis-

proportionate amount of natu-ral beauty. Every road in or outleads to a sweeping view of thevalley's high, tree-lined hills,which explode into colour inthe fall. Meandering creeks cutthrough forest and farmlandand provide gathering placesfor a variety of wildlife. Thewide, glittering river itselfflows directly through the heartof the town, which lies nestledalong opposite banks and isheld together by the gracefularches of a large bridge. Inwinter, the sky often shineswith the dancing colours of thenorthern lights.

It seems only natural that livingin such a landscape wouldinspire art, and Peace River isindeed at the heart of a smallbut talented community oflocal artists.

Valerie Palmer is knownlocally as the "mushroom lady"because of her complex, earth-toned abstracts made frommushroom spore prints. Bornand educated in England,Palmer emigrated to Canada in1958. After living in Ontario,Nova Scotia, and B.C., Palmersettled on an acreage a fewkilometers outside of PeaceRiver in the mid 70s with herhusband Don. AlthoughPalmer says she has been interested in art since she as a littlegirl, the abundant nature of thePeace Valley led her to developher interest in art to its fullpotential. "I've always lovednature and the country, so I findthis particular place with thevalley and the river and the

nature that goes with it veryattractive."

Palmer says she was surprisedat the numbers and varieties ofmushrooms on her propertywhen she first moved to thearea and began to use them tomake prints by laying themushrooms on paper and leav-ing them to drop their spores.Over time she learned whichmushrooms had spores of cer-tain colours, and began toincorporate negative spacesinto the prints by using naturalmaterials such as grasses andleaves as a sort of stencil.

"I think to do any kind of art-work you have to have goodpowers of observation," saysPalmer. “With the computersand all these types of gadg-ets...kids are probably not intune enough with the naturalthings that are going on aroundthem and that bothers me.They need to learn to observe,to see, to hear. "

Palmer also does charcoaldrawings, etchings, and pho-tography. Her work has beenshown and sold at exhibitionsaround the province, includinga joint show with Geri Franceat the Oppertshauser Gallery inStony Plain and a solo show at the Muttart Conservatory inEdmonton. Most recentlyPalmer's spore prints were dis-played at a juried group showin Peace River during theAlberta Winter Games.

For Judy Woods art is more akind of therapy, both for herselfand the children she teaches.Although she has gained sig-

nificant local recognition forher sensitive and detailed char-coal drawings focusing mainlyon wildlife, she says it wasstruggling with the emotionaleffects of a difficult life that sether on the artist's path.

"I started out as a little kid,"Woods remembers. "We livedin Rocky Mountain housewhere all the wildlife was andthat's what kind of inspiredme."

Woods says that living in thePeace lets her stay close to thenature that she loves, and sheenjoys going camping and tak-ing walks outdoors on heracreage near Dixonville. Butexternal observation isn't theonly thing that drives her tocreate.

"It's very calming. And I thinkthat's what really drove me toit, the harsher life that we hadwhen we were growing up. Itwas a way of calming myselfinstead of being angry."

Woods has shown her work at anumber of local exhibitionsincluding the recent shows atthe Alberta Winter Games, andhas also contributed a numberof pieces to silent auctions.

"I've also sold a few pieces.Quite a few pieces actually inthis area," Woods says.

Woods currently instructs artclasses for students in gradeone to nine at Dixonvilleschool. Through the classes,she is also able to help studentswith behavioural problems ordifficult home situations

Seeing, Feeling:Art as a window on the world and the soul

Little Creatures of the ForestJudy Woods

by Susan Thompson

Interviews with three membersof the Peace River Art Club

art of the Peace 11

express themselves, just as shehas learned to do.

"The students that don'tachieve well in the regular cur-riculum will achieve well inthis area, because it's a way ofletting their feelings beexpressed," she explains.

While both Valerie Palmer andJudy Woods take landscapeand living things as their maininspiration, Ruth Doyon'swork is more purely introspec-tive. A native of Quebec,Doyon originally studied with

printmaker, authorand Grande PrairieCollege instructorKeith Howard in theearly 90s and laterworked with him as amaster printer usingnon-toxic printmakingtechniques. She iscurrently only acourse away from fin-ishing her fine artsdiploma.

Doyon says it has been a per-sonal choice to maintain a full-time job while doing her art,since she feels it gives her theability to experiment.

"Although I'd like to make aliving at art, I don't want to

have the pressure to make com-mercial pieces that will sell. Iknow that in the next few yearsI'm going to go probably indirections that I haven't beenbefore and that's great."

Her work has been shown aspart of a number of exhibitionsand several travelling shows,including "Traces etTerritoires" which touredMoncton, Winnipeg, andRegina; "Vision albertaine,"and the Alberta Society ofArtists' travelling exhibition on"9/11." Her work has appearedannually at the Centre d'artsvisuels de l'Alberta inEdmonton since 1998, and shealso exhibited in Peace Riverduring the Winter Games.

Doyon says that her culturalheritage is only part of whatinforms her work. "I don'thave the feeling that what I dois specifically French. Ofcourse it's part of who I am but. . . I'm certainly not too muchin the traditional way. If yougo to Quebec and look at theart there, traditionally you willsee lots of old houses. Here inwestern Canada you will see

lots of animals." Her work rep-resents personal pursuits.“More recently, it has becomethe expression of my innerworld, a window for my soul.”

Valerie Palmer

Ruth Doyon

12 art of the Peace

BEAVERLODGE, ALBERTABeaverlodge Cultural Centre

512-5 Ave.Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0(780) 354-3600 (phone & fax)Hours: Tues. - Fri.1 pm - 5 pm

Sat. & Sun. 1 pm - 4 pmGallery, gift shop and tea room.

The Small Gallery917-2 Ave.Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0(780) 354-8117Pottery, fine art, framing & woodturnings.

DAWSON CREEK, B.C.Dawson Creek Art Gallery

101-816 Alaska AvenueDawson Creek, BC V1G 4T6(250) 782-8801www.pris.bc.ca/artgallerydcagchin@pris.bc.caHours: May - Aug.

9 am - 5 pm dailySept. - May:

Tues. - Fri. 10 am - 5 pmSat. & Sun. 12 pm - 4 pmMon. closed

Year round, artist run centre; giftshop; 13 exhibits per year; artrental; education programs.

FAIRVIEW, ALBERTAFairview Fine Arts Centre

10801-103 Ave.Fairview, AB T0H 1L0(780) 835-2697; fax (780) 835-5561Hours: Tues.-Sat. 12 pm - 5 pm Gallery, education programs.

GRANDE CACHE, ALBERTAGrande Cache Tourism &

Interpretive CentreHome of the Palette Pals Art ClubHighway 40 SouthBox 300Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0(780) 827-3300tourism@grandecache.cawww.grandecache.caHours: 9 am - 6 pm, 7 days/week Wildlife and historical displays, artgallery and gift shop.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTAArt in the Park

Log Cabin, South of Centre 2000Grande Prairie, AB Hours: Thurs. - Sun. 1 pm - 5 pmLocal artist run gallery. Originals,prints, cards, postcards, bookmarks,etc. Guest artists every two weeks.

Centre for Creative Arts9904-101 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0X8 (780) 814-6080Education programs, Gem Setters,Heather Forbes Fine Art Jewellery,A Piece of the Peace Gift Shop

Grande Prairie Museum10329-101 Ave. (Muskoseepi Park)Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3A8(780) 532-5482; fax (780) 831-7371gpmuseum@telusplanet.netwww.grandeprairiemuseum.orgThe Rodacker-Campbell Galleryfeatures rotating exhibitons.

Grande Prairie RegionalCollege, The Glass GalleryMain campus, main floor10726-106 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB (780)539-2909Gallery of student and faculty art-work.

Heritage Discovery Centre11330-106 St. (Centre 2000)Grande Prairie, AB T8V 7X9(780) 532-5790; fax (780) 532-8039gpmuseum@telusplanet.netwww.grandeprairiemuseum.org The Heritage Discovery Centre fea-tures new and exciting interactiveexhibits and changing exhibits inthe Kin Gallery.

Outdoor Images CustomPicture Framing & Gallery104, 10814-100 St.Grande Prairie, AB(780) 532-3701; fax (780) 532-7301Framing, original artwork & repro-ductions.

Picture Perfect Frame & Gallery9934-100 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB(780) 439-4091; fax (780) 539-4554picperf@telusplanet.netwww.pictureperfectfineart.comRobert Guest Gallery, main floorgallery, original art, reproductions,framing & art supplies.

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital,The Courtyard GalleryLower Level, QEII Hospital10409-98 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2E8(780) 538-7585melanie@qeiifoundation.ab.caOriginal works by local artists.In affiliation with the QEIIFoundation.

The Prairie Art Gallery10209-99 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H3(780) 532-8111; fax (780) 539-9522tjppag@telus.netwww.prairiegallery.comClass A gallery, education pro-grams, art rental, gift shop.

Unique Gallery9929-100 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB(780) 538-2771; fax (780) 538-2790Original artwork, pottery, jewellery,glassware, giftware.

PEACE RIVER, ALBERTAFrameworks Custom Framing

& Gallery9903-100 Ave.Peace River, AB T8S 1S4(780) 624-1984; fax (780) 624-1984Custom framing and ready-madeframing supplies. Original artwork,prints, posters, photographs, pot-tery, moose-hair tuftings and otherlocal handicrafts.

where it’s all at . . . galleries of the Peace

art of the Peace 13

14 art of the Peace

Ihave been involved in thearts community of the

Peace Country for 10 yearsnow, but had rarely run intolocal painter Tim Heimdal. I

knew who he was - enough torecognize his pea coat and pre-occupied gait as he strodethrough downtown GrandePrairie. As a gallery owner, Iseldom saw him at anyOpenings. He preferred to soakup the art when the gallery was

deserted. The staff knew torespect his quiet perusal.

To a newcomer like me, he wasa kind of urban myth. He wasthe guy who had painted allthose murals in Grande Prairie:the horses that fly down fromthe sky on the Beer Box, andthe Homesteaders that resolute-ly stare down traffic at themain intersection.

The removal of his thirty-sixhundred square foot "KakwaFalls" mural on one of thecity's few tall buildings hadcaused controversy in 2002.The building's owner had cov-ered it up during the insulatingand renovating of its property.To this day when I drive by Ilook up, expecting to get theemotional lift the azure majesty

of the Falls used to deliver andflinch instead at the blank wall.

Consensus was that Heimdalhad amazing talent, but wasvery shy, reclusive almost.People spoke of him withsomething close to reverence.

If only he had a bigger ego andknew how to promote himselfmore, the myth went, he'd befamous.

I had worked with him a fewyears ago as a set decorator forthe play "When the ReaperCalls." Again, I hardly saw him- instead I saw the stage trans-formed from a black shell to aspooky cabin tucked back inthe woods. His idiosyncraticdesign and absorption witheach minute detail challengedand inspired me. In someunspoken way, it was clear thatI was expected to make a forestto match. We proceeded tohaul in a few truckloads of wil-lows, annex most of the stair-wells backstage and with atoken nod to fire codes the"cabin in the forest" lived.

Recently I worked withHeimdal on the set of"Barefoot in the Park". I hopedit would be a serendipitousopportunity to try to under-stand the enigma of this PeaceCountry icon a little better. Hisreaction when I informed himthat our magazine would like todo a feature story on himseemed to epitomize the myth."Oh, thank you," he said, fol-lowed by a long, awkwardpause. "It just seems that thereare far more newsworthy topicsthan me."

Maybe not: giving boundlesstime and energy to your com-munity and doing it so quietlythat it is scarcely noticed isnewsworthy. Bringing art tothe public in the form of a

Art, Integrityand Linear ThoughtTim Heimdal, a Peace Country Icon

Tim Heimdal’s mural on theBeer Box, 101 Avenue, GrandePrairie (above), Mural onPicture Perfect, 100 St., GrandePrairie (right)

by Dymphny Dronyk

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Photo by Dymphny Dronyk

Cover Photos: Tim Heimdal Photo byDymphny Dronyk, Kakwa Falls MuralPhoto by Mel Ebelhauser

art of the Peace 15

mural that beautifies our every-day surroundings may in factbe the kind of act that shouldreceive more attention.

These are no small gifts. Takethe time required to build a setas an example - multiply it bythe long list of plays Heimdalhas worked on. A set designerstarts by reading the play to geta sense of the structure andambience that must be created.Then he comes up with adesign that can be adapted forthe various scenes. The designmust reflect the shoestringbudget reality of communitytheatre. The sets are built by agroup of volunteers whoscrounge materials from pastproductions and anywhere elsethey can scavenge the particu-lar doors, or windows or banis-ters envisioned in the design.This motley collection ofwounded parts is slowly puz-zled together, with the originaldesign continually evolvingbased on what materials arefound.

Finally it is painted over byHeimdal and the paint weavesthe magic, creates depth wherethere is none, tricks the eyes.The hollow black space of thestage is transformed. Woodenplanks appear on floors. Thebricks of a New York brown-stone peek into the fifth floorskylight. The warm green of

the front doorseems to reflectthe trees outside.

The collectiveeffort that hasgone into creatingthe set is one ofmany elements,along with stageproduction, propsand costumes, etc,that theatrepatrons hardlynotice when it isgood. Yet withoutthe often-unsungefforts that hap-pen before theplay's first night, the bestefforts of cast and directorwould lack a dimension.

"Theatre-goers might notnotice it consciously if the setwas flat, or something wasmissing," Heimdal muses. "Butthey may walkaway from theplay with afeeling thats o m e t h i n gisn't quiteright. And thesame couldhappen when it is right. Theywalk away knowing it wasgood, but not aware that the setwas part of that."

For over twenty years Heimdalhas devoted his talent to a wide

range of plays in the PeaceCountry. He has been a main-stay of Second Street Theatre,the Downtown Clowns, theRoyal Oak Players and GrandePrairie Regional College pro-ductions. He has also designed

sets inE d m o n t o n ,Calgary andNova Scotia.

"Partly thesets wereabout work-

ing on a larger canvas, aboutexperimenting with threedimensional space," heexplains. "I'm not always verylinear, and so it has been inter-esting to learn from the carpen-ters who actually build the set

and who understand scale andproportion. What may look flatand dull in a drawing may bespectacular and larger than lifein reality. One time we had tocut a foot off the bottom of awall because the window wastoo high, especially next to oneof the shorter actors whosehead disappeared!"

This is the kind of anecdotethat Heimdal will share in hisearnest way. When talking withhim one never gets a sense ofspin, that there is a public per-sona being cultivated to maskthe real guy. He may take timeto answer a question, withthoughtful pauses that punctu-ate the conversation, but theanswers are guileless whenthey finally come.

This deliberation takes a quietkind of confidence, and againunderlines the enigma. For allthe self-deprecating remarks hemay make, an undercurrent ofconviction also flows through.It suggests that Heimdal is anartist who paints what he feels,who lives life without artifice,mindful of the wounds that canbe unwittingly inflicted uponour world.

"The original purpose of paint-ing the Kakwa Falls mural wasto "do it", to take the challenge

Tim Heimdal’s dinosaur mural at the Heritage Discovery Centre, Centre 2000 in Grande Prairie.

Heimdal’s set for the Neil Simon comedy, ‘Barefoot in the Park’.

When talking with him onenever gets a sense of spin,that there is a public per-sona being cultivated tomask the real guy.

Photo by Dymphny Dronyk

Photo by Dymphny Dronyk

16 art of the Peace

of a canvas that size and use itto make a big statement aboutwhat I could do, and aboutwhat was happening to ourenvironment, the wildernessthat we could lose," Heimdalreflects. "But it developed intosomething much bigger. Itbecame part of the community.It belonged to them, it wasn'tmine anymore in a way. Peoplecame from elsewhere just tosee the mural."

The Kakwa Falls mural waspainted in 1986, sponsoredjointly byAGT (nowTelus) andthe City ofG r a n d ePrairie.

While it was-n't Heimdal'sfirst mural, itwas certainlythe largest project he hadundertaken. In the end it was alabour of love.

"I knew the Herculean task wasdoable," he says. "I wasn't outto get rich, though it did lead tomore jobs. The budget was$6500, for my time and allmaterials. The scaffolding wasdonated, and so was the time ittook the crew to set it up. Iended up working for about $2an hour that summer!”

"The 8 x 8 concrete panels onthe building created a naturalgrid, so I made a small paint-ing, and then made a "map" ofit. It took many trips up anddown the scaffolding to get theright perspective or the rightshadow. Up that close you justcan't see it the same way."

In the fall of 2001, Heimdalwas informed that the muralwould be covered up by thenext spring. It was inevitable,for practical purposes. Nomention was made of either

saving orresurrectingthe paintingafter the ren-ovation proj-ect was com-plete. Effortswere madein the com-munity tohave it pre-

served instead of covered up,but this was not possible. Telusmade the building ready for apotential new mural with$20,000 worth of specially-designed "paint-able panels".

The blank panels now wait forthe community's next move.Making the building beautifulagain will take a concertedeffort by a focused group ofpeople.

(continued on page 24)

“What if Michelangelo wasstill alive and it involvedcovering up the ceiling ofthe Sistine Chapel? Everyeffort would be made topreserve the integrity of theart and the artist.”

Photo by Image Design Professionals Inc.

Tim Heimdal’s mural on Shark’s Billiards & Sports Lounge, 101 Street, Grande Prairie

And you thought shovelling dirt didn'trequire an artist's mentality… This summer,

explore just how creative the gardener gets with thevariety of garden-related projects in arts centres throughoutthe Peace Region.

The Centre for Creative Arts (Grande Prairie) spring programincludes horticultural classes for kids, with herb planting andcontainer gardening. In May, it offers wooden lawn furniturecourses. In Fort St John, the Communities in Bloom sent potsto local artists which, once painted, will be filled with blossomsand hung about town. Fairview Fine Arts Centre has an exhibi-tion of sculptures and paintings created in conjunction with EarthDay, April 22. The exhibition will hang in the Fairview Centreuntil Dunvegan Park's May Day Fest, on Sunday, May 2. Thiscelebration of Mama Nature, as organizer Christine Cedar calls it,celebrates all the aspects of the Earth, with a particular slanttoward the feminine. Drummers and dancers will performonstage, and artists and artisans from near and far will be thereselling their wares. Banners painted by area artists will be on dis-play for the volunteer-run event, which runs from 11 am - 4:30pm Sunday, May 2.

On Saturday, May 1, The Prairie Art Gallery (Grande Prairie)opens its third annual interactive children's exhibit, “GardenTreasures: The Seeds of Inspiration.” This hands-on exhibit,designed as a self-guided, family-oriented experience, looks at allthe elements that play into the making of a garden. Our senses arechallenged here, where in the Zen, Botanical, Imaginary, andEclectic Gardens we see, feel, smell and hear all that is associat-ed with these wonderful, arts-meets-science plots of land.

The Dawson Creek Art Gallery is also exploring the notion ofbackyard delights in its Summer School of the Arts. Its courses,which run throughout July and August, include willow furniture.Also in July, watch for the Dawson Creek Horticultural SocietyTea and Tour.

Looking for something creative for kids this summer? The PrairieArt Gallery and The Centre for Creative Arts have joined forcesto provide “Grow Art Grow!”, an all-day arts camps for childrenages 6 to 12. Camps will focus on drawing, sculpture, and multi-media creations, and will happen inside and out about town.

Finally, The Prairie Art Gallery's House and Garden Tour andTea, which runs this year, June 19 and 20. The event, whichoffers a visit to several Grande Prairie area homes and gardens,gets more popular with each passing year, offering lots of dec-orating and gardening tips for every size of house and yard.

Please refer to the Gallery Directory for contact information aboutthese events and courses.

grow, ART, grow . . .

18 art of the Peace

Artists want their work presented in the best possi-ble light; framing is critical to that end.

Think archive quality. Paper-based artwork(including photographs) requires a mat andglass. The glass protects the art from the ele-ments; the mat protects the art from theglass, creating an air pocket that preventsmoisture build-up or other problems. Themat should be acid free, of museum or archivalquality. Acid from paper mats can burn the art-work, discolouring it. Use 100% cotton (rag) mats.

Remember the back. Cardboard backing also contains acid.To preserve the integrity of the artwork, use backing of

archival quality. Common choices are rag, foam coreand barrier paper.

Consider colour. The standard mat is neu-tral, reflecting the overall tone of the

piece (cool or warm), and at least 2 1/2inches wide. If a double mat is used, the

smaller inner mat usually mirrors a colour in thepicture and is repeated in the frame colour. Be

bold if you want, so long as the eye is still drawn tothe artwork. When framing something to sell, staying

neutral is recommended.

Regard the frame. Colour choice might be a person-al preference, but always look to compliment the

tone or highlight a colour in the artwork. Metalversus wood is another matter of preference,though if cost is an issue, metal frames areusually less expensive.

No glass required. With oil and acrylicpaintings, the linen liner assumes the role ofthe mat, separating the picture and the frame,creating a window effect. The same colour guide-lines apply.

Remembering two basic elements – preservation andenhancement – will ensure your artwork always looks its best.

the artbox

Twice Framed by Karen Bass

art of the Peace 19

BEAVERLODGE, ALBERTABeaverlodge Cultural Centre11th Annual Quilt Show Beaverlodge and areaMarch 28 - April 30, 2004

“Little Memories”Miniature Show & SaleBeaverlodge Art SocietyMay 2 - May 28, 2004

Student’s Art ExhibitBeaverlodge High SchoolMay 30 - June 11, 2004

“Trees of My Life” Show & SaleVicki HotteJune 13 - June 25, 2004

Ruth Lewkowicz Show & SaleJune 27 - July 30, 2004

Retrospect ShowRose WillseyAugust 1 - August 27, 2004

Peace Watercolour SocietyShow & SaleAugust 29 - September 24, 2004

Darlene Dautel & VivianFarnsworth, Show & SaleSeptember 26 - October 29, 2004

All shows & sales open at 2 pm onthe 1st day of the exhibition.

DAWSON CREEK, B.C.Dawson Creek Art Gallery"Mixed Media"Middle & Secondary Students,School District #59"Mixed Media" is developed in con-junction with the South PeaceFestival of the ArtsApril 19 - May 7, 2004

20th Anniversary Show & SaleGrande Prairie Guild of ArtistsMay 8 to May 30, 2004

“In the Summertime”South Peace Art Society June 1 - July 25, 2004

Darcy Jackson and AmandaWiebeJuly 26 - August 22, 2004

“The Boat”Invited ArtistsAugust 23 - September 12, 2004

“A Family Affair II”Phyllis Ljuden-Elderkin andCarol Ljuden September 13 - October 17, 2004

“Elevated Quilts”Piecemakers Quilters Guild October 18 - November 14, 2004

FAIRVIEW, ALBERTAFairview Fine ArtsEarth Day Show & SaleApril 22 - May 15, 2004

6th Annual Artists at School ShowGrade 4, 5 and 6 studentsMay 22 - May 29, 2004Gala opening - May 22, 2004

Artists North Show & SaleJune 5 - June 26, 2004

25th Anniversary Show & SaleFairview Fine Arts SocietyEuphemia McNaught FestivalJuly 3 - August 7, 2004

Fairview Agricultural SocietyAnnual Flower Show & TeaAugust 14, 2004

Geometric MOWhitney Lee HayesAlberta Foundation for the ArtsTravelling ExhibitionAugust 21 - August 28, 2004

Annual Quilt & Fibre ShowSeptember 4 - September 25, 2004

Peace River Art ClubOctober 1 - October 13, 2004

Hat TrickPaula Fiorini and ErinStelmaschukOctober 16 - October 30, 2004

GRANDE CACHE, ALBERTAGrande Cache Tourism &Interpretive CentreNorthern Zone Art Show & Sale -Alberta Community Art ClubsAssoc. - Juried art show for mem-bers throughout Northern Alberta.Opening - May 15, 2004, 10 amShow & Sale May 15 - 16, 2004

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTAArt in the ParkGrande Prairie Guild of ArtistsShow & SaleMay 21 - September 2, 2004

Centre for Creative Arts“Old Court House” AuctionFall 2004

Courtyard Gallery, QueenElizabeth II HospitalGALLERY“Prints & Process”Jim StokesApril & May 2004

SHOWCASESUkrainian Heritage CollectionJanet LougheedApril & May, 2004

GALLERY“Visions of Wellness”Alberta Foundation for the ArtsTravelling ExhibitionJune & July 2004

SHOWCASES“Works of Clay”Marjorie TaylorJune & July 2004

GALLERY“Passions of the Soul”Carrie KlukasAugust 2004

Carmen’s ImagesCarmen HaakstadSeptember & October, 2004

Robert Guest Gallery, PicturePerfect Frame & Gallery“Capture the Beauty of thePeace” Art ContestPeople’s Choice voting begins April17, 2004. Winner announced at agala reception May 5, 2004, every-one welcome.

Artists North23rd Annual Spring Show & SaleOpening reception April 17, noonShow continues to May 12, 2004

Peace Watercolour SocietySpring Show & SaleOpening Reception May 15, noon Show continues to June 5, 2004

The Prairie Art GalleryJunior/Senior High ExhibitMay 1- May 30

Garden Treasures: Children'sInteractive ExhibitMay 1- Aug 29

Franco Alberta Visions:Alberta Foundation for the ArtsTravelling Exhibition Program.May 1 - 23

Gloria Mok: Works from theSymbiosis SeriesJune 12 - July 18

Selections from the Gallery'sPermanent CollectionJune 12 - June 20

Grounded: Artists Interpret theLandContemporary art installations byPeace Region ArtistsJune 24 - August 29, 2004

Ann Clarke: Recent Non-represen-tational PaintingFire and Ash: An Exhibition of theBishogama Ceramic WorkshopAlberta SocietyRecent Landscape Works by P.Wilman, D. Millar, A. Rockett, S.Podryhuia Shaw September 4 - October 17, 2004

The Photography of Jack BurmanPhillis Elderkin and CarolLjuden: Joint ExhibitionSuzanne Sandboe: JourneyOctober 28 - November 23, 2004

“Artmart” Yard SaleOverstock gift shop items andused gallery supplies.May 15, 2004 10 am - 2 pm

PEACE RIVER, ALBERTAFrameworksPeace River Art ClubShow & SaleApril 27 - May 1, 2004Opening Reception April 30 at 7pm.

SPIRIT RIVER, ALBERTASpirit River Municipal LibraryArt Show & SaleApril 25, 2004

Please check Gallery Directory forgallery locations, hours and contactinformation.

exhibits & events

20 art of the Peace

BEAVERLODGE, ALBERTA

Beaverlodge Cultural CentreOngoing programs in pottery, stained glass , batik, weaving, acrylic, oil and watercolour painting classes for a variety of ages. Please call Sue at 354-3600 for dates and details.

Gallery exhibition and gift shop sales opportunities are available. Please call Sue at (780) 354-3600 for further information.

McNaught HomesteadA week-long event, July 19 to 23, 2004, with artists painting "en pleineair" on the McNaught Homestead. The workshop will feature a prominentlandscape artist/instructor. Also, artists will go out to work uninstructed ontheir own, either creating paintings or installations, some of which will befor sale and display at the Euphemia McNaught Arts Festival the weekendfollowing the Homestead event.

DAWSON CREEK, B.C.Dawson Creek Art GalleryOngoing programs for all ages in a variety of media. Phone for dates &details for the current month.

Opportunities for exhibition in the gallery are available. Guidelines forexhibitions can be viewed at www.pris.bc.ca/artgallery.

Northern Lights CollegeThe College offers a one-year program, leading to a graduation certificate inthe Visual and Graphic Arts, to prepare the student for a wide variety ofcareer and employment opportunities. In addition, a two-year program isalso offered leading toward an Associate of Arts Diploma for students wish-ing to transfer to other post-secondary institutions or those wanting a moreintensive study program.

The primary focus is to build a portfolio for job preparedness or to continueeducation in another institution.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTACentre for Creative ArtsMany new changes are taking place at the Art Centre in Grande Prairie.

- Landscaping classes- Cooking classes- Rustic lawn & house furniture- Willow chair making.

Also, new to the Centre is the Creative Kids Program that is being offeredas a morning or an afternoon session for children ages 3 - 6.

Watch for our open house this fall with a new look, new programs and anevening filled with fun as the “Old Court House” rooms will be auctionedoff. This will be incorporated with the historical component of the CourtHouse to the Centre for Creative Arts. We will also be running a contest forthe best picture and the best story of the time when it was the old court-house.

For more information and updated class information, check out our newweb site at www.gparts.org or contact us at info@gparts.org.

Courtyard Gallery, Queen Elizabeth II HospitalFor information about showing contact Karen at the QEII Foundation office(780) 538-7583. Display cubes (showcases) are available for collections or3-dimensional art.

Grande Prairie Regional CollegePrairie North Creative Residency A 2 week non-instructional workshopfrom May 14 to May 27, 2004, led by Aganetha Dyck and Walter May,includes catered suppers, nights in the college residences and full days ofstudio time.

The Fine Arts Department offers students a wide range of career andlearning opportunities in the Fine Arts. These include Diploma, UniversityTransfer programs, and courses in Music, Art, and Drama. Students in all

GPRC programs may also fulfill their Fine Arts optionrequirements with FAD credit courses.

The Fine Arts Conservatory offers non-credit instruc-tion in music, dance, and the visual arts, to students ofall ages and abilities. Visual arts courses include draw-ing, painting, digital arts, and photography.

Educational Part-time Learner Credit Opportunities.(Winter 2004)

AR 1010 Introduction to Art History IAR 2810 Twentieth Century Art History IAR 1120 Painting I - EveningsAR 1610 Sculpture I - Evenings DD 1082 Introduction to Video ProductionDD 1180 Digital Imagery 2D I - Evenings

Upcoming Fine Arts EventsPrairie North Prairie North 04, Creative Residency for Artists, Dancers,Writers, Poets. May 14 to May 27, 2004.

VISITOR IN THE ARTS 2004/05Lectures normally take place on alternate Wednesdays, 11:45 - 1:00 p.m. inthe Fine Arts Recital Hall.

November 17th, 2004: David Janzen February , 2005: Laura Vickerson

Robert Guest Gallery, Picture Perfect Frame & GalleryRobert Guest Gallery is available for exhibitions - call Dan Kameka at(780) 539-4091 for information and available dates.

The Prairie Art GalleryPainting on LocationSaturday, May 810:00 am - 4:00 pm (Bring own lunch) at the Wapiti Nordic Ski trails

Swan Festival Watch area artists painting on location, and participate in art activities forthe family. Children can make their own swan stencil card. Sunday, April 251:00 - 3:00 pmSaskatoon Island Lake - outdoor tents

The Prairie Art Gallery produces three new shows each year to tour, and islooking for proposals from its regional artists to keep on file. Please submityour artist cv, proposal, and four images of your artwork to:

The Prairie Art Gallery,AFA Travelling Exhibition Coordinator, 10209 - 99 Street, Grande Prairie, ABT8V 2H3.

Calling all arts market vendors:

The Prairie Art Gallery and The Centre for Creative Arts host the SecondAnnual Euphemia McNaught Festival July 23-25. We’re inviting allartist/vendors to participate in a two-block promenade market along thefront of the Gallery and Centre. Bring your own table or blanket from whereyou can enjoy the festival while selling your artistic wares! For more infor-mation call Jody at The Prairie Art Gallery, 532-8111, or visit www.prairie-gallery.com.

education &opportunities

art of the Peace 21

ART CLUBS

BEAVERLODGE ARTS SOCIETYBox 569Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0780-538-1947 VickiMeet the 1st Tuesday of the monthat the Beaverlodge Cultural Centre.Exhibition, education and marketingsupport for artists. (see ad page 18)

DAWSON CREEK POTTERSGUILDc/o Northern Lights College11401 - 8 St.Dawson Creek, B.C. V1G 4G2250-782-6428ariedever@telus.net

PEACE RIVER ART CLUBPeace River, AB780-624-1778 Tammy; 780-624-3067 ChristineShows and sales for member artists.Variety of mediums. Meet quarterly.

PEACE WATERCOLOUR SOCIETYc/o 7601-102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Y7780-539-4046 Dale; 780-568-4124 SuzannePeace Country artists focusing ontransparent watercolours. Semi-annual shows throughout the PeaceCountry.

PRAIRIE FIGURE DRAWINGGROUPc/o 10209-99 St. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H3780-532-8446 Karen780-532-2573 JimNon-instructional, informal groupmeets weekly at The Prairie ArtGallery, Sept.-May, Thursdays 7-10pm. Drop-in or monthly fee.

ARTISTS

ADRIAN-CLARK, Carol9338 69 A Ave. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6T3780-532-0846Realistic renderings of florals, land-scapes and still life, in colouredpencil and oil painting. (see ad page 17)

ASHTON, Ed7806 - Mission Heights Dr.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Y2780-532-6803eashton@telusplanet.netwww.edashton.comOriginal artwork in watercolour;Alberta grain elevators, rusticscenes, barns.

BARRETT (nee White), Donna9632-91 B Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0H2780-538-2151djbarrett@telus.netArtist and curator, using a contem-porary approach to traditionalmediums.

BIBI POTTERY (Bibi Clement)P.O. Box 144Hythe, ABTOH 2CO780-356-2424bibipot@telusplanet.netwww.bibipottery.comStudio Potter/Sculptor specializingin wood fire and raku techniques.Artistic Director of BICWA Society,International Residency Program(see ad page 8)

BRASETH, Lynne12124-98 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 7J2780-539-3822Acrylic paintings of landscapes,rustic buildings and beautiful skies.Commissions welcome.

BROWN, Cheryl9725-75 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4X1780-538-1248cbrown1@telusplanet.netWide range of functional potteryand raku.

BROWN, JudyBox 825Spirit River, AB T0H 3G0780-864-3608judybrown@robbtech.comMy paintings reflect the peaceful-ness and serenity of our landscape.

CLOAKE, Sue9927-86 Park Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0C9780-539-7405

CLOAKE, Sue (cont.)Mixed media collage - a combina-tion of mediums creates an intricateabstract textural surface.

COCHRANE, Leona12105-95 A St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5C4780-538-1208lkc@hotmail.comArchitectural, botanical and humanforms inspire mixed media and oilpainting.

COWAN, CorinneRR3, Site 2, Box 6Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5N3780-532-6643den_cor@telusplanet.netBecause watercolour lends itself toa wide range of values and freedomof movement on paper, it is mychoice of medium.

CRAIPLEY, SheilaBox 569Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-3754Landscape, acrylic and oils in locallandscapes and historic sites.

CRICHTON, HollyGeneral DeliveryGrovedale, AB T0H 1X0780-538-9264holly_crichton@hotmail.comwww.nightofartists.comWatercolours, graphite. Varied sub-ject matter. Commissions welcome.

CURRIE, Gordon1512-113 Ave.Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2Z5250-782-6388gcurrie@eldoren.comwww.watercolorpainting.infoWatercolour and mixed media artist- scenic nature works of art.

DALE, Tina9409-Wedgewood Dr. NGrande Prairie, AB T8W 2G5780-532-3211I enjoy the challenge of painting avariety of subjects in watercolour.

DAUTEL, DarleneBox 111Goodfare, AB T0H 1T0780-356-2128Variety of mediums including batikon rice paper, oils and water-colours. Studio visits by appoint-ment.

DICKSON, Yvonne10015-89 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0E2780-532-1629Watercolours with a Peace Countrytheme.

DITCH, ValerieBox 882Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3Y1780-538-9238serendipiditygirl9@yahoo.caPrimarily working in watercolourwith attention to light and detail.Originals and giclée prints andcards available.

DRONYK Dymphny11306 102 B St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2Y2780-402-3280dymphny@telus.netwww.dynamicdatagp.comPhotography, writing, grants, pro-posals, screenwriting and video pro-duction.

ENFIELD, JanetBox 815Wembley, AB T0H 3S0780-766-2795Oils/acrylics. Commissions wel-come. Perfect gifts for family andfriends.

artists directory

FARRELL, Jody8508-100 A St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3C3780-538-1499jaf1234@telus.netPaintings, oil, acrylic - mostly land-scapes, flowers.

FISCHER, TammyPeace River, AB 780-624-1778f1scher5@telus.netWatercolour and acrylic visions inlandscape and still life.

GREENTREE, BarbBox 41Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3A1780-532-6658barbgreentree@telus.netArtworks emphasizing the WildKakwa and Peace Country inacrylics and watercolour.

GUEST, BobBox 1784Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0780-827-2346Painter in the Symbolist Landscapetradition preferring wilderness andnocturnal subject matter.

HAAKSTAD, Carmen8214-102 A St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Z4780-539-4483chaakstad@gprc.ab.caSpiritual and unique hockey images,chalk pastel and coloured pencil.(see ad page 13)

HEIMDAL, Tim9804-102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2V2780-532-1995indigo@cablerocket.comMurals (interior and exterior) com-missions, portraits. Acrylic on can-vas. Impressionistic.

HENN, K. MarjorieBox 262Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0780-354-2165ghenn@telusplanet.netCountryside and wilderness themesare my inspiration, watercolour ismy main medium.(see ad page 13)

HIVES, GeriRR2, Site 7, Box 11Sexsmith, AB780-568-3019dkequine@telus.netPastel horses, all animal commis-sions.

HOLLER, ColleenBox 363Wembley, AB T0H 3S0780-766-2567choller@telusplanet.netA variety of watercolour subjectswith a view to contrast, light, colourand form.

HOMMY, BarryBox 298Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0780-354-8117 (w)780-356-3741 (h)Artist in watercolour - local land-scapes.

HOTTE, Vicki11405-97 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4K9780-538-1947svhotte@telusplanet.netwww.vickihotte.comAcrylic paintings and drawings -rural subject matter.

HUETTE, Arthur8608-100 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2K1780-539-5907a_huette@cablerocket.comLarge airbrushed art work. Willconsider commissions.(see ad page 13)

ISAACS, ViBox 563Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0780-354-2085msilvan@telus.netwww.nightofartists.comPrimarily landscapes and flowers inwatercolour or acrylics.(see ad page 13)

JONASEN, Zo (Pots from Pouce)Box 6Pouce Coupe, BC V0C 2C0250-786-5052helenzo@pris.caPottery, specializing in sun facesand functional pottery..

KAUT, DonnaBox 675Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3A7780-532-6468ddakaut@telus.netwww.nightofartists.com“I focus on oil paintings of wild-flowers and berries of Alberta.”

LAURIN, Ray9637-113 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1W4780-532-5232With acrylics, I can capture whatnature has to offer us.

LE CORRE, Lynn11110-95 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1Z7780-538-4046skyrock@telusplanet.netPainting in miniature simplifies thelandscape to colour and painterlyforms.

MACKEY, GordonBox 9, Site 1, RR2Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-3334780-568-2926People and nature in oil andacrylic. Sculpture in clay and wood.

MACKEY, MeganBox 9, Site 1, RR2Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-3334lambwood@telusplanet.netWatercolour landscapes and florals.

MAGNETIC NORTH IMAGES(Brian Don Hohner)Box 104North Star, AB T0H 2T0780-836-0021info@magneticnorthimages.comwww.magneticnorthimages.comLandscapes and skyscapes of theNorth. Pastels. Commissions wel-come.

MARTEL, TinaGrande Prairie, AB780-539-2814tmmartel@hotmail.comMixed media paintings.

MCGUINTY, Kristine12813-92 St.Peace River, AB T8S 1R9780-624-2605mcguinty@telusplanet.netHarvest Moon Studio: Contemp-orary photographic images,polaroid emulsion transfers, acrylicpaintings and drawings.

MCKENZIE, Cheryl9102-105 Ave.Grande Prairie, ABT8X 1H7780-532-7433cheryl@imagedesignpros.comwww.imagedesignpros.comDigital design and graphic artist.

MCNEIL, Michele J.RR2 Site 13, Box 41Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2Z9780-538-4760rpmcneil@telusplanet.netStained glass with a contemporarytwist “Yours is to dream it. Mine isto create it.”

MULLIGAN, Helena8709-98 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2C7780-538-2009Insights, expressions of everydaylife in sculptures, drawings andpaintings. Commissions welcomed.

NEKO GOLDWORKS (NeilKolacz)Grande Prairie, AB780-532-7030nekogold@telusplanet.netCustom Designed gold and silverjewellery, and original water-colours. (see ad page 11)

NELSON, Pat9421-113 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1W3780-539-4481neamhaid03@tahoo.caPen and ink, watercolour, mixedmedia, commissions considered, tealeaf readings.

NEW LEAF POTTERY(Heather McNair) Box 276Pouce Coupe, BC V0C 2C0250-786-0058Fax 250-786-0057anewleafpottery@hotmail.com

art of the Peace 23

NEW LEAF POTTERY (cont.)Functional, one-of-a kind mediumfire pottery. Commissions welcome.Home shows and instruction avail-able. Pottery can be purchased atPeace Gallery North and TriebelJewellers in Ft. St. John; DawsonCreek Art Gallery and Schrader’sFlowers, Dawson Creek.

PALMER, Valerie J.“Spores n’ More”Box 6512Peace River, AB T8S 1S3780-624-8589donval@agt.netMushroom spore prints: imagescreated from natural spores offungi.

PATRICK, AnneRR1Wembley, AB T0H 3S0780-766-2445“My landscapes, florals and berriesare done in realism in watercolour,acrylic and oils.”

PERRET, Gordon & Holly9306-71 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6E3780-532-9507perretgp@cablerocket.comOil and acrylic paintings; ceramicand mixed media sculptures. (see ad page 8)

PRIDDLE, Claire7-105 9818-94 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3R6780-402-3747clairepriddle@telus.netwww3.telus.net/SpectralStudio/home.htmlAcrylic colourscapes.

REDWOOD, Lonnie9505-63 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 2G1780-532-3510redfl@cablerocket.com“I enjoy painting landscapes andrelated subject matter in water-colours.”

ROY, JanetBox 279Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-3961Acrylics in various subjects - land-scapes, flowers, birds and animals.

SANDBOE, Suzanne ASA, PWSBox 28, Site 9, RR1Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0780-568-4124ssandboe@telusplanet.netRealistic landscapes, portraits andscenes from everyday life. Originalwork and commissions in a varietyof mediums. (see ad page 16)

SMITH, Len9110-100 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2K5780-539-4608Relief wood carving, 3D carving,intarsia, woodburning. Custom art-work and instruction.

STEFANNSON, Wendy10509-81 St.Peace River, AB T8S 1M7780-624-8522wstef@telus.netWorking conceptually, employingphotography, acrylic paints andsculptural techniques.

STEINKE, ViBox 10Silver Valley, AB T0H 3E0780-351-2174“My paintings of scenery and flo-rals are done in oils, acrylics orwatercolour.”

STOKES, Jim10417-110 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 1S8780-532-2573Quality, original paintings, draw-ings and prints. Contemporary rep-resentational work.. (see ad page 10)

STROM, Brenda10205 - 76 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Y6780-532-8930strombrenda@hotmail.comWatercolors, oil, monoprints of flo-rals, intimate landscapes and hock-ey players.(see ad page 13)

SWANSTON, NanRR3, Site 4, Box 6Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5N3780-532-6745nan@imagedesignpros.comwww.imagedesignpros.comClose-up views of nature, buildings.people - watercolour and pastel.

SYROTA, Dale7601-102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8W 1Y7780-539-4046hsyrota@cablerocket.comTraditional transparent watercolourpainting rendered in a true andunique style. (see ad page 13)

TAYLOR, Marjorie9506-77 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4T3780-532-0355mataylor@telusplanet.netAcrylic on canvas/mixed media,abstract paintings, clay sculpture.(see ad page 16)

THOMPSON, DougPO Box 5127Peace River, AB T8S 1R8780-624-5229780-618-5319 (cell)beezoo@telusplanet.netSteel sculpture using welding and blacksmithing techniques. My mas

THOMPSON, Doug (cont.)tery of metalworking techniquesallows me to work with steel as if itwere clay. Specifically interested inhuman forms/emotions.Commissions welcome.

UGUR, Rika#202, 10230-106 Ave.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5G8780-814-7430rugur@telusplanet.netOil paintings; impressionistic land-scapes.

WILLIAMS, Susan9005-102 St.Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2S8780-532-6991susanew@telusplanet.netFunctional pottery. Teaches begin-ner and intermediate pottery at theCentre for Creative Arts, GrandePrairie

WILLS, DougGrande Prairie, AB780-402-7077define@telus.netGraphic design, illustration, on-sitesoftware instruction.

PHOTOGRAPHY

CRAWFORD, Barbara9711-101 St.Peace River, AB780-624-5101Outdoor photography, rural land-scape, nature and old buildings.Colour and black and white.

MCLAUGHLIN, CatherineGrande Prairie, AB 780-402-6211cmclaughlin@telusplanet.netPhotography - informal portraits ofpeople and their pets, landscape.Freelance writing, poetry readings.

PETTIT, DonBox 823Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H8250-782-1063 or 250-782-60681-866-373-8488dpetit@pris.cawww.pris.ca/photographicsPeace Region nature photography,graphic design, publishing, market-ing, product development.

24 art of the Peace

"It raised a lot of questions forme," Heimdal admits. "AboutIntellectual Property, aboutwhere does respect for an artistor art begin and end. Therewere other questions of integri-ty. What if Michelangelo wasstill alive and it involved cov-ering up the ceiling of theSistine Chapel? Every effortwould be made to preserve theintegrity of the art and theartist.

"Last year, there was a similarcontroversy in Stony Plainwhen they tore down the TownHall that had one of my murals

on it. In that case, after thebuilding came down, a com-mitment was made by the townof Stony Plain to the communi-ty to redo the mural at a differ-ent location. But Stony Plainrecognizes that their muralproject is an asset to the town,part of their economic develop-ment, perhaps modeled on thesuccess of Chemainus in B.C."

And then in his typically shyway he adds, "Not that I amcomparing myself toMichelangelo. I just know thatthe improvements in my skilland technique would allow foran even better image than itwas. The depth and colour thathad been lost over time couldalso be restored."

The "Kakwa Falls" mural didlead to more murals, just as hehad hoped. Heimdal makes aliving painting murals. His artenhances communities all overAlberta, from Hythe to HighRiver, Redwater to Calgary.His paintings and murals adorn

hospitals, schools, nursinghomes and airports.

Perhaps there is some truth tohis minimalist marketing. Hisreluctance to be photographedfor this magazine or the factthat we had to cajole him to getimages of his work to accom-pany the article, run counter tothe artists who provide aweighty sales package of theirwork. But then again, if theprojects come to you, whywould you need to swim toomuch in the shark infestedwaters of marketing?

"Working on a larger scale likemurals makes art more accessi-ble to a broader audience. Youdon't have to see a muralbetween 9 and 5, or have to bea gallery-goer. It is public artthat still has a personal andintrospective nature," Heimdalstates. "And the work in theprivate context of the studiomay make a different state-ment."

Book jackets, illustrations, filmand video work and graphicdesign summarize all thediverse ways Heimdal's artflows into the community. Aconversation that begins with asimple question about setdesign meanders along like aquiet creek and ends up posingphilosophical questions aboutthe purity of visual representa-tion. Should an artist paintwhat he sees, or should what hefeels also influence the image?

One is left feeling thatHeimdal's questions will neverreally leave him alone, thatthere is an haunted undercur-rent that will continue to carryhim to new and deeper quests.

"What are you working onnext?" I ask him. "Well, I'm notsure," he replies in that meas-ured, soulful way, as if maybethere are so many answers to

that question that he has to real-ly consider which is the safestone. "I have to do a mural inHythe, on the Town Hall. Itwas written into the estate

directive of Olive Stickney,who was sort of the Queen Pinof town."

And this is another one of thosebizarre stories of serendipitythat sound almost too colourfulto be true. A woman tiny instature and enormous in will,who spent most of her 90 oddyears championing a dyingrural town, commissions apainting by an artist who in hisway, echoes her volunteerism.Arta Juneau organized an auc-tion last year to raise money forthe mural. Among such things

as yards of gravel, motor oiland cases of pickled beets, theyauctioned off Olive's legendarycollection of flamboyant hats.If that doesn't prove you've

arrived as an artist, I'm not surewhat does.

Many shared cups of coffeeand long and interrupted phonecalls with Heimdal have goneinto the research of this article.In the end, the enigma endures:the reticent artist whose boldmurals are in demand - the shyguy, who is also a clown. I real-ize that perhaps the most pow-erful thing of all about Heimdalis that he is an icon for authen-ticity. Being a success for beingyourself - now that is some-thing to aspire to.

(continued from page 16)

“Working on a largerscale like murals makesart more accessible to abroader audience. Youdon’t have to see a muralbetween 9 and 5, or haveto be a gallery-goer.”

A conversation that begins with a simple question about setdesign meanders along like a quiet creek and ends up pos-ing philosophical questions about the purity of visual repre-sentation. Should an artist paint what he sees, or shouldwhat he feels also influence the image?

Murals as Economic ResourceThe town of Chemainus (pop. 4000) on Vancouver Island maybe the perfect example of art as economic development for acommunity. For years forestry was the driving force of thearea's economy. Then in 1983, 700 people lost their jobswhen the sawmill closed down after 120 years of operation.

Residents rallied and became even more determined to beau-tify the downtown core promoting the logging theme, underthe downtown revitalization project which had been initiatedthe previous year.

Businessman and Chemainus resident, Karl Schultz, came upwith the concept of painting the town's history on its walls. Anorganization known as the Festival of Murals Society wasestablished to oversee and preserve the murals project.Today, there are 33 murals, depicting real people andvignettes from the town's history, painted in the downtowncore.

Chemainus is internationally renowned as the world's largestoutdoor art gallery and draws approximately 400,000 visitorsa year to its small and flourishing community.

To take a virtual tour go to:www.northcowichan.bc.ca/murals.htm

art of the Peace 25

26 art of the Peace

I've always been fascinated by flight and flying things. A bird, a plane, a dragonfly, a helicopter are equally wonderful and are all worthysubjects for my art to investigate and envy. As a child, I often had flying and floating dreams, and to wake up from them was thegreatest cheat - try as I might, I could never get back to sleep and recover that blessed state of being airborne. I believe that is whatinforms my desire to somehow convey the euphoria of flight

If we acknowledge a fear of heights in some people then it would be fair to say that some others have a love of heights - possibly anaddiction. Many of that latter group find their way to jobs in Forest Protection, whether as a Fire Lookout, Aerial Observer or, in thiscase, as a member of a Provincial Rappel Crew. I know it's what snared me. Although I've never done the helicopter rope trick, I'veexperienced all the other aspects of hanging out over the treetops and I like the way the world looks from that privileged viewpoint.Each painting must reflect that to some extent - to provide an impossible vantage from which to examine the world anew. I take anactual bird or aircraft and place them in a fictional scene to try and achieve this, but in the end, painting the forest and meadow, theflames and smoke or the helicopter is really just the context. I am trying to paint the air – paint the flying – paint the freefall.

Brian Don Hohner "FreeFall With SkyGenie"

Pastel on Watercolour

58.5 x 71 Cm.

©2000 www.MagneticNorthImages.com

art of the Peace 27