REGINA – Artist Larissa 'Riss' Kitchemonia was selected by Regina Parks and Recreation to design a gate for Wascana Pool which is currently under construction.
"They're doing a huge reno of the pool downtown and they were asking for artwork proposals for the entryway," said Kitchemonia in an interview with Yorkton This Week, adding, "I had put in a proposal for a big metal art design for the front, and they gave it to me."
Kitchemonia, who is originally from Key Reserve and grew up in Canora, has spent the last eight years living in Regina.
“Kitchemonia’s concept for the Wascana Pool Gate involves a layered diorama to create a nature scape of Wascana Park and Regina,” read a post on the City of Regina’s Facebook page.
"I was super excited – for me, when I take on a project, it seems like sometimes you can be really intimidated by them, like, 'oh man, I'm over my head,' right, because it's new ground," said Kitchemonia.
"I made this proposal up and got it ready to go and I was like 'maybe I should ask somebody if I can even do this,’" said Kitchemonia with a laugh.
"I just kind of consulted with a few of my teachers and asked them 'hey, if I wanted to do this, what would it look like?’"
"The thing about this, though – I’ve never worked in metal before," said Kitchemonia.
Kitchemonia said she collaborated with Pro Metal, a fabricator based out of Regina and owned by the Pasqua First Nation.
"I designed my three layers – they send it off to their CAD designer – it's the program that they use to feed the laser the information – and they'll cut it out for me and weld it together," said Kitchemonia.
"I've just been kind of taking everything as a learning opportunity," said Kitchemonia, adding, "I didn't know anything about metal fabricating, and I know a little bit more now – moving forward that's going to be awesome on my CV."
Kitchemonia said she designed the gate with purpose and longevity in mind.
"The thing with the city – when you do proposals for them it's kind of important on how they're going to have to maintain it in the future," said Kitchemonia, "that was a big part of my planning – was trying to figure out how to create a project that was going to be easy for them to maintain over the years."
Kitchemonia said the gate needs to be completed by July 31.
“The gods willing – everything will align and it'll go good and I'll have it all done by then, hopefully,” said Kitchemonia, noting that the pool is set to open in 2023.
This isn’t the first time Kitchemonia has done artistic work for the city.
"I did work for the Confederation Park a few years ago – 2016,” said Kitchemonia, adding, "it's beside the Rider's stadium – it was a cool project."
Kitchemonia reflected on her past works.
"I can see how much I've grown over the years as an artist – it's kind of like one of those things where 'oh, I would have done this differently," adding, "you kind of are your own worst critic, I guess – cause you're forever evolving."
Kitchemonia’s art will also be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in Yorkton.
"I'm in a group exhibition and my art will be at the Godfrey Dean – July 1 to August 23," said Kitchemonia.
The artist said she also has another project on the go as well.
"I'm doing a series of 24 paintings for the Indian-Metis Christian Fellowship,” said Kitchemonia, adding, "they're kind of cool – they're like prayers and I am doing interpretations of them."
Along with the two art projects, Kitchemonia is working towards her master’s degree as well as parenting six children between herself and her partner.
"I finished my Bachelor of Fine Arts and then I started an education degree," said Kitchemonia, adding, "I did one year and then I put it on pause – two semesters away from finishing my master’s in visual art and Indigenous studies," noting that the masters is in interdisciplinary studies – a mashup of visual art and Indigenous studies.
