ARC Creative Studio Gallery is located at 1106 -101 St., North Battleford and is home to 12 local artists. Gallery hours are Tuesday's noon to 4 and Fridays 11 to 4.
Chris Hodge
I spent most of my adult life working as a mechanical technician then computer programmer in Ontario. I came originally from Hamilton, Ont. and lived in several communities in technical positions. On retirement I moved to North Battleford to help with my family and have remained here since. Retirement gave me the opportunity to get heavily involved in the arts world and I spent time on the local arts board, joined the Prairie Sculptors in Saskatoon and helped found the Arts Quest group in Saskatoon.
I am primarily an abstract painter, influenced by the simple yet deep texture of my prairie surroundings. In addition I work on steel sculptures, keeping the simple forms of prairie landscape. My influences come from the colour field painters such as Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler and abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock and Joan Mitchell. Colour and simplicity are my main concerns when painting and I like to use layers of paint, leaving a deep and hopefully mystical impression on the viewer. My sculptures are an extension of the simple forms of painting in a more tangible media.
Sherron Burns
Playful learning, curiosity and collaboration are key to the way Sherron creates as an artist and an arts educator. Whether painting, building assemblages, sculptures, masks or puppets, she finds ways to use materials in unusual combinations. Every day objects become something new if looked at in the right way. Seeking collaborations for inspiration led to discussions with like-minded people and ultimately to the formation of ARC Creative Studios and Collective Voice Theatre. This desire to create, build, play and explore with other artists also resulted in her organizing the recent puppet lab at the Chapel Gallery in July 2015.
Sherron has written, directed and performed in many pieces of original work in puppetry, film, dance, mask and story and works with people of all ages. Tjaart is a puppet show developed and created through ensemble in Yellowknife, N.W.T. Swimming to Agassiz is an imagined family history in puppets and stories. Sedna: A Creation Story is a shadow play. All were created in recent years. She is currently collecting old suitcases and interesting boxes for an upcoming storytelling project. If you have one to donate it will be gratefully accepted at the studio.
Sherron moved to the Battlefords 18 years ago with her husband, writer Cliff Burns, and their creative sons, Liam and Sam. She is an arts and learning consultant with Living Sky School Division.
