After 22 years of exhibits, awards and adventures, the City of North Battleford's director of galleries is handing over the reigns.
Dean Bauche began his journey as curator in a most unusual way. Although he came from a family of artists, Bauche studied institutional psychology in Australia.
"I never took art seriously as a means of income," he said.
After completing his degree, Bauche came to the Battlefords in the 1970s because his wife was completing psychiatric nurse training at the Saskatchewan Hospital. The couple had planned to move to Australia, but when Bauche's wife developed cancer, plans changed.
Bauche ended up spending the next 12 years working at Centennial Park Education Centre. But artistry was in his blood, and he continued to pursue his art on the side. Being part of the art scene, Bauche met Allen Sapp and Dr. Allan Gonor, and when Dr. Gonor passed away in 1985, Bauche was struck by an idea.
"I had a sense that I should do a painting to honour his memory," said Bauche.
He contacted Dr. Gonor's wife, and after looking through some of Dr. Gonor's memoirs, created a painting depicting his life. Not too long after, at an art show, Bauche was asked if he would sell the painting to the Jewish community. Initially, Bauche was against the idea, as he felt it would be wrong to profit from a work done to honour Dr. Gonor. Instead of turning down the offer, Bauche decided to sell the painting and donate the money to a cause that Dr. Gonor would appreciate.
"I had the money in my bank account for almost two years, and it was burning a hole in my pocket," recalled Bauche.
He phoned the city commissioner, explained the situation, and was told to wait, as there was an Allen Sapp gallery in the works.
"I put down the phone, and I thought, 'wow, wouldn't that be cool?' And I phoned my wife and said, 'you know what? I think I'm going to quit; I think I'm going to switch jobs.'"
Bauche applied for the position of directory of galleries, and to his amazement, was accepted. Bauche was involved in the Allen Sapp Gallery from its very inception, donating the money from the sale of the painting and even designing the exhibit and storage spaces. He also oversees the Chapel Gallery. He said it was a bizarre turn of events - not what he had planned at all when he initially came to North Battleford.
"This was a pit stop, but it's turned out to be where we spent a good part of our lives, and, frankly, it's blown our minds, because now having worked at the Allen Sapp Gallery, it's opened up the world to us," he said.
Bauche has worked with curators from all over the country and has worked on national boards. One exhibition, Through the Eyes of the Cree, has travelled across Canada, being shown in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, the Museum of Vancouver and many other locations. The national exhibit, which began its tour in 2004, has been seen by over a quarter of a million people, and isn't due to return to North Battleford until the fall of this year.
"We've been able to take the gallery and the art of Allen Sapp and do what was the right thing and offer it to the world, and the world's hungry for it," said Bauche.
Bauche said one of his most important accomplishments at the gallery was to break through the inferiority complex held by many Saskatchewanites, and Canadians in general. He wanted the success of the gallery to show people a gallery or artist doesn't have to be located in New York or Paris to be important.
"I've been able to look at the little museum that we have here on the prairies and say, 'we can be on the national stage.' To me, it's about saying we can be recognized with the best, we can be the best, because we have the capacity to understand that what is here, in this community, is world class," Bauche said.
Besides two Attractions Canada awards, Tourism Saskatchewan awards, Canadian Museums Association awards and numerous other awards, Bauche said one rewarding aspect of working at the gallery has been the chance he, his wife and five children have had to explore First Nations culture.
"For pretty much 22 years, my kids have had the opportunity to attend round dances and powwows, and had intimate opportunities to build friendships with many First Nations people," said Bauche.
Bauche said the gallery has opened up the universe to him in the sense that previously, he was viewing the work of Allen Sapp through a western mindset. Through dialogue with elders, he now has a richer view of the diverse culture and views in the world.
"I frankly believe that one of the missions of this gallery is to be that cultural bridge because, as a white person, I think we are missing so much in how little we understand the history and the culture of First Nations people."
Although Bauche is retiring in order to devote more time to pursuing his own art, he has every intention to occasionally lend a hand, if needed, at the gallery and, of course, he will remain in contact with Allen Sapp, whom he considers a friend.
