When the Trees Crackle with Cold: p墨simwasinahikan by Miriam K枚rner and Bernice Johnson-Laxdal, which has been touring the province since 2019, and Context is Everything by Monique Martin are now available for viewing at the Humboldt and District Gallery.
Both exhibits will be on display until May 22.听
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Context is Everything
Context is Everything is an installation exhibit which showcases various paper dandelions highlighted plant through the atmosphere of the pieces.听
According to Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Humboldt鈥檚 director of cultural services, the display showcases the weed as a symbol for healing from emotional pain, physical injury and surviving through all life鈥檚 challenges and difficulties.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a message of resilience, it鈥檚 a message to be strong no matter who you are or what happens to you,鈥� she said. 鈥�
I think it鈥檚 a beautiful springtime show because people have had a really challenging year and we want to encourage everyone to look at things in a different way.鈥�
The spots for the pieces were chosen personally by Martin throughout the exhibit.
鈥淥ne of the strengths of Monique is she can come into a space and create an exhibit that works in that space,鈥� Fitzpatrick said. 鈥淪he brought many pieces with her so she would have that flexibility to kind of create something that works in the space.鈥�
The result is dandelion seed heads encased in display cases and viewable ornaments, others yellow and prime with display cases or having their nectar drained out by an artificial butterfly.
Martin has had her previous bee-based display, Continuous, shown in 2018 at the Humboldt and District Gallery.
Other shows Martin has been featured in include Austria, Kootenay Art Gallery in B.C., ODD Gallery in Dawson City, Yukon, The Athens Printmaking Art Center in Greece, and several galleries throughout the prairie provinces.
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When the Trees Crackle with Cold: p墨simwasinahikan
When the Trees Crackle with Cold: p墨simwasinahikan by Miriam K枚rner and Bernice Johnson-Laxdal is visiting Humboldt as part of an Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) tour.
The touring pieces are watercolour originals which were printed in a children鈥檚 book of the same title.
The art was inspired by the traditional Cree moon calendar and Johnson-Laxdal鈥檚 childhood memories of growing up with her thirteen siblings in Ile-a-la-Crosse, celebrating northern Saskatchewan and its people.
鈥淚t is homage to a unique place, where we can all learn important lessons about respect for the land, each other, and move towards a common understanding of northern Saskatchewan鈥檚 history and our personal place within,鈥� K枚rner said.
Fitzpatrick said the museum has some videos with K枚rner explaining how she does the painting and the language which was involved in the paintings. These are being shared to all public schools.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just working on getting the education packages together, but with Zoom we can obviously go a fairway out,鈥� Fitzpatrick said. 鈥淪o the staff will be able to work with the students to create some watercolour and the students can read the book.鈥�
