Summer is always a busy time for the art community as there is only so much nice weather to work outdoors.
This past August, the Prairie Sculptors Association made the best of that opportunity by holding a symposium at North Battleford's Chapel Gallery.
Paynton artists Mariann Taubensee and Ellery Russell joined in this year for the multi-disciplined sculpture-building symposium. Three dimensional works were constructed from paper, wood, metal, glass and concrete by seasoned veterans and rookies alike.
Taubensee worked with metal and glass creating Immer Frohlich, which in German means "always happy" representing Taubensee's grandparents who helped shape her into the strong independent woman she is today.
With very little money, her grandparents (with the last name Frohlich) found ways to make things last, re-use, reduce and use innovative ideas to pull it all off while keeping a smile on their faces.
Taubensee's sculpture is made from re-used items such as cultivator shovels, farm implements, tempered glass, glass insulators, fencing staples and nails pulled from the fire all held together with hot glue and eco-friendly resin. It has been placed beside the doors of the Don Ross arena and shows well against the brick backdrop.
Heartwood by Ellery Russell is an eight-foot tall sculpture representing the heart and lungs of our planet. It carries a message of the need to cleanse and restore our planet to a more natural state. It also represents the need to reduce our carbon footprint and re-use as much as possible teaching the next generations to respect our Earth. Made primarily from re-claimed items, farmyard metal and a rotted out piece of Manitoba Maple, Russell created this metal and wood sculpture that can be seen at the head of the trail across from the Don Ross Center.
You can see these and many other sculptures in North Battleford along the trail leading from the Chapel Gallery across the park to the Allan Sapp Gallery. The Prairie Sculptors Association is holding a show titled Shapeshifters, which runs until the beginning of October.
The artist reception is this Thursday from 5 - 9 p.m. Several artists are showing over 50 pieces of sculpture and wall art. Meet the artists and hear what they have to say about their work, also make sure you walk around the building to see all of the sculptures and beautiful views.
