Arts centre celebrates one year and a flock of chickens
FIRST ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT ARTS CENTRE – The Heritage Home for the Arts celebrated their first anniversary with a wonderful afternoon of events on Saturday, September 14. Above, vibrant Winnipeg duo ‘Trinsicate’ performed live on the porch. That’s Ian Mikita (left) on drums, and Tim Friesen (who went to school in Killarney) on the right. Around 50 to 60 guests attended on the beautiful day, and really enjoyed the art workshops and especially the Devon cream tea, ‘which went down gangbusters,’ said Jane Ireland, arts administrator. Inside the centre was the stunning gallery show of Holmfield artist Katharine Bruce. See the story below, followed by more photos.
Roosters and hens inhabit art gallery
Contemporary world artist Katharine Bruce featured all month at the Heritage Home for the Arts – along with a visual feast of vibrant fowl
BY KIM LANGEN
The Heritage Home for the Arts welcomed local Manitoba artist Katharine Bruce to the gallery this month, with her exhibition entitled “Gallos y Gallinas.”
“We are very pleased to have an artist of Katharine’s calibre at the gallery,” said Jane Ireland, arts administrator for the Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council and the Heritage Home for the Arts. “We are particularly excited to be one of the first galleries to exhibit her work focusing on the study of chickens and roosters.”
A contemporary woman painter, Bruce specializes in paintings, drawings, mixed media and photography. Her artwork embodies the spirit and sound of traditional art and design, while exploring a wide range of cross media techniques.
The draw to create her colourful, gorgeous images of chickens was sparked by time spent living in both high country Mexico, and also in the rural U.S., she said – in the close company of hens and roosters.
And in a move to support the arts centre and community, and art lovers, Bruce has offered one of her coveted paintings – ‘Rooster White’ – to be raffled.
“Katharine has made a generous donation of a painting to the Heritage Home for the Arts to help us raise money,” said Ireland. “We are raffling the painting off, and tickets are $10 each. There will be no draw until we have reached $1,000.”
Bruce has since donated a second painting to the arts council for another raffle, added Ireland.
“She is very keen to help us raise money to continue operating, as well as raising local consciousness about the arts and the arts council,” said Ireland.
Bruce’s dramatic perspectives and dreamlike architecture reflect such varied subjects from New York’s cabs and canyons to Winnipeg’s Exchange district architecture, and Manitoba’s grain elevators and broad vistas. Her deep love for both environments is revealed in realistic and abstract images.
Bruce has been an active member of the Winnipeg art scene since the late 1990s. In 2012, she moved to Holmfield.
“Living in Holmfield, Manitoba since 2012, communing daily with the nature around me – it feeds my heart, which feeds my work,” said Bruce. “Everything flows from there, directly through my energies onto my paper or canvas.”
Bruce’s paintings have also been featured on book covers, CD covers, show homes, and corporate and Manitoba government buildings throughout the province.
Her mural, ‘Princess Street Reflective,’ a 4’ x 11’ drawing/mixed media, was purchased by the City of Winnipeg, and hangs in the lobby of the Winnipeg City Hall.
“It’s a passion, it’s a job, it’s my life, and there is nowhere I’d rather be than in my studio, quietly discovering and feeling the magic, “ said Bruce.
The gallery opening for the Katharine Bruce exhibition, ‘Gallos y Gallinas,’ was held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, September 6, at the Heritage Home for the Arts, at 44 Water Avenue, Killarney.
The event drew a good crowd, who enjoyed the wonderful display of her work with great interest and pleasure.
The exhibit runs until September 27, and gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday, 12 noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, please contact: Jane Ireland, arts administratorat the Heritage Home for the Arts, at 431-734-0394.
WIN THE WONDERFUL ‘ROOSTER WHITE’ – Contemporary world artist Katharine Bruce has donated one of her original paintings – ‘Rooster white,’ acrylic on canvas, and valued at $700 – to be raffled. Tickets are $10 each, and the draw will be made when $1,000 has been raised. The money is to be donated to support and illuminate the Heritage Home for the Arts programs.
GALLERY SHOW OF GALLOS Y GALLINAS – It’s not just roosters and chickens on the gallery walls at this month’s feature exhibition, ‘Gallos y Gallinas,’ by painter Katharine Bruce. The Manitoba artist is also displaying her wide range of cross media techniques, and the vibrant show runs until Friday, September 27, at the Heritage Home for the Arts.
DREAMLIKE ARCHITECTURE – Artist Katharine Bruce with her contemporary cityscape (done with acrylic collage on paper), ‘Where my heart lies,’ during her gallery showing.
WORKSHOP WONDERLAND – Local artists Judy Danard (left) and Kevin Tschetter wielded their paintbrushes during just one of a number of workshops that ran at the Heritage Home for the Arts 1st Anniversary celebration. Visitors were able to enjoy watching the acclaimed painters in the moments of creation.
CHARCOAL CREATIONS – Jill Sawatzky works on her wonderful charcoal creations upstairs in the art centre during the afternoon workshops.
TRIBUTE TO DEDICATION – Eunice Buhler (left), chair of the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Arts Council, speaking from the heart during the one-year celebration. Buhler thanked all the energetic volunteers, and especially arts administrator Jane Ireland (right), for their wonderful work and dedication over the past year. And she also praised the beautiful garden (foreground), which was designed and implemented this summer by head gardener Connie Blixhavn.
JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS