Season Two
August 9 to September 29, 2024

April Friesen

糸／意図 Thread / Intention

Mind drifting into the collective spacetime (while hands move of their own volition) to imagine a world bigger than oneself.
Creation as a conduit for a vast and limitless meditation.
Mind wandering airily through the expansive dreamland between you and I.
Exploring the worlds of connection between there and here, yours and my own.
As you walk through my collection of physical visions, I ask you to pause.
I invite you to dream.
いれしゃい　／　welcome here

Inspired (with a heavy heart) by the multitudes of discarded traditional Japanese textiles, April Friesen found peace in the needle. She began stitching guided by the acceptance of her Japanese mother-in-law, and the wisdom of her Mennonite grandmothers. The genetic memory of blanket-making ancestors, both in Japan and Canada. An artist who deeply cares about the personhood of all things, her works tends to walk the edge of deep meaning and ethereal beauty. Every piece calls you to take a look within and with-out. Using exclusively upcycled fabrics and sometimes threads, Friesen takes the “redundant” and carefully works it into visual and textural statements of life itself. Every piece of fabric has a story that we may not ever know - but is yet palpable.

Pearl Krahn

Pearl has been dabbling in artwork since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Her parents supplied her and her sister with many crayons, paints, pencil crayons, paper and coloring books. She learned a few more skills in grade 9 & 10 art class with Marcel Debreuil, who really believed in Pearl’s abilities as an artist. She did a little sketching and painting more than 25 years ago, starting with watercolor and transitioning to acrylics. Pearl then put her art aside to pursue her career in nursing and raise a family.

Pearl picked up her brushes again in 2019 when she took a position in nursing that did not require working weekends, and therefore afforded her more time to pursue art. Covid granted her even more time to paint, and she was thankful to have this “hobby” to fill her time! Pearl received much encouragement and support from family and friends as she shared the work she was creating. After rediscovering the gift she was given, and now painting exclusively with oils, Pearl has immensely enjoyed improving her skills and creating paintings of the nature around her. She especially loves flowers and has created several paintings using her personal reference photos of flowers that she has grown in her own garden. This has provided her paintings with even more personal meaning. The beauty in the creation around us is evident, and is even more apparent when portrayed in Pearl’s works.

Josee Voth

Josee Voth was born and raised in Altona. Now residing just outside of town, she has learned to embrace the country side and the beauty it holds. Showing an interest in art from a young age, Josee has dabbled in painting, sketching, as well as a bit of photography.

Beauty is everywhere, you just need to have "eyes" to see it.

Tim Froese

“Now a full-time artist after a lifetime of creating art in fits, starts and streaks, I am beginning to realize my potential. My first serious foray began some thirty years ago when I discovered the joy of hand building clay. Many cartoon cats emerged.  Winnipeg's Gallery Lacosse became the meeting place for many cat enthusiasts and my kitties.  Three solo shows with Lacosse provided timely platforms to show off my increasingly diverse creatures. Then, one of those moments came when I knew - that time had come to turn to painting on canvas. Since then I have made several portraits, mostly on a large scale, and am excited to see how my work has evolved after finishing Permission, my perfectly named first painting. I now am envisioning new vistas and ready to go boldly to places yet unknown. Be it Mennonite history, my own family roots, the essential nature of humour, political discourse, the beauty of nature, people in every station of life, and yes, Words!, the options are limitless.  Time's a tickin,' gotta paint!”

Season one
June 7 - July 31, 2024

ARTists 4 - Ida MacKenzie, Judy Sutton, Jo Smoley, & Winona Kling

visual stories

VISUAL STORIES brings together the diverse talents of MacKenzie, Kling, Sutton, and Smoley as they each present their individual stories through their medium of choice. The exhibition explores the intersection of personal experience and artistic expression, aiming to inspire others to craft and share their own stories through the beauty of art.

Do not miss the chance to immerse yourself in the rich and varied tales that these talented artists have woven into their creations. Whether you are an avid art enthusiast or simply curious about the transformative power of storytelling, VISUAL STORIES is an exhibition that promises to inspire and delight.

Candace Lipischak

“In 2015 I started to clean up accumulated debris around our 100 year-old rural property. All of it was found either by the Rat River or in the pig/chicken barn, the milk barn, and the old garage attic.

Having lived with MS and PTSD for well over 20 years, the act of finding, excavating, then creating developed into a form of art therapy. I started making things for myself with whatever I could get my hands on. I began experimenting with acrylics, or would grab a hammer and tin snips and got to 'work' on a sculpture. Little did I know it would lead to a career in art, but also teaching and mentoring art in schools and communities as well. In 2025, I will be showing my work in what will be my 15th exhibition after ten years of showing my work as a solo artist and in groups across Manitoba.”

Candace Lipischak is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised on Treaty 1 territory. She is inspired by nature and her French-Métis/Polish background. Their company Fat Daug (short for Father/Daughter) was launched in 2015, offering unique and organic antler jewelry. These can be found on her website online and is carried by WAG-Quamajuk in Winnipeg. Candace also has merchandise incorporating their heritage-inspired designs, such as Louis Riel and the bison. 

Self-taught, their visual art work may be connected to outsider art often illustrating unconventional ideas and materials. By painting and incorporating many mediums such as barn wood, recycled tin and miscellaneous parts, Lipischak has found a way of telling a different story regarding environmental and social issues, consumerism, the land, truth and reconciliation, and nature’s powerful force. Recycling, reducing her carbon footprint, and applying the phrase ‘what can I do with this?’ has expanded her mind in creating art using items that co-existed with nature.

Candace's work is part of various collections both locally and nationally, such as TDS Law, Ceridian, The Canadian Coast Guard College in Nova Scotia, the towns of Niverville and Burlington, Ontario as well as Agriculture Canada 's head offices located in Ottawa.