We are officially closed for the 2024 season!

November, 2024

This Spring, the Gallery shingles were replaced, and we now boast a beautiful, long-lasting roof! We also hosted the high school Student Art Show once again, which was represented by MCI, Morden, and W.C. Miller Collegiate. In both June and September, we welcomed school groups from Elmwood, West Park, and Parkside into our space for tours of the Gallery and grounds.

We opened in June, featuring a gorgeous collection of works by Artists4, a collective of Judy Sutton, Jo Smoley, Ida Mackenzie and Winona Kling. Their exhibit revealed the exceptional combination of acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings. Our Spring exhibit also featured incredible works by Candace Lipischak, a multi-disciplinary, French Red River Métis-Polish artist.

As usual, the Manitoba Sunflower Festival brought in large crowds to the Gallery. We had over 700 visitors through the Gallery over the festival weekend, almost 200 more visitors than last year! We also hosted the Silent Disco for the second time, which many people from last year were looking forward to once again, while newcomers were excited to experience it for the first time! It was again, well-received and is likely to be a continued feature during the festival weekends!

We hosted two music nights (with a third postponed next Summer due to rain) on the patio in July. Our first music night was a combination of local acts, including Callum Morrison, Nya Dubyk, Nicole Peters, Curt Friesen + Lyle Wiens, and father-daughter duo Paul + Sara Krahn. Our second music night featured classically trained couple Nolan Kehler and Joanna Loepp-Thiessen. Both nights were big successes, drawing diverse groups of listeners. We hope to continue to use our beautiful outdoor space for more of these events in the future!

Our second exhibit featured work from artists with local ties to Altona. Our featured artist was textile artist, April Friesen. On the second floor we showed paintings by Pearl Krahn, Tim Froese, and photography by Josee Voth. In August, we welcomed kids and youth from the Regional Connections summer day program, who took part in our sculpture garden scavenger hunt and had a blast!

As in past years during September, the Gallery once again acted as a hub for the Pembina Valley Studio Tour. On the Saturday of the tour, we hosted the third annual Blue House Market, with several returning vendors and many new vendors! Similar to the last two years, we were once again blessed with great weather, which allowed several of the vendors to set up their tents and wares on the grounds lining the pathways. The Sun Valley Co-op Coffee truck was on site once again, supplying the community with full barista services. On the Sunday of the Studio Tour, we hosted our feature artist April Friesen for an artist talk in the afternoon. April was able to engage with visitors while working on a future quilt for her collection. Guests were curious and intrigued to learn April completely sews her pieces by hand, and it was a treat to have her there with us.

Behind the scenes, we continue to work with the Town of Altona towards updating the exterior of the Gallery. The siding is nearly ready to be installed, which will compliment the new roof beautifully. We had anticipated completion in the Fall, but we are now looking at Spring. We are very grateful for the town’s part in this much-needed project. As a Committee, we are also continuously discussing and dreaming up exciting future plans for the Gallery. Despite the Gallery now being closed for the winter, we have begun planning for our 2025 exhibits. From January to May next year I will be away for a semester abroad, but I am, as always, already looking forward to returning to the gallery next June, and anticipating another successful season.

It was my sincere honour to step in as Interim Curator this year, and I extend my many thanks for the support I received from Susie, the Rec Office staff, the Gallery committee, and to all of you for the successful season!

Renae Friesen, Interim Curator