The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum has welcomed two new exhibits to the community. Both thought-provoking displays push the boundaries of artistic norms. 

The first exhibit is "Vicissitude," created by Saskatoon-based multi-disciplinary artist Monique Martin. The piece is a collaboration with Alexandra Hedberg and was created in Sweden. It has been showcased around the world.  

Unlike traditional artwork, the 120 square meters of silk screen printmaking is displayed on the floor, inviting viewers to walk on top of the art. The work depicts climate change.  

“We have forest fire, tornado, drought, glaciers melting and a flood,” described Martin. She added that the motif is the butterfly as it is a symbol of transformation and that we are all being transformed by climate change.

Vicissitude

Vicissitude

“The title is vicissitude, and because vicissitude means change. But to the negative, whereas the butterflies inside the floor cloth are a kind of hope because they transform in a positive way,” said Martin.  

Debuting her work in Estevan is a full-circle moment as the piece was designed with the EAGM in mind.  

 “Amber Anderson the former curator was the one that helped get a Sask. Artboard Grant to make this, and she backed the project, she understood the project, and after I printed it in Sweden and I came here in between show changes and decided which direction to put it and all that so, she was very key in making this come to life.”  

Due to its large size, not all other galleries have been able to accommodate the project. Before this exhibit, it was displayed at the Symphony in Saskatoon, where 15,000 people walked, danced, sang, and played instruments on it.

The second exhibit, "Resist," is on display by The Fibre Art Network (FAN), a collective of Western Canadian artists aiming to promote fibre art as a fine art medium. Jaynie Himsl, a member of FAN from Weyburn, explained that each artist interpreted the theme differently.

“If we say that we quilt people have a vision in their mind, their grandma’s quilt. But that’s not the sort of thing that we do. We make fine art, and it happens to be referencing the three layers of quilt,” said Himsl  

Although her own work was not featured in the exhibit, she expressed excitement about supporting her fellow fibre artists.

“It’s always a pleasure to see our work up on gallery walls. It’s just so much fun and I think it is the first time we have had an exhibition in Estevan,” said Himsl. 

Resist

Resi

Tye Dandridge-Evancio, the director and curator at the Estevan Art Gallery Museum, expressed his excitement about the new exhibits.

“Seeing how the space kind of transforms from one show to the next. Because it's incredible how just you know 4 white walls. Can just suddenly become, you know, a completely different experience. Depending on what's on the walls or not on the walls in the case of the current show that we have on with Monique Martin and Alexandra Hedberg.” 

He added that it's also exciting to see different art forms coming to the gallery.

“At one point it can be something very contemporary and very kind of contemplative. And then the next it can be something that's community-oriented, wholesome, bright and colourful,” said Dandridge-Evancio. 

Both exhibits will be at the EAGM until June 7.