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Follow Us in France! |
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From May 17 to 31, 2012, Liza Gareau Tosh from Routes Gallery and Corinne and Natascha Thompson from Voyages Mille-fleurs brought a group to France to follow the route of the Impressionists. That's right! Liza blogged from abroad so if you care to look into their gallivanting, check out Liza's blog. We are very likely to do this trip again in the future so if you want to know what it has been all about, come along (vicariously for now!).
www.routesgallery.wordpress.com
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Last Updated on Monday, 11 June 2012 09:23 |
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A Very Big Thank You! |
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I would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who helped make our fun at Routes Gallery exceptional. In 2011, we showcased individual artists and group shows with a special interest in our YOUTH. We also saw and heard the likes of seasoned entertainers like Valdy, Freddie Pelletier and Brad Johner. We were introduced to the stylings of Jeffery Straker, Alexis Korchinski, Miss Daily and Zachary Lucky. We learned more about the culture of the Métis through Vicki and John Arcand, and we donated to “Relay for Life” with the help of performer Carrie Catherine. Thank you to the artists who showed us their work (Josie Duffus, Karen Walter, Diane Greenhorn, and the group Artx9) and to the students of art who came out to create and learn.
I want to thank the caterers who help make our events special: Joanne Genest-Cook, Shirley Helgason, and Pat Trask. I want to thank the volunteers who helped out this year during, before and after events. To the Students from the region for participating in the Art exhibition and for working for RELAY FOR LIFE. To HTCS School and its teachers for attending workshops. And to an “Enabling Accessibility Fund” for providing us with our new ramp and to the Harris Lions doing the work.
And next year, we plan to start it all over again... our grand re-opening will be April 29, 2012. Look to our website (www.routesgallery.info) in the new year for information on what’s to come for 2012. Expect some exciting additions and more of the same: good times and lots of showcasing what’s good about the prairie!
Liza, Jim, Remi and Amos |
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Our Name and Our Tree |
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So here we are, at Routes Gallery, in the heartland of the prairie, and we have a mission. We are to show the rest of the world, what the rural experience of Saskatchewan is. But more importantly, we are going to show it to ourselves. Through our art, and our music, we are now mandated to be on display. To represent all that is vibrant, dynamic, troubled, changing, and thoroughly everlasting about rural life. For me, this is best personified in two things. Firstly, the roads that interconnect us all. From landscape to seascape, we cannot be together without first finding the path that leads us to someone. The biggest difference between a mass transit highway and the worn but unpaved dirt road is that, although they are both there, most of it is not used or seen, unless one stops, and looks. It can be amazing what one “discovers” when one stops and looks. The second image that best describes a rural person is the tree that Iʼve incorporated into my logo for Routes Gallery. I drive by this tree, every time I come to town from our farm on Valley Centre Road. The reason I notice it, absolutely every time I drive by, is that it is completely isolated and alone, up against the elements. Some farmer, who shall remain unnamed, makes endless turns to avoid it, since it is in the middle of his field. He is planting crops around it. What he isnʼt doing is taking it down. It makes quite a statement about the rural way of life. By the virtue of its own existence, there is no stopping it from being.
There is something else that is remarkable about this tree. The moment I reach it in my commute, is the moment I canʼt help but look around and notice how absolutely remarkable a landscape we live in. Stunning, and at the same time, belittling. What a perspective one can have of oneself when you are wedged by such land and sky. It makes you want to shout out “would you look at this? Does anyone know that this is here?”
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Opening Soon for the 2012 Season! |
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"Those who simply put their head down and power through this unsung province are denying themselves its subtle powers." David Bidini from On a Cold Road
The author of one of the novels of this year's "Canada Reads" is referring to his experience driving through Saskatchewan, calling it the land of epiphanies and an "excellent place for thinking". We've known for a long time that it's an excellent place for creating. And come this spring, it will once again, be an excellent place for experiencing Art and Music as Routes Gallery is on the cusp of opening for a new season!
And speaking of new, I'd like to start off by telling you about what are exciting additions to your experience at our gallery. Firstly, we have invited a roster of caterers to offer a meal in the gallery to complement the shows. We're excited to have local talent Joanne Genest-Cook and Pat Trask, and from Rosetown, Shirley Helgason. Most will be three course meals served between the Art Openings and the evening's Concert performances, but a noon brunch in May and a tapas evening in August are also in the works. And as a special treat, Chef Jenni from the renowned New Ground Café will be launching her new book of recipes and anecdotes as well as serving up a meal to us in October.
Our Art Exhibitions this year will consist of new work by established artists like painter Jeanne d'Arc and sculptor Emile Gaudet and re-emerging artists like painter Gail Taman (April). What would a year be without a group show and this year Artists Eclectic (Sept) and a Members show by SAEC (Nov) will be featured. Finally, locals Liza Gareau Tosh will be showing all new work in June alongside the young Nikki Mireau's digital imagery.
Not to be outdone, our Concert line-up will be in keeping with the caliber of entertainment we've seen to date at Routes Gallery. From award winning to up and coming, we have the impressive guitar stylings of Joel Fafard (April), Steve Palmer (May), Robert Helgason (July), and Andrew & Zachari Smith (Sept). Gospel foursome "Rosie & the Riveters" (Farideh and Alexis Normand are members) are our August show and our special event this year will be a Father's Day concert with Annette Campagne accompanied by a local gospel choir directed by Cheryl Pearce. May as well throw in a Jam Session in September where locals can strut their stuff. Finally, to cap off the year, expect nothing short of perfection in fun with our annual "Good Time Show" featuring the return of "The Residuals" and an Irish Ceili (Nov).
Also expect the return of our regular monthly drop-in Art Classes and for the fall Adult class, Acrylic painting will be featured. This year, we are thrilled to have a few different guest instructors offer courses - a weekend of "Introduction to Pastel Drawing" with Diane Greenhorn and a one-day Yoga Retreat with Patricia Dewar (both in April). And this Fall, we'd like to focus on the creativity of the writers amongst us, as poet Keith Liggett will be around to offer an exceptional Writer's Workshop in October. Stay tuned for the details!
It all starts on Sunday, April 29th, 2012. That is also the day we unveil our newly functioning ramp, thanks to having received a grant from the Enabling Accessibility Fund. Thanks again to the Harris Lions for their contribution in building it. We're thrilled to now be fully accessible to all!
Details on these events can be found in the Events Calendar of this website. To find out how to become a member ("Friends of the Gallery") or to volunteer, look for the info on the Home Page or contact us. We look forward to seeing you in and around Routes Gallery in 2012!!
Liza Gareau Tosh
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The Gallery
