Local artists displayed their work throughout gardens in Birtle and area, for the fifth Gallery In The Garden held on Saturday, Jul. 8. The event was hosted by the Gallery In The Garden committee to raise funds for the Center in Birtle. Gallery In The Garden is held every two years, with a garden tour only held the alternate years.
Gardens partaking in the event were: Elly Sotas’ Garden with a variety of perennials, roses, and lilies; The Duke’s Garden consisting of numerous flowers and vegetables cared for by Doug Duke and his wife; Osudar’s Garden by Loree and Rick Osudar with an 18 year-old pond, raised vegetable beds, and flowers; Spruce Garden Farm with gardener Pat Farquhar consisting of a variety of perennial flowers and a fenced in garden; Rocky Pond Farms by Stan and Donna Yaskiw with several flower beds, a pond with a waterfall and fountain stocked with trout; and Val’s Garden with over five acres of garden rooms.
There was an abundance and variety of artists showing their art at the Gallery In The Garden.
Bev Karnes and Don Pangman of Oak Lake Beach displayed paintings, mixed media art, bark sculptures, and carved diamond willow walking canes.
Maurice Gray of Virden also displayed his hand crafted wood bowls at the Gallery In The Garden. Gray has been turning bowls for eight years.
Dianne Conrad, teacher of art workshops, showed oil, acrylic, and airbrush artwork.
Terry Liles of Rossburn, attended with watercolour landscapes and wildlife paintings.
From Binscarth, Aryn Robidous’s artwork focused mainly on the beauty of outdoors and landscapes.
Sculpture artist Mary Lowe of Harding, shared her animal sculptures at The Gallery In The Garden. From Minnedosa, Marlies Soltys attended the gallery to show her Modern Mosaic artwork.
Pat Farquhar of Spruce Garden Pottery and Spruce Garden Farm displayed pottery. Most recently she has been exploring Pitt-fired pottery, and has been working with clay since 2005.
From Oak Lake, Karyn Kowel attended Gallery In The Garden. She is a certified paverpol instructor, and sculpts figures which were on display at the event.
Mel and Carol Schaab of Langenburg, SK showed a unique line of raku tiled mirrors and landscapes, garden faces and wind spirits. The husband and wife team use an application called raku (meaning enjoyment) for firing their pottery. It was developed in Japan towards the end of the 16th century.
Marilyn Paterson of Shoal Lake attended the gallery. She enjoys painting in various mediums and tapestry weaving, paper making, and silk painting. Most recently she has been working with fabric art.
Julie Tutkaluk, also of Shoal Lake, brought her glass art with her. She has been working with glass for over 25 years. Tutkaluk also does sand-blasting, sand-carving, stained glass art, and has worked with clay.
Quilters Donna Yaskiw, Shirley Barteaux, and Iris Bamfor of Birtle displayed their quilts. As well, quilters and sewers Carolynne Nickel of Solsgirth, MB, Judy Forrest of Drayton Valley, AB, Juliette Huberdeau of Wetaskiwin, AB attended and displayed their work.
Riel Benn of Birdtail Sioux First Nation shared his artwork expressing his life, dreams, ideas, fears, and joys in canvasses at the event.
Evan Trembley of Rossburn uses found or recycled materials in his landscape art available for viewing at the Gallery In The Garden.
Melva Widdicombe of Winnipeg displayed her work at the event. Jaden Swain of Keesekoowenin showed her drawings, sketches and paintings.
Jack Lewis-Smith attended the gallery to display his artwork. He has been a practicing artist in Winnipeg, Victoria, and Trail, BC before settling in Birtle.
From Rossburn, a functional art furniture artist displayed her wood designed pieces at the event.
Also of Rossburn, MB, Reg Kucey shared inaka carvings made from deer, elk, and moose antlers.
The Gallery In The Garden served iced tea and treats at the Centre during the afternoon. A silent auction was also held at the Centre at 3:30 p.m. The Classic Garden Gift Shop was open for all to view during the event, and classic car owners, Stan and Donna Yaskiw held a Show & Shine for car enthusiasts to attend at the Gallery.
The Centre is a building in Birtle, owned by Classic Garden, a non- profit organization. The board is completely volunteer members. The organization does fundraising for pay artists to teach such classes as pottery, painting, carpentry, and more at the Centre building.
Gallery In The Garden held Jul. 8 at Birtle, MB showcased over two dozen artists at six different gardens. This is Pat Farquhar’s garden at Spruce Garden Farms.
Gallery In The Garden on Jul. 8 at Val’s Garden owned by Val Thomson near Birtle.
