Prairie agriculture highlighted at ArtsForward

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

Students from the Beautiful Plains School Division were treated to a special art tour last week.

Neepawa’s ArtsForward hosted the event on Mar. 8, introducing the students to the works of Naomi Gerrard. Gerrard herself had been on the scene, talking with the students and discussing some of the techniques she used for each piece included in the exhibit, which is aptly titled Multi-Grains of Energy.

Each piece in the exhibit is a mixed media collage with grains incorporated into the art, creating a series of works celebrating the importance of Canadian prairie agriculture.

Gerrard grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, going on to train as a registered nurse and complete a B.F.A. in art at the University of Minnesota before immigrating to Canada in 1980 with her husband and children. Currently, she is an active member of the Winnipeg Art Community, has participated in Canada and the USA and has taught classes and workshops as well.

In addition to incorporating prairie seeds in her works, Gerrard is also known for making her own paper and sometimes using paper fibres to create texture on a paper or canvas, using materials such as thread, yarn, cloth, plaster, sand and other natural materials. Colour is also an integral component of her works.

Multi-Grains of Energy is on display at the gallery until Mar. 30.