By Melanie Jacob
Journal Editor
In a double whammy, the Humboldt & District Gallery is welcoming two new exhibits, one of which is local while the other is provincial. The provincial one, Fertile Ground, is a showcase contemporary ceramics in Saskatchewan while the other is a showcase of local artist, Marian Vidotto.
"Because the gallery also brings in provincial traveling shows, we also wanted to balance that with local art," said Jennifer Hoesgen, the gallery's curator.
Fertile Ground is a collection from the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery and features work from popular artists such as Mel Bolen, Victor Cicansky, Randy Woolsey, and many more. All of their work is clay-based, though some of the finished products might go through a different process to become clay, and all of them are older pieces.
"Mine is a salt-glazed piece. It's one of the first or second semi-successful pieces that came out of firing the kiln," said Bolen. "When I look at it, I see the struggle I was going through, trying to get this salt thing happening. The nice thing about it is it's a nice, real, pure, simple piece."
The exhibit is only here until Oct. 23 before it moves on to the next location. The gallery is giving schools the option to book a tour, where students can look at the art and learn about it, do a scavenger hunt, then do a hands-on clay activity.
It's not just for youth, either. The exhibit is an opportunity for people to come and learn more the process of clay and ceramics.
"For me, clay is an organic material, but it also speaks to creativity," said Hoesgen. "I'm not an artist, but I can appreciate people who can take a box of clay and have that inspiration to see things in it. They have that vision."
When Fertile Ground packs up and moves, A Local Perspective with Marian Vidotto will still be on display until the beginning of January. Vidotto herself has exhibited artwork across the province.
She describes herself as a wildlife artist who works in oils, pastels and Indian inks. All of her work includes some form of animals.
"Animals indicate aliveness and alertness. It makes you so aware that life is alive," said Vidotto. "I encourage people to realize the beauty of wildlife. We occupy this beautiful world, so (people shouldn't) mess it up for them or us."
Before retiring in 1988, Vidotto had taught art for more than 15 years at Muenster Elementary. She's received awards from Reflections of Nature and said that art is a part of who she is.
"It's part and parcel of who I am and what I do," she said. "I shall go down with a paint brush in my hand."
Vidotto currently has 14 works on display at the gallery.
