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Assiniboia artist creates quilt, fundraiser for Shurniak Gallery

“Metamorphosis” is a beautiful butterfly sculpture symbolizing the change in the Shurniak Art Gallery itself and the community.

ASSINIBOIA - Assiniboia artist Iris Lord recently created a large quilt, named “Metamorphosis II”. A raffle fundraiser on the quilt will help support the Shurniak Art Gallery.

Bio, submitted by the artist:

My desire to help people led me to the non-profit sector in the 90’s.

I have a certificate in Public Relations, which assisted me in my positions in fund development with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Mental Health Association, The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Saskatchewan Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.  I retired from the Kidney Foundation in July 2015.

Why am I a quilter?  My first sewing attempts were making Barbie doll clothes as a teenager. Growing up in rural Saskatchewan, sewing my own clothes was out of necessity. I made many of my children’s clothes when they were young, and they always had the best costumes at Halloween. I took my first quilting class many years ago, but never had the time to pursue it until retirement. Quilting now satisfies my desire to create beautiful pieces of art that I can give to the people I care about. 

About “Metamorphosis II”. Across the street from the Shurniak Gallery is “Metamorphosis”, a beautiful butterfly sculpture symbolizing the change in the Gallery itself and the community.  The quilt I made, “Metamorphosis II” was created for the gallery to help enable it to continue growing, creating and collecting art in a place that the community can continue to be proud of.

This is a one-of-a-kind quilt measuring 94”-by -96”. I used over 50 different fabrics, and approximately 1,070 pieces for this spectacular stylized Monarch Butterfly. The top and backing is pre-washed 100 per cent cotton with core bamboo batting.  It took me more than 70 hours to complete the work. 

This is an opportunity for you to own this beautiful quilt.  The raffle tickets will be available at the gallery until August 1, 2023.  Cost is $8/ticket or 3 for $20.