The City of Weyburn's Council Chambers is endowed with a world-class level of sophistication thanks to a new permanent art installation by local artist Heather van der Breggen. A 13-piece series of paintings entitled, 'Just...Roll with it' was presented on October 13 during a wine and cheese reception hosted by Tom and Gail Minard, who had commissioned the series to be donated to Council Chambers.
The Minards have been long-time friends with Heather van der Breggen since the artist helped them with an interior design project nine years ago. The Minards commissioned Heather to paint this series after her successful May 5 showing of 'Just... flip n come together' at the Allie Griffin Art Gallery.
Tom and Gail had not seen the finished product prior to the unveiling ceremony, nor had Mayor Debra Button herself seen it, which suggests great confidence in the artist's abilities.
The paintings, which comprise a greater image upon installation, were presented by local women of distinction.
"These presenters are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, women who shaved their heads for cancer research, entrepreneurs, women in the workforce and we are honoured to call them our friends!" said Rickee-Lee Webster during the opening speech.
Rickee-Lee is not only the artist's daughter but she is also Heather's business partner for Simple...With a Twist. The synergistic duo served as the event organizers, and organized it was. The paintings were ceremoniously and gracefully presented by Shawna MacDougall, Chelsea Southern, Lacey Lloyd, Mandy Deis, Tessa Dupuis, Karie Ruckaber, Carrie Nankivell, Lisa Knox, Leslie Smith, Lauren Seigler, Jessie Seigler, Kara Somerville and Wanda McLenaghan.
While the evening's entertainment band, the Road Cherries, performed their rendition of Paul Brandt's 'Small Town, Big Dreams', the women brought out the paintings two-by-two, placing them from the outside inward until the full series was revealed.
"Watching the entourage of ladies elegantly place the colourful panels...was definitely a spiritual experience for me. Several members of the invited audience in attendance admitted to having goosebumps during the paintings installation and reactions to the completed work were emotionally comparable," stated John Nolan, Tourism and Culture Director for the Tommy Douglas Centre and acting videographer for the evening. John's footage of the evening's event can be seen on the new episode of "Talk of the Town," airing October 31 on Access7.
Upon completion of the installation, the crowd began to roar with applause and cheering. Just...Roll With It exceeded expectations and captured the imagination and heart of its entire audience. As an abstract series of paintings, which when juxtaposed in sequence create a larger image of a breath-taking symbolic horizon, the installation speaks to an unassuming pastoral community creating a wave in the global scene. Every detail is a statement about what the community of Weyburn can contribute to the world with its potential for growth in business, agriculture, arts and music.
Mayor Button gave a speech during which she commented on how the project is one of both a coming of age and a joining together of two of Weyburn`s well-known families, the Minards with a farming history and the van der Breggens with oil patch roots. Though Heather originally came from Alberta and has married herself in to the van der Breggen family, the Mayor expressed sentiments of considering the artist to be one of Weyburn`s own.
"We are now proud to say that Weyburn is where we are from!" said Rickee-Lee Webster during her reception speech. The Road Cherries, a local band comprised of a number of award-winning musicians, continued to play for the duration of the soiree.
The artist has stated that her inspiration for the painting is grounded firmly in the richness of Saskatchewan with its abundant resources such as oil, water and fertile land.
"The Prairie Provinces alone could feed the whole world," said van der Breggen.
Just...Roll With It took approximately five months for Heather to complete, though she had been simultaneously working on about seven other commissioned works. The artist, who thrives on the rural beauty of her home on the prairies, hopes to combine a show with the one-hundredth anniversary of the van der Breggen farmhouse. Heather is working on another 12-piece project as well as a trilogy of paintings, among other projects. If that is not busy enough, Heather has recently become co-chair of the local Arts Council as well.
"I am busy with the Weyburn Arts Council and hope to have some exciting things go on there as well!" said the prolific artist.
The Simple...With A Twist ladies will also be taking some time for R&R for Rickee-Lee`s birthday next month.
"Rickee-Lee is so amazing and needs to be thanked for all her hard work...We have a beautiful life working together!" stated Heather. Modern families work together in new ways, but what Heather and Rickee-Lee have resonates throughout history on the Prairies. Like farmers, artists pour their souls into their work in hopes of nourishing their community.
This painting?s presence in our City`s Council Chambers - as well as the presence of artists like Heather in our community - indeed signifies Weyburn`s coming of age, which, though world-class, resembles a labour of love.
