The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) has revealed the women who will be part of the Heroines exhibit this summer.
Heroines will display portraits and biographies of 18 women who have played an important role in the community. The concept is similar to Estevan Women: The Dynamics, an exhibit which was on display at the EAGM in 1998, and was showcased again last November.
The 18 women for Heroines are Patt-Lenover Adams, Shirley Andrist, Tania Hlohovsky-Andrist, Lynn Chipley, Pam Dechief, Jocelyn Dougherty, Jennifer Durr, Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway, Marguerite Gallaway, Doreen Hagen, Valerie Hall, Jackie Hank, Tara Johns, Brady Johnson, Lorna Lachambre, Brenda Lyons, Amanda Minchin and Jennifer Pettitt.
Sarah Durham, who is curator of collections for the EAGM, said they have a very good cross-section of women. They represent different generations, and they have contributed to the community in many aspects.
“We have a lot of volunteers, a lot of entrepreneurs, people who are committed to the arts, people who made career commitments, and people who are breaking boundaries,” said Durham. “We have a very nice spread of people, representing a nice, diverse group.”
Five volunteers served on the selection committee: retired Estevan Mercury editor Norm Park, Southeast Newcomer Services executive director Debbie Hagel, Metis Federation of Canada Estevan and Area branch president Linda Sopp, EAGM board chair Amber Ganje and Councillor Travis Frank, who is the EAGM’s city council representative.
Durham said they received 34 nominations from the public. The nominators had to explain why they thought the nominee would be a deserving choice. The panel used the information in the nomination package when making their decision.
Ultimately, they had more women nominated than they could accommodate in the show.
The jury met for an afternoon in May and selected the 18 women. From there, the EAGM contacted the honourees and asking for their permission to be part of the show.
Since that time, Jon Gillies, who instructs the South Sask. Photo Club that meets monthly at the EAGM, has been taking the photos of the honourees. Durham said most of the photos have been taken.
“Right now the gallery is at the stage of conducting the interviews with all of the participants for the show,” said Durham.
The length of the biographies will be dependent on how much each participant has to say.
None of the women selected for Heroines were part of the Dynamics exhibit from 19 years ago. Durham said the EAGM didn’t want to have anyone from the Dynamics included in Heroines, because they wanted to show different women who are contributing to the community.
None of the women included in the Dynamics were nominated for Heroines, so it didn’t become an issue.
Heroines will be on display from July 28 to August 20. An opening reception will take place on July 28 at 7 p.m. Durham said it’s open to the public, and she hopes all of the women being recognized and their families will be present.
