Sheila Orr's artwork Returning Tainted Gifts, 1999, was recently donated to SK Arts' Permanent Collection by the estate of Orr’s friend and former co-worker, Carolyn Cardinal. The mixed-media work captures Orr's signature dreamscape vision style and consists of a miniature bark canoe – anchored by bear claws – that is filled with stacks of bound wool blankets. The canoe is floating in front of a painted aerial view of Canada's east coast. The artwork was conserved to remove dust, dirt and smoke residue upon donation before being placed in a protective custom-built Plexiglas box and frame, a process that took almost two years.
Julia Krueger, Registrar at SK Arts, says the piece is an excellent example of Orr's aesthetic as she is known for incorporating various materials within a single work.
If you asked a group of rural students what an artist is, you might get many different answers. “‘Artist’ can be a vague idea to students—something we see in movies or in books, but not often in real life in a small town,” says Deadra Oblander, a teacher at Bulyea Elementary School. Fortunately, students in the community recently had the opportunity to work with Regina artist Shaunna Dunn on a special project funded by an Artists in Schools—Projects Grant from SK Arts.
“The project allowed students to work with a practicing artist and develop their creative skills. Shaunna’s answers and methods were different than those of ‘regular’ teachers, which allowed students to learn and develop in new ways,” says Oblander.
SK Arts is thrilled to unveil the SK Arts' 2025 Arts of Celebration - Creation artists! This year's showcase highlights the incredible music and theatre talent that you, the arts community, put forward for recognition and celebration. These artists, artistic leaders and arts organizations bring unique perspectives, skillsets and stories, capturing the essence of celebration, culture, and artistic expression.
The campaign aims to highlight the abundance of our collective experience, diversity, active work and achievements in a shared journey of creativity. With powerful narratives, they invite us to indulge and explore their work and the transformative impact of the arts across the province.
To assist in furthering and enhancing artistic practice, SK Arts will provide cash gifts to some recipients based on voting results: two in each discipline (music and theatre) for the Emerging Professional Artists, Established Artists and Arts Leaders and Organization, Festivals and Collectives categories and one in the Aspiring Youth category.
