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.
REGINA, January 17, 2025 – SK Arts recently announced that recommendations are open for its 2025 Arts of Celebration campaign and event. Over the next three years, the agency will focus on celebrating the province’s best and most promising artists and organizations in specific disciplines, starting with theatre and music in 2025. In future years, the event will celebrate visual and literary artists and organizations in 2026 and dance, media and multidisciplinary disciplines in 2027.
The 2025 theme, Creation, will honour the arts community in the following categories:
Established Artists, Arts Leaders and Administrators
Emerging Artists
Aspiring Youth Artists
Organizations, Collectives and Festivals
Following the recommendation period, the arts community will vote for their favourite artists, so stay tuned for more information on that. Artists with the most votes will be announced and receive cash awards in their respective disciplines and categories at the May event.
