Little Manitou Lake may be known as the "Dead Sea of Canada," but its arts community is full of life. Sculptor Sarah McKen is making the most of the influx of tourists attracted to the lake's purported healing powers by establishing her artist studio and private foundry around the corner from the Manitou Springs Resort and Mineral Spa.

The Manitou Beach community has been receptive to McKen since she relocated her family and business there in 2011. She works with the marketing committee and represents local artists in the media. "The community recognizes that as a newcomer, I have a fresh perspective and an interesting combination of artistic and business skills. I think they're excited about what I have to contribute," she says.

Her business acumen has been enhanced by participation in the Arts Entrepreneurship and Business Development Course, where she learned about the emerging experiential tourism trend. "I realized my endeavour is not about making sculpture for sale, but also about inviting people here to see the bronze casting process and maybe even get their hands dirty in a bit of clay," she says. McKen had been providing demos and workshops to visitors for some time but noticed that these didn't result in purchases of work. "The course helped me see that I need to get a little smarter in my business and turn the presentations into a revenue stream."

She welcomes visitors to her studio year-round and participates in the Spirit of Manitou Studio Trail, which attracts 300 tourists on the first weekend of July every year. Her property also features a sculpture garden with her own work and pieces from other Saskatchewan artists.

One of the few women who casts her own bronze sculptures, McKen also enjoys painting, carving wood, welding steel and creating concrete sculptures. She studied fine studio arts at the University of Saskatchewan under the mentorship of Bill Epp and served as artist-in-residence at the Epp Non-ferrous Foundry in Martensville. For more on McKen and her work, visit www.bronzeinspirations.com.

Offered by the Saskatchewan Arts Board in partnership with Creative Saskatchewan and Ideas Inc., the Arts Entrepreneurship and Business Development Course assists Saskatchewan artists and arts entrepreneurs to develop sustainable careers or business ventures in the province.

Front page: Sarah McKen casts a bronze sculpture. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Above:

Sarah McKen
Western Grebes, nd
Cast bronze.

Right:

Sarah McKen
In Love Falling Out, nd
Cast bronze

Photos by Michael Gaudet.