This week is your last chance to appreciate artwork focused on the prairies. The show titled Common Ground being displayed at the Kerrobert Courtroom Gallery will be coming down Friday May 27th.  

Common Ground, which has been open for public viewings since early March features landscapes many of us in West Central Saskatchewan are familiar with and are designed by two local artists. 

Cindy Hoppe and Diane Larouche Ellard, both from Biggar, Saskatchewan use unique and intercut ways to proudly bring the province’s landscapes to capture the viewer’s eyes. 

Chairperson of the Kerrobert Courtroom Gallery, Tracey Cholin explains each artist’s method and what makes each style so unique.  

“Cindy begins her process by dying silk and wool, and then she sews the fabric into intricately detailed landscapes. She starts by applicating the main components of the scene, whether that is buildings, flowers, fences or whatever she can find and then she fills in the rest by working from the back of the piece with bobbin embroidery. At first, you don’t even realize its sewing. It’s quite amazing to see.” 

“Diane creates her paintings from her own photograph. She goes out in the community and the neighbourhood. She uses a variety of mediums including oil paints, acrylic, encaustic and mixed media. Her encaustic pictures are probably some of my favorites, and encaustic is an ancient process that uses beeswax, resin and heat to fuse the paint. Once its finished, the beeswax is water resistant, and it will not deteriorate or fade or yellow with time.” 

Cholin encourages anyone wanting to view the artwork to visit the Gallery before the Friday deadline when they start to take down the show to make way for the next exhibit which will be taking place June 3rd. 

“We have two artists coming again, one of them is Bonnie McNabb from Turtleford. She's bringing paintings and printed cloth and leather and Shane Junip is from Saskatoon and he is bringing some stone carvings.” 

The Kerrobert Courtroom Gallery is open for visitors Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. but is closed over the lunch hour. 

With repairs being done to the front steps of the Courtroom, those visiting are asked to use the back entrance.