Exhibition captures rural Saskatchewan

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Marcus Day

Maple Creek News

Growing up, Kerrie Chabot and her siblings lived 18 miles east of Maple Creek, at the base of the Cypress Hills.

Even though her childhood home no longer exists, it lives in her mind, reflecting a profound attachment to family that endures to this day.

She has also memorialized it through an acrylic painting, titled My Home Place, which shows a two-storey white property in a green field, with a wood in the background. A pathway leading to the front door is bordered by red and yellow flowers protected by antlers.

“We would find the antlers in the fields,” said Chabot, whose painting is one of about 45 pieces exhibited by the Art Cub of Maple Creek at the Jasper Cultural & Historical Centre.

The exhibition, which will be up until the end of the month, carries a rural Saskatchewan theme.

Last month, a reception was held at the Jasper Centre, giving the public a chance to meet the artists and discuss their work.

David Jenkins, Jasper Centre manager, spoke of the wonderful relationship between the centre and the art club.

He said the exhibition showed an evolution of craft and skill. The artistic growth on display was remarkable, he added.

Jenkins invited the artists to introduce themselves and say a few words, if they wished.

A painter for 40 years, Clare McNab expressed her appreciation of the art club and said she had never stopped learning.

Jo-Ann Zyla thanked the Jasper Centre for showcasing the work of local artists.

While Ev Southwood has been part of the art club since its inception in the 1990s, Karen Goudreau said her involvement started two years ago after a 20-year artistic hiatus.

Vicki McKenzie, who has been an art club member for three years, said she had touched a brush for the first time six years ago.

Ivy Moore’s association with the club goes back four years.

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s so much fun. I sing to my own tune.”

Chabot, an art club member since the 1990s, sad she began sketching at the age of 10. Her subject was her sister as she sat on the couch.

“Family is deep in my heart,” she said. Also deep, she added, is her attachment to a farming lifestyle.

Laura White’s art journey began with a love for doodling, while Evelyn Stork said she had been involved with the art club from the beginning.

“Art is good for the soul,” she said.

The art club, which meets regularly at the Jasper Centre, was formed in 1995 under the guidance of artists and former teacher None Dornstauder.

The club is not only about art. It is also about providing a place for sharing ideas and enjoying friendship. New members are always welcome.