Although food from Fresh Start was available in Assiniboia’s Shurniak Gallery during the province’s cautious and phased reopening, the gallery and exhibits weren’t accessible for the public since March.
The closure of the gallery on 122 Third Avenue West, meant the public weren’t able to enjoy Sandy Christensen’s charming display, Saskatchewan Folks, until later this summer.
“Sandy Christensen brought her work at the beginning of March 16, but due to COVID-19, we closed on March 16,” said Gail Mergen, consultant and assistant curator at the Shurniak.
In accordance with the second chapter of Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, libraries, museums, galleries, movie theatres and live theatres were allowed to reopen on June 29.
The doors to the Shurniak have been unlatched for visitors at limited hours.
“We’d really like to invite people to come. We’re open Tuesday to Friday, 10-4:30 p.m.” Mergen said.
Although Christensen’s exhibit was supposed to conclude at the end of May, the dates to see Saskatchewan Folks had been stretched until August, soon after the gallery reopened.
“Our feature artist since early March has been Sandy Christensen from the Watrous-Manitou Beach area,” Mergen said. "We have extended her show past its May 31 end date until the end of August to allow visitors and locals to see her delightful assortment of rural folks."
Viewing and studying Christensen’s figurines is similar to watching a Claymation feature of small-town life in Saskatchewan.
Christensen realistically interpreted and recaptured moments of rural Saskatchewan with diorama-like precision.
Coffee shop discussions, snapshots of farming scenes and interactions with pet dogs have been lovingly sculpted by Christensen in astonishing detail.
“My hands love the malleable properties of clay. With clay, I find the confidence to express what I see and love in rural Saskatchewan,” Christensen said.
Each of Christensen’s statuettes overflow with convincing movements, emotions and humanlike characteristics. These figures – so painstakingly created – are authentic representations.
“Clay allows me to shape my observations of farmers and town people, the folks with whom I have lived all my life,” Christensen said.
“Rural people communicate and laugh easily with one another. They are both humble and proud. They understand and accept the realities of life, but always remember to dream. They live with affection for those around them. I hope you enjoy seeing my neighbours as I see them.”
Christensen is a juried member of Saskatchewan Craft Council. She’s also a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s Art and Design Program.
Her studio is located at 114 Eighth Avenue West in Watrous – a town situated 261.1 kilometres north of Assiniboia on Highway 2.
