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Photo: courtesy of the Saskatchewan Legislature
Artists chosen for the Legislative Building Artist in Residence Program (left to right) Allan Dotson, Miranda Jones, Terri Fidelak, Laura Hale, Heather Cline, Sandra Lendingham, Anita Smith (missing: Rob Assie)
Artists Revealed For Legislative Residency Provincial Creators Selected For Program Celebrating Building’s 100 Years Alex J MacPherson
Regina, SK — Dark-suited politicians and civil servants working in the Legislative Building will soon have some new colleagues, though perhaps not the sort to which they’re accustomed. The Saskatchewan Legislative Building will be home to eight artists over the coming year. The artist-in-residence program, part of the province’s year-long celebration of the massive building’s hundredth anniversary, includes artists from Saskatoon and Regina, each of whom will contribute to an exhibition in the rotunda. Led by residency coordinator
Laura Hale, the program will make projects are focused on people of local art more accessible and in- Saskatchewan and celebrating this crease the visibility of the provincial building through art and artists.” arts community. The artists were chosen by a “It started steering com with re ques t s “[T]he program will … mittee. Hale says for proposal and increase the visibility the committee reeach artist had of the provincial arts ceived about 30 to respond to proposals, seven the same starting community.” of which were se-Alex J. MacPherson lected. point or inspiration, which was this building and The participating artists are: what it represented,” Hale explains. Robert Assie, Heather Cline, Al“It represents the spirit of the lan Dotson, Terri Fidelak, Miranda people of Saskatchewan, and their Jones, Sandra Ledingham, and Aniambitions and their thoughts for ta Smith. Hale, a multidisciplinary the future,” she continues. artist, rounds out the group. “The spirit of the installations, the Those selected have diverse artwork and the community-based backgrounds and a wide range of
skills. Cline and Jones are painters, Assie and Fidelak sculptors. Dotson works in comics, Ledingham is a ceramicist, and Smith is a performance artist. Hale says the artists will work in the Legislative Building and in the community. Outreach is an integral part of the program, and the chosen artists are already committing to work with various groups, including seniors, young children and women’s groups. “They will be the stewards that lead us through artistic exploration and interpretation of what is, without a doubt, the most significant historical building in our province’s capital,” Kevin Doherty,
minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission, said in a news release. Under Hale’s guidance, the artists will use their skills to develop a piece of work that explores the history and significance of the building as well as the future of the province. Each artist will host a community project and contribute a work of art that will be displayed in the rotunda. These works will be unveiled on December 5th. “It’s kind of like curating a show,” Hale says. “Which pieces would work well in which areas.” Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.