There’s a new artwork exhibit in what may be considered an unlikely downtown venue as of March 13.
Using an otherwise underappreciated space at the Timothy Eaton Gardens building, the Moose Jaw & District Senior Citizens Association (MJDSCA) made the decision to revamp its on-site lounge with a bright, colourful, and inspirational new display featuring works from its own weekly art program.
The room now contains a few select paintings made by local artist Barb Markewich during her enrolment in the MJDSCA’s painting and crafting group, which is held year-round on Mondays through Thursdays.
The exhibit first opened on March 13 to coincide with the birthday of Markewich’s mother, who teaches classes at the association and who inspired her daughter to take up painting once again.
Markewich used to paint regularly back in her 20s and has since been kept busy in her role as a nurse, wife, and mother.
As of 2017, Markewich retired from her nursing career and her son also graduated from university. Both developments allowed her more time to return to her former hobby once again.
“I could finally do what I wanted,” Markewich said. “In 2017 I joined (the) Timothy Eaton’s art class and was taught by my mother, Lorraine Fish. It was an accomplishment re-learning how to paint.”
Fish teaches art classes at the association and prefers watercolour paint as her medium of choice.
Markewich quickly discovered that she held a strong preference for a style that’s different from that of her mother. As she began to once again cultivate her talent for painting, Markewich found herself branching off into uncharted territory using a big, bold, and bright style that focuses on the use of Prismacolour pencils and acrylics.
“I love nature, animals, flowers, and trees; it doesn’t matter,” she stated.
Using a unique, vibrant style, Markewich strays from the norms of contemporary style and instead focuses on capturing the essential nature of her subject in a manner that proves to be harmonious.
Without the concern for a strict adherence to true-to-life colourization, her works bring together a blend of sometimes unexpected hues to best highlight a given texture, mood, or sense of feeling contained within a complex and dynamic subject.
What is perhaps the flagship of her personal style is the blue-and-white portrait of a dog currently on display at the centre. Although these colours stray from the natural environment, the subjective nature of art is expertly demonstrated without doubt as to the mood, feel, and intention of the work.
After refining her own technique since 2017, Markewich was satisfied and temporarily pulled down paintings from her home to establish the inaugural exhibit at the MJDSCA.
“Now here I am, showing my art. I was against the idea at first, but I remembered my mother. She loved to paint and was happy and proud to show it.”
Many of the paintings now on display at the association are available for purchase.
Markewich is also open to the idea of commissioning a painting of your pet, and to date she has completed a number of these works. The blue and white portrait of a dog now on display is a reproduction of one of these paintings.
To view the new exhibit or to contact Markewich, stop by the MJDSCA or call 306-694-4223.
The senior’s association is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
After a window of around two months, the exhibit is expected to rotate and will feature a new artist to be announced at a later date.
Timothy Eaton Gardens is located at 510 Main Street North.
