“Vanishing Landmarks”

a visual exploration of disappearing prairie icons

Paintings by Pascale Ouellet (Bigoudi) | Photographs by Chris Attrell

October 21st - November 9, 2023

OPENING RECEPTION October 21, 2023

2-6PM

BOTH ARTISTS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE

Pascale Ouellet (Bigoudi) - Artist Statement on “Vanishing Landmarks”

My artistic journey is a reflection of my deep connection to Alberta, a place I've called home for over two decades. You might better know my work for my large scale paintings of livestock, or my series depicting the local peaks obstructed by human impact... but this exhibition is digging even more deeply in our Alberta heritage. 

My new series is inspired by the rich tapestry of history woven into Alberta's prairies, from the small towns nestled alongside the railroad tracks to the iconic grain elevators that once stood tall as symbols of resilience in the face of adversity. 

Alberta's history is not without its complexities, and I am driven by a curiosity to explore the stories of the people who have shaped this land. From those who hunted the bison to near extinction, to the displacement of its original inhabitants into reserves, these narratives are etched into the very soil beneath our feet. The grain elevators, as they fall, become a rich symbol of the lessons learned and lost in the hardships of settling and cultivating this land.

As society propels itself into the future and razes buildings that used to stand tall as a marker of community, it is important to remember how we’ve arrived here.

Pascele Ouellet (Bigoudi)

Although my native province of Quebec has shaped the person I am, my adoptive Alberta has transformed the artist I have become. During my formative years in the mid 90s, I completed a diploma at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Fine Arts and Communications, attended the Visual Arts Program at the Université du Québec à Montréal and graduated from an intensive Interior Design program at Inter-Dec College in Montreal. After moving to Alberta in 2002, I have been largely self directed in my artistic pursuits – participating in artist-residencies, collaborating with other artists and teaching when time allows.

Since 2004, I have produced 27 solo exhibitions, participated in more than 35 juried group shows across Canada, and been awarded four Public Art Commissions by the Town of Canmore. I've also participated in four artistic residencies at The Banff Centre and have been selected as a 2015 artist-in-residence with TRACS program on Fogo Island in Newfoundland. I am represented by 3 galleries across Canada and 2 in the USA my work is in corporate and personal collections across Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Norway, Switzerland, Argentina and the United Kingdom. You can also find my work at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and at the University of Regina.

Chris Attrell

Chris Attrell began his photographic journey in 1996 as a landscape and nature photographic hobbyist. His interest took a more localized turn in 2003 when he started to explore rural Alberta and Saskatchewan, seeking out symbols of the prairie past; grain elevators, ghost towns, and abandoned buildings. Recognizing the historical significance of these pioneer relics Chris set out to photographically document Saskatchewan’s heritage. Over the last ten years Chris has built and run several successful online photo galleries to showcase both his and others’ images of the Prairie Provinces. His interests have expanded to include night photography, storm photography, and rural-themed portraits.
Chris’s love of the prairies prompted him to move from Banff, Alberta to Shaunavon, SK in 2006, where he currently lives with his wife.

He is the Author of two books: “Forgotten Saskatchewan” (2019) and “Grain Elevators: Beacons on the Prairies” (2021). He has also created two films: “Forgotten Saskatchewan “& “10 Thrilling Places In SW Saskatchewan” that were licensed to be shown on Saskatchewan cable TV