Artists of the Month - Holy Family School in Grimshaw

The Museum art wall is pleased to host its annual May Student Art Feature. This year we welcome the amazing and impressive work of Holy Family School's First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) option class from Grimshaw.

First, each student chose a First Nations, Metis or Inuit artist they wanted to learn more about. From there, the students created a painting that was inspired by the artist that they had chosen. Each student thoughtfully created their piece, bearing in mind the spirituality and emotion that goes into the creation of a piece of artwork.

The student artists, Holy Family School, and especially the FNMI coordinator, Tanys Oxman, are very proud of what has been created. We at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre are certainly impressed.

Thank you to the Peace of Art Art Club for sponsoring the Art Wall. Please come out and support the creativity of our local students.

Holy Family School FNMI Coordinator Tanys Oxman, after installing the students work at the Museum. 

Book reading and signing with Dianne Ireland

Dianne Ireland’s recently published book “Grandmama’s Treasured Favorites & Traditional Recipes” is filled with interesting stories and tasty recipes. These recipes may be those that Dianne’s family has made for years, but all of her readers will find a recipe or a story that evokes a memory for them of their own family traditions. Perhaps it’s the Christmas Eggnog, maybe the beef stew, or even Dianne’s story of hunting for the first and only time.

Dianne was born in Peace River and grew up on a farm east of Grimshaw, Alberta. Dianne married Jim in 1968 and together they have had a great life with their children and now their grandchildren.

Writing and publishing this book has given Dianne an opportunity to share many stories as well as favorite and traditional recipes with not only her family and friends, but also anyone else who enjoys cooking or baking for their loved ones.

Join us this Saturday, December 14^th, 2013, from 2 – 4 pm at the Peace River Museum, where Dianne will regale us with stories and recipes. Dianne's book is available in the Museum gift shop for $39.95. The gift shop accepts cash or cheque only. 

Culture Trail

This past Saturday, May 11th, the Museum played both host and participant for the Culture Trail. This idea came about from the ever popular Garden tours that can be found in so many cities and towns. If it can be done for flowers and trees, then it can be done for arts, heritage and culture!

The group started out at our Museum to enjoy a frosty moccachino while admiring the art on the walls and in the cases. The Museum currently has up "A Retrospective of Art in the Peace."This exhibit brings together the work of 47 different artists who have been a part of, are currently a part of, or have inspired others in Peace of Art, formerly the Peace River Art Club.

From the Museum, we hopped in our cars and headed over to Claire's House of Frames, where Claire was on hand to tour us through her space and explain the art on her walls. As a treat, she even brought out some pieces from the back workshop that are waiting to be matted or framed, including some done by her mother.

Next stop on our tour was the Peace River Municipal Library, where we enjoyed juice and coffee and toured the Art Gallery which currently features the pottery of Trudy Plaizier and the woodturning of Mark Ladd.

From there, we headed up Shaftesbury Trail, with a quick stop at Mackenzie Cairn to enjoy the scenery and celebrate the fact that he departed from that spot 220 years ago. After the short historic stop, we continued on to Berwyn 50th Ave Workshop, where Sharon Doucet had 3 of her students working on their respective pieces. As we browsed Sharon's display pieces and watched the students working, we enjoyed chocolate cake and raspberry squares.

 

 

 

 

Our final stop saw us in Grimshaw, at Peggy's Smith gallery, Stroke of Genius, where Peggy has stocked the shelves with the artistic genius of many local artists. Peggy also explained her own airbrush painting style while the group enjoyed punch, brownies and cream puffs.

The Museum would like to thank all those that hosted our group with stories, artistic tidbits, and tasty treats as well as those that experienced art and culture with us!

Keep your ears open and check back here to see when our next Culture Trail will be.

Our Visit to Lac Cardinal!

This week some of our staff members went on a field trip to the Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum (just outside of Grimshaw) to discover some of the adventures available in our own backyard.


Lac Cardinal's Pioneer Village Museum is truly one of the Peace Country's hidden treasures. It is a unique opportunity to wander down a Main Street and Farm of a typical small town in the 1920's - 1940's.


There really is no better way to experience the Peace Region's history than to walk through the Pioneer Village.


All of the buildings, businesses and homes are open for visitors to walk through and are brimming with interesting artifacts, antiques and curios from the past. The General Store is stocked with every odd and end that the enterprising pioneer would ever need.


Buildings like the bakery, Strong Creek Hall, MD Office, and Post Office are full of period detail. When you step inside charming Hassell School (above) you can almost see the students pledging their allegiance to Queen and country.


The former Worsley Catholic Church even has a working church bell with a wonderful sound.


This is the Old Cook Shack which functioned as cook's quarters and a kitchen and a mess hall for the threshing crews - all in this tiny little trailer!


There are plenty of opportunities to interact with artifacts, including this stereoscope (a retro Victorian 3D picture device).


Some historical gas prices (56 cents a gallon!).


This blacksmith's shop has a collection of hand crafted tools donated by a local blacksmith who created every one of his tools for each job that he performed.


The Museum is built and maintained by a passionate group of volunteers. We would like to thank our informative and entertaining guide, Selma (the Pioneer Village's Collection Manager) who is standing on the left with our Archivist, Wendy.


Admission to the Pioneer Village is free (Although donations are appreciated). Its location next to Queen Elizabeth Park makes it an ideal place to spend an afternoon of exploration during this coming long weekend.

The Museum is open 11 - 5 p.m until mid-September.

For more information, call the Pioneer Museum at 332-2030.