The Heritage Home for the Arts in Killarney will be featuring a new exhibit for the month of January called, 'A Family Affair', showcasing the artwork of Killarney artists, Clarence and Betty Sawatzky, and Boissevain artist, Nancy Penner.

Clarence has been wood sculpting wildlife for numerous years and has won many awards for his beautiful pieces.  Betty enjoys working on, and instructing, both charcoal drawing and alcohol ink pieces.  Clarence's sister, Nancy Penner, also enjoys charcoal drawing, but has recently found a fascination with encaustic art, where colored wax is heated with a special iron and applied to a painting surface, to then be manipulated with different tools to achieve beautiful effects.  

"What's fabulous about this show is that there are so many different mediums in it," shares Killarney Arts Administrator, Jane Ireland, "and it's fascinating to look at how each person treats that medium.  

"Two of them work in charcoal, but again, with a very different take on that," she adds. "Clarence will be sharing his carving, which I think people will be hard-pressed to actually believe that it's a carving, and then there are Betty's alcohol inks that I still don't know how she manages to get the pictures she gets!"

"The other one that I'm really excited about is the encaustic artwork by Nancy Penner," continues Ireland.  "I think it's the first time we've had it here.  This is something that I, myself, have been fascinated with and I've wanted to get a workshop here on it because I think we have a lot of our artists in this community who like to try new things.  From looking at her work, Nancy is an expert!"

"So, I think people will really enjoy this exhibition, because again, they tend to like different mediums, and this is definitely that type of exhibition where you have to come and see it in person!"

Upcoming January events through the Killarney Arts Council include their HyLife Performing Arts Series. 

The first concert of 2023 to launch off a new year is a live concert by Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and his son, Sam Polley, on January 14th at the Shamrock Centre.  

"Jim Cuddy's music is a little bit country, a little bit folksy," explains Ireland, "and we had Sam here during our music festival in the summer and he does a lot of 'rock-a-billy', blues-y, jazzy type of music.  So, seeing them perform together will be fabulous!"

Opening act will be performed by singer/keyboard player, Kwait (pronounced 'quiet') who is of metis-polish descent. "I think she will be amazing," Ireland shares, "and I think people will be blown away by her music.  I know I was when I first heard her!"

Hosting this level of talent in Killarney is quite thrilling, adds Ireland.  "It's really exciting to have this calibre of performers in our rural community!" adds Ireland.

Tickets are still available at the Killarney Heritage Home of the Arts, or through EventBrite.

Photos below: 

Clarence Sawatzky with his wood sculpture of an elk experiencing that 6th sense - like it's being watched.  This piece received The Carver's Choice Award at the Reflections of Nature Art Show & Sale in Saskatoon, SK

Sisters-in-law Betty Sawatzky & Nancy Penner (l-r) holding up their award-winning charcoal pieces at the 2022 Westman Juried Art Show in Killarney, with Penner winning Jurors' Best of Show and Sawatzky achieving The People's Choice Award.  All 3 pieces were included in Westman's Travelling Art Gallery, as well as being showcased in the Northern & Rural Juried Art Show through the Manitoba Arts Network. 

Note, these pieces will not be included in the Heritage Home's January exhibition as they are still on tour with the Travelling Art Gallery:

Jan 2 - 21 -Melita Library

Jan 23 – Feb 11 -Pierson Library

Feb 13 – Mar 4 -Elkhorn Library

Mar 6 – Apr 1 -Arts Mosaic, Virden

Apr 3 – 22 -Brandon

Apr 24 – May 13 -Arts Forward, Neepawa 

Visit the Westman Juried Art Show website at:  Arts West - Show (artswestcouncil.ca)