Featuring Grande Prairie artist Carol Bromley Meeres, the 19 artworks in Farming in the Dust Bowl explore the histories of the dust bowl in the Canadian prairies. In the 1930s, an intense period of drought swept across the Great Plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and parts of the United States. This helped to set the stage for the historical crisis known as the dust bowl—named for the clouds of dust that were so massive they turned the sky black for days, wiped out crops and livestock, swept through homes, and deeply changed the lives of many
Carefully researched by Carol Bromley Meeres in consultation with archives, cultural sites, and personal stories from across the prairies, each piece contains a unique reference to farm life during the dust bowl, highlighting stories of survival, innovation, and resilience during an economic, climate and social crisis. Adding to the rich historical references, the artworks combine three unique historical mediums—encaustic painting (wax painting), cyanotypes, and photography. The artworks, like the stories they tell, are full of delicate layers and texture, showcasing Bromley Meeres’ impressive technical and narrative skills.
To learn more about Carol Bromley Meere’s process, click here.
Curated by Robin Lynch
Curator/Manager of Travelling Exhibitions Northwest
Featured image: Carol Bromley Meeres, Keeping the Dust Out, 2021, Encaustic and Mixed Media
