Hopeful Fragments

Brenda Shenk And I am an intuitive energy artist. I have always been an intuitive and creative soul, my painting journey began in a very quiet and almost unintentional way, it barely began before it would stop and sat dormant for a few years to follow. Some major life-changing events in quick succession would stop my entire life, almost completely …that’s when the deepest journey of my life began. In 2011 I began to find comfort in this creative outlet and was only partially aware of its healing effects on my soul. In the beginning, I showed my art to only family and close friends, it was really all about the feeling I experienced, not the art itself …which turns out to be the most important factor in my work today. I have never received art training unless you count finger painting in grade one, how I loved that! Instead, I was gently drawn into this world of blending colors and allowing the water to move the paint as I watched with a soft gaze, I found it completely mesmerizing and it easily coaxed me into a hypnotic state. With some encouragement, I began sharing my art on social media and began receiving some commissions! I continued to paint and learn more on my own, nothing else thrills me like a blank canvas, it feels like opening a magical door that will lead to surprises and things I’ve never seen or dreamt of before … I describe myself as an intuitive energy artist, painting pieces that will appeal to many, and also offering intuitive art in an individual client’s energy, created solely for them. My process is best described as, “Releasing Creatively while in a meditative state.“ I love to share this process within my in-person workshops. In many ways, I feel I am really still at the beginning of this journey, and I am very excited to see where it takes me.   Desirée Desrochers-Pequeno DESIRÉE DESROCHERS-PEQUENO IS A CANADIAN FIBRE ARTIST WHOSE WORK EXPLORES TEXTURE, FORM, AND THE QUIET SPACES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. DESIRÉE CREATES FIBRE WORK THAT EXPLORES TEXTURE, ATMOSPHERE, AND WONDER. HER PRACTICE EMPHASIZES INTUITIVE MAKING, FRAGMENTARY FORMS, AND DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE PLACES IN BETWEEN. SHE DEVELOPS WORK ACROSS A VARIETY OF THEMES AND PROCESSES, FROM SMALL SCALE OBJECTS TO SERIES EXPLORING EMOTIONAL CYCLES ROOTED IN QUIET MAGIC, INVITING VIEWERS TO ENGAGE WITH DELICATE TEXTURE, CURIOSITY. ARTIST STATEMENT THIS BODY OF WORK EXPLORES EMOTIONAL STATES THROUGH THE RHYTHM OF THE SEASONS, USING FIRMER AS BOTH MATERIAL AND METAPHOR. EACH PIECE REFLECTS THE AN INNER TRANSITION, A MOMENT WHERE FEELING SHIFTS, SOFTENS AND TAKES NEW FORM. SPRING EMERGES AS HOPE AND SUMMER EMBODIES JOY AND RADIANCE. AUTUMN TURNS INWARD HOLDING LOVE, INTENTION, AND LETTING GO. WINTER ARRIVES AS PEACE AND STILLNESS. THROUGH DRY NEEDLE FELTING, FIBRE CONSTRUCTION, AND SURFACE MANIPULATION, I CREATE TACTILE FORMS THAT INVITE SLOW OBSERVATION AND CLOSE ENGAGEMENT. MIRRORING THE EMOTIONAL WORK OF TRANSFORMATION ITSELF. TOGETHER, THESE PIECES FORM A MEDITATION ON CYCLICAL EXPERIENCE. FRAGMENTS OF FEELING THAT HOLD SPACE FOR HOPE, JOY, LOVE, AND PEACE.   Michelle Forrester Michelle is a mixed media artist that was raised in rural Beaverlodge and returned to the area after experiencing 6 years of city life in Vancouver. She has always been crafty and was happiest as a child doing whatever art project Mr. Dressup had done that day. Crafting followed into adulthood and blossomed when she took up a cone of henna in 2006. Being a self taught henna artist in the Peace Country was a very isolating experience and led to joining friends taking an online Art Journalling class in 2013.  Discovering the fun of working with different mediums and colours during the course has guided her to her current infusion of mixed media with henna influences. Working intuitively and collaboratively brings her joy and she hopes the results bring you joy as well! Hopeful Fragments– The pieces for this exhibit are a departure from my usual work. I have been focused on reducing consumption of goods both in my personal life and in the studio. During the spring of 2025 I found an example of building quilt blocks with scrap fabric, using scraps from previous projects to create joyful colorful bases was a welcome balm while waiting for the results of the Federal elections. Hope for the future was stitched into squares created from chaos. Embroidery was also a newer skill that caught my interest and using my stash of embroidery floss from a long left cross stitch phase was a great “use what we have” moment. Stitching images based on the natural world reminds me to ground my energy, share without the expectation of reward, and that spring and regrowth is always possible.  
Shauna-Lee Billwiller Shauna-Lee Billwiller is a self-taught artist, born and raised in British Columbia, who has happily called Alberta home since 2014. She has always loved art, finding inspiration from nature and animals. Shauna-Lee originally created art in acrylic and watercolour, and now includes taxidermy within her work and skills. When working in taxidermy, her desire is to create magic, whimsy, and awe in the beauty of nature and death, using ethically sourced items. Upcycling has always been a key focus, trying to minimize as mush waste as possible, while turning things that were once “Ew” into “Awe”. Her work expands by oMering pet memorial, to help people honour their beloved critter family members. As a painter, Shauna-Lee’s work has been displayed in local shows, and she has donated many pieces to charity fundraisers to give back for the support she’s received. The pieces presented in this show are a snapshot into the style and vision of this artist. The purple rabbit, titled “Two-Faced” consist of mix media including lace, acrylic and gold leaf. This piece was first displayed at the Purple Show with the Centre for Creative Arts in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The skull used for reference is from the artist’s collection and the rabbit depicts a pet named Floyd. The magpie piece, “Soulmate” shows the beauty of how life and death are intertwined, using acrylic as a medium. Lastly, “Forever Playful” is a beautiful memorial to a farm kitten who did not survive being orphaned. The kitten lives on immortalized in beauty. The piece provides a unique anatomical reference to the structural beauty of life that we don’t always get to witness.   Viktoriia Polishchuk Viktoriia Polishchuk is a Ukrainian-born artist whose creativity was first shaped in her grandmother’s garden, where vibrant colors and delicate textures sparked a lifelong fascination with floral forms. She began drawing at the age of two, and flowers soon became the central motif of her early artistic expression — a theme that continues to inspire her work today. Recognized for her talent from a young age, Viktoriia attended art school in Ukraine and participated in local and regional competitions, where she developed technical skill along with artistic confidence. For many years, she worked primarily in colorful pencils and watercolors. After moving to Canada a decade ago, her practice evolved as she began experimenting with acrylics. The medium’s bold colors and dynamic possibilities opened a new chapter in her artistic language, allowing her to explore more expressive and contemporary styles. Throughout her life, Viktoriia has been deeply inspired by Petrykivka—the traditional Ukrainian folk painting style known for its elaborate florals and folk motifs. A short online course from artist Kateryna Kryvolap a year ago marked a turning point. Through Petrykivka, she felt a profound reconnection to her cultural roots and rediscovering an artistic heritage.  Now, based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Viktoriia balances full-time work with her passions for painting and photography. Despite a busy schedule, she always finds time for her creative work—a heartfelt hobby that continues to inspire her and is constant link to the beauty that inspired her from childhood. Viktoriia’s work has been exhibited at the Grant Berg Gallery and The Centre for Creative Arts in Grande Prairie.