Cre8ery Gallery takes artists 'Out on a Limb'

Art is about light and time. It is really about time. The time of day, time of life, how little or great the time. As light illuminates time- time expresses mortality.

—Kathleen Noelle Black, Artist featured in "Out on a Limb" exhibit

Winnipeg's Cre8ery Gallery in the Exchange District entices you with no end of visual displays. 

The latest exhibit there is called Out on a Limb.  "Taking chances, risks, stretching to new heights, experimentation is how we all grow and become who we are. How do we know what we are capable of unless we give it a go? We may fail but who knows, we might succeed, or at the very least, learn something" says Jayne Nixon, show curator.

Out on a Limb features work by a group of artists who have been working together over the past twenty years.

SCENE asked a few of them to share their experience.

Bonnie Bodnarchuk, self taught artist: 
Unexpected experiences in 2003 alongside the death of my father, lead to greater self-awareness.  Within that unprotected transformable state, a conscious knowledge of my own character arose.  All based upon emotion rather than reason, the artist within emerged.  People began to take note of the original art works filling our home, asking where I'd purchased them.  Based solely upon what feels to be true I've gone 'Out on a Limb' in places of notice, publicly presenting embraceable change.


Kathleen Noelle Black - Painter/Sculptor/Glass Worker (BFA)
This past year has been tough for the world. People have to prioritize, save, wait and see what is happening. Art is a tough business to be in if no one is looking, watching, buying or just going to the Jets games. I could have thrown up my hands and said so I give up already!

But no, this is why you try harder, reach farther, experiment and have fun. In other words put yourself out on limb.

So don't give up. Keep trying. It's important. No one will cry but you if you give up climbing trees. It is fun to share and show with friends.

June Derksen - graphic designer, glass artist, painter
Before starting Junebug Design, I felt that I was beginning to stagnate as an artist and graphic designer. Panic stricken, because I've never known anything else, the only solution was to freelance on my own. This would give me the opportunity to free up more time for my glass art.

Shy, reserved about showing my work and with no client list, my passion for both graphic design and glass art drove me to build up both sides of the business through endless courses and workshops. It was hard work and I sometimes doubted myself, but I kept pushing forward.

Today, I love what I do and how my two passions fuel one another. I wouldn't change it for a second. Although I do have to work twice as hard for it, the fruit is so much more rewarding.

Out on a Limb runs at Cre8ery Gallery, 125 Adelaide Street in Winnipeg's Exchange District, until August 14.  Other artists featured include Andy Ewing, Ann Tyre, Cheryl Wilson-Smith, Deb Schmid, Donna Blakeman-Welch, Huguette Lacroix Gauthier, Jayne Nixon, Jenna Nixon, Lesly Dawyduk, Lucinda Doran, Matthew McMillan, Miriam Duff, Sylvia Cunningham, Wendy Seversen, Willene Moffat.