Heroines | Photography by Jon Gillies | Gallery 2
July 28th - August 26th, 2017
Curatorial Message
Heroines is a tribute to all the strong, confident, vivacious, and caring women in Estevan who have helped to shape the community that we all love. This show pays homage to an exhibition held previously at the Estevan National Exhibition Centre, now the Estevan Art Gallery & Museum, in 1998. Estevan Women: The Dynamics was produced to coincide with Women's History Month in October and featured the portraits of 15 women in Estevan who exemplified the contributions, skills, and abilities of women everywhere.
This exhibition recognises 18 local women, all of whom have graciously agreed to participate in this show despite some acknowledging the many other women they feel could have been represented in their stead. Despite their own modesty, these women have made impacts that resonate throughout the city of Estevan and continue to inspire its residents.
A call for nominations for this project was opened in November, 2016, when the Estevan Art Gallery & Museum re-displayed the 1998 show and closed on May 1st, 2017. Of the numerous nominations the EAGM received, the final 18, represented in this exhibition, were selected by a jury panel. There were more women nominated than we could accommodate due to the confines of space for this exhibition. For taking on the task of selecting finalists from the inspiring list of candidates, the EAGM would like to thank the jury panel: Travis Frank, Amber Ganje, Debbie Hagel, Norm Park, and Linda Sopp. The women featured in Heroines are being recognised for Breaking Boundaries, Career Commitment, Commitment to the Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Volunteerism.
Our Heroines were photographed by the talented Jon Gillies, and interviewed by myself, Sarah Durham, Curator of Collections, during June, 2017. The interviews, as they are presented in this catalogue, have been condensed to fit within the format of this booklet, with approval from interviewees.
Heroines represented one of the EAGM's Canada 150 legacy projects, and will be shown at the Gallery from Friday, July 28th to Saturday, August 26th, 2017. This exhibition will tour around Estevan for the next year, to celebrate Canada 150 and our 40th anniversary in 2018, before being retired to our permanent collection.
I would like to thank Jon Gillies and all of the amazing women for participating in this project and becoming a part of our history.
Sarah Durham
Curator of Collections, Estevan Art Gallery & Museum, 2017
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Excerpt taken from the Heroines exhibition catalogue.