as a Way of
ART
as a Way of
LIFE By Sarah Vermette
F
rom the moment of conception, the seed of creativity exists in all of us. From the nature of our relationships to our homes and hobbies, each in our own way, we create a lens through which we view life. Then, there are those who ride the wave of creativity further, exploring the nature of it through art, experiencing it not as a thing one does, but as a way one lives. Such is the case for Catherine Blackburn, for whom becoming an artist seemed natural and inevitable. ABOVE Anthony: Acrylic on canvas H:30” W: 30”. 2012
“You can be outspoken through your art without having to speak”
“I was always surrounded by art,” says 31-year-old Blackburn. “It fed me from a very young age.” Growing up in Choiceland, Sask, a town of approximately 400, Blackburn watched and learned from various family members as they did woodworking, embroidery and beadwork. As art became her calling, she drew inspiration from contemporary artists — in the past, Kehinde Wiley, and now, Jay Senetchko and Jason Yarmosky. In the beginning, she was interested in exploring her First Nations heritage through her art. This was a heavy approach and Blackburn soon recognized the pressure she was putting on herself. “I realized I was trying to fix something that wasn’t necessarily broken,” says Blackburn. But, art is about evolution and she soon shifted her perspective. She now creates with the aim of speaking from her own experiences based on who she is, to celebrate her heritage according to how she understands it.
process,” says Blackburn. Though she has been dabbling in creative mediums since she was a child, she admits she was very controlled in the process of creation in her earlier days as an artist. Now, she sees and experiences the magic that can happen when she lets go and lets the process happen, rather than trying to think her way through. Though she admits to being a perfectionist, as many artists are, she is able to step away from her work when it gets tough. “I’m just seeing where my art takes me,” says Blackburn. Blackburn also makes First Nations beaded jewelry. What began as a hobby soon became a small side business due to demand. The jewelry is sold at a gallery in B.C. and can also be viewed and purchased on her website. “You can be outspoken through your art without having to speak,” says Blackburn, who has a natural inclination towards introversion. This up-and-coming Saskatchewan artist’s expressive voice is one to watch and savour. To see more of Blackburn’s work and to stay upto-date on her gallery showings, visit catherineblackburn.com or find her on Facebook.
Through the multifaceted nature of art, Blackburn strives to push the boundaries of how people view the world. Having been awarded many arts grants, Blackburn’s art is currently part of OSAC’s (Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council) “Arts on the Move,” an exhibition touring 24 communities over the course of two years. Her current exhibition includes colourful, poignant and heartfelt portraits of family members. Blackburn feels at home creating with beadwork and acrylic on canvas. “Beadwork and painting allow the time for reflection, and it can be an emotional
TOP LEFT Dad: Acrylic on canvas. H:30” W: 36” (Mann Gallery permanent collection) 2012; BOTTOM LEFT Floral 2: Beads on linen. 2014; BOTTOM RIGHT Catherine Blackburn
as a Way of
LIFE By Sarah Vermette
F
rom the moment of conception, the seed of creativity exists in all of us. From the nature of our relationships to our homes and hobbies, each in our own way, we create a lens through which we view life. Then, there are those who ride the wave of creativity further, exploring the nature of it through art, experiencing it not as a thing one does, but as a way one lives. Such is the case for Catherine Blackburn, for whom becoming an artist seemed natural and inevitable. ABOVE Anthony: Acrylic on canvas H:30” W: 30”. 2012
“You can be outspoken through your art without having to speak”
“I was always surrounded by art,” says 31-year-old Blackburn. “It fed me from a very young age.” Growing up in Choiceland, Sask, a town of approximately 400, Blackburn watched and learned from various family members as they did woodworking, embroidery and beadwork. As art became her calling, she drew inspiration from contemporary artists — in the past, Kehinde Wiley, and now, Jay Senetchko and Jason Yarmosky. In the beginning, she was interested in exploring her First Nations heritage through her art. This was a heavy approach and Blackburn soon recognized the pressure she was putting on herself. “I realized I was trying to fix something that wasn’t necessarily broken,” says Blackburn. But, art is about evolution and she soon shifted her perspective. She now creates with the aim of speaking from her own experiences based on who she is, to celebrate her heritage according to how she understands it.
process,” says Blackburn. Though she has been dabbling in creative mediums since she was a child, she admits she was very controlled in the process of creation in her earlier days as an artist. Now, she sees and experiences the magic that can happen when she lets go and lets the process happen, rather than trying to think her way through. Though she admits to being a perfectionist, as many artists are, she is able to step away from her work when it gets tough. “I’m just seeing where my art takes me,” says Blackburn. Blackburn also makes First Nations beaded jewelry. What began as a hobby soon became a small side business due to demand. The jewelry is sold at a gallery in B.C. and can also be viewed and purchased on her website. “You can be outspoken through your art without having to speak,” says Blackburn, who has a natural inclination towards introversion. This up-and-coming Saskatchewan artist’s expressive voice is one to watch and savour. To see more of Blackburn’s work and to stay upto-date on her gallery showings, visit catherineblackburn.com or find her on Facebook.
Through the multifaceted nature of art, Blackburn strives to push the boundaries of how people view the world. Having been awarded many arts grants, Blackburn’s art is currently part of OSAC’s (Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council) “Arts on the Move,” an exhibition touring 24 communities over the course of two years. Her current exhibition includes colourful, poignant and heartfelt portraits of family members. Blackburn feels at home creating with beadwork and acrylic on canvas. “Beadwork and painting allow the time for reflection, and it can be an emotional
TOP LEFT Dad: Acrylic on canvas. H:30” W: 36” (Mann Gallery permanent collection) 2012; BOTTOM LEFT Floral 2: Beads on linen. 2014; BOTTOM RIGHT Catherine Blackburn
