The Arts West Council is a group dedicated to developing visual arts in the Westman region. Since 1979, they have featured juried art shows for amateur and emerging artists. They also hold a traveling gallery out of it. This year, there are 20 pieces from around the Westman area, including “The Sourcerer” from Cheyenne VanStellandt from Melita. The tour began in Reston at the end of last April and has been moving around the region, before finally ending up in Brandon in a couple of months.

Kroeker’s painting is a take on Claude Monet’s “Woman with a Parasol”. Instead of people, there are koi fish. Koi are a coloured variety of carp, most famously used in decorative ponds in Japan. Monet is the famous French Impressionist painter, well known for his use of colour and brushstrokes to create a reflective effect that is almost akin to looking through a windowpane during the rain. Kroeker said she did her painting, which won the youth award in the juried show, in January of 2025.

“Yes, I am a Monet fan and I am a koi fish fan, so I thought a mix would be great.”

Kroeker said she would like to continue with her art in the future, saying she is happy to be a part of the artistic community in both Boissevain and Killarney and would like to see where it all leads. She is also looking to be involved in this year’s Arts West juried show, to be held this April. She enjoys the process and being in contact with other artists from different areas of the province, talking to and learning from them. There are a few more local stops for the show, with the artworks going to Deloraine Library (Jan. 26-Feb. 14), Pierson Library (Feb. 16-Mar. 7), Melita Library (Mar. 9-28) and Hartney Library (Mar. 30-April 11).

Kroeker is pleased to be able to have her painting shown in her hometown before the show ends.

“It feels really great, really cool,” she said.

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff