Garden Gallery is a hub of creativity

By Joan Janzen

Devon Coles’ Garden Gallery at 417 Main Street has been operating in Kindersley for many years. His photography, framing, pottery and art classes for children have been a welcome addition to our community. He currently has ten kids taking classes in his back shop. “They’re happy to be back doing something again,” he said.

Devon offers classes in painting, drawing, and pottery. “I’ve been doing pottery for about ten years,” he said. “I have three kilns and three wheels.”

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His most recent undertaking involves creating something beautiful out of wood. “I’ve always been into wood,” he said. “I started in high school. I was more into wood carving then and lived on a farm where we built and fixed things. My dad used to make knives, so wood and metal were involved with that.”

Now, most of the wood he uses comes from his parent’s farm located north of Shellbrook. “They’ve got a farm yard surrounded by maple trees, and as they start dying, I cut them down and use them,” he explained. He also uses trees that people remove from their yards or trees farmers want to get rid of. Devon mills the wood and allows it to dry, which takes between six months to a year. His back shop is lined with pieces of wood in various stages of the drying process.

He tests the wood with a moisture tester. “If the wood is too dry, it expands; if it’s too wet, it cracks,” he explained. When the wood is sufficiently dry, he seals it with a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax.

Devon’s creative work starts with an idea long before he finds the wood. Those ideas include plans to make bar tops, tables, serving boards and other pieces of furniture. He was working in his back shop, constructing a podium for one of the schools in town.

Devon pointed out another project he was working on. “This is a piece of driftwood a farmer found in a field,” he said. “I’m sealing it with resin to preserve it.” On Instagram, you can see more work from Devon Cole (@devoncoleness)

But Devon’s back shop is not only used for conducting classes and crafting wood. During Goose Festival, he’s hosting a jam session Saturday night, September 24th, from 7 to 10 p.m. Joel Desjarlais, Ava Watchel and other musicians will be entertaining, and the bar will be open. Minors, accompanied by a parent, are welcome.

The idea of hosting a jam session began when he attended a school talent night. He realized kids needed a place to perform and use their talent. Garden Gallery is more than a business; it’s a hub of creativity.