West-central Sask. Arts Tour: It’s time to plan a road trip!
By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
If you’re ready for a road trip, the River & Rail Art Venture has planned an incredible tour of artisans and artists throughout West Central Saskatchewan. This self-guided tour takes place June 26 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and June 27 from noon until 6 p.m., and what’s even better is it’s absolutely free!
Janet Akre from Outlook said plans for the tour began back in 2019. The lengthy planning stage was worth it because now the tour encompasses ten communities - Outlook, Broderick, Hawarden, Loreburn, Elbow, Davidson, Central Butte, Tugaske, Riverhurst and Macrorie, and fifty artists and artisans. The tour is presented by the Outlook and District Arts Council in conjunction with Tourism Saskatchewan.
The arts council has received some funding, which enabled them to hire a web designer to work with them. “We have an interactive map on our website at riverandrailartventure.ca,” Janet said. The website also includes a biography of each of the artists. “It has taken some organization, but a lot of it is simply to get the artists’ names out there. We will have signage for the artists, posters, print ads and support in social media. The people involved are getting excited!”
The purpose of the tour is to promote local artists and entrepreneurs who live in the area. “We also want to let people know what’s in the region, to showcase what’s going on here, not just our people but our land.”
“This is our first. We do plan to continue and to expand. It will be worth your while to come meet the artists, talk to them and find out what they do. We have people coming from Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. There is some driving involved, even a ferry ride,” Janet said.
When you get hungry, there are restaurants available along the way at Outlook, Broderick, Elbow and Davidson. For those who will be touring on both days, there is accommodation available at the resort areas in Diefenbaker, Riverhurst and Central Butte, as well as at motels in various communities.
“One potter will be giving a demonstration and a tour of her new studio,” Janet said, adding that a group of musicians will be entertaining at their venue. And of course, there will be opportunities to purchase merchandise at the venues. “One of our goals is to support our entrepreneurs,” Janet said.
Janet, who lives in Outlook, is one of the 50 entrepreneurs. “I do acrylic painting. I do landscapes, birds. I’ve painted on barn board, and I’ve used liquid acrylic. I will be setting up a couple of tents in my yard,” she said.
Other vendors will also be exhibiting acrylics, making musical instruments and pottery. There will also be cartoonists, authors, metal sculptors, and handcrafted cutting boards, and yard decor will be available. Other venues will showcase alpaca knitting, wood-burned jewellery, handmade soap, baked goods and products made with the help of bees. There will also be watercolours, woodworking, embroidery, soapstone carvings, bone carvings, handmade paper and a quilt display.
Before people head out on the tour, Janet noted there is a draw available on their website for three $50 vouchers which can be used at any of the venues throughout the weekend. The draw will be made on June 23 at 5:00 p.m.
As for co-operative weather during the tour, Janet laughed, “We’re tough in Saskatchewan. Besides, most people have an indoor venue they can use.” In other words, it looks like there’s an opportunity for a road trip coming up soon in west-central Saskatchewan.
Artist Janet Akre from Outlook and her paintings.