Currents

 I live along the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon and have visited the Saskatchewan River Delta, the downstream end-point of the river as well as points upstream, including Medicine Hat where the river passes by the Esplande Gallery and the historic Duggan House. While I experience the river near my home as a natural phenomenon and place of beauty, after learning more about the river from scientific and environmental perspectives, I have come to realize it is a highly-managed water source. It sustains us, but with a cost for those downstream. Drawing on field trips to sites along the river, I used a variety of media (from textiles to videography) to consider the currents that connect us in this prairie water basin.” (Susan Shantz, artist statement)

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photo credit: Jasmine Keillor and Susan Shantz

Solo Exhibitions:

Confluence, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, Moose Jaw, SK, 2022

Currents: river works-in-progress, Esplanade Art Gallery (Duggan House), Medicine Hat, AB; residency and artwalk, 2019

Group Exhibitions (selected works):

As Long as the River Flows, Mann Gallery, Prince Albert, SK, 2020-21 & Chapel Gallery, North Battleford, SK, 2019

Related Projects:

We are the River (2017): a collaborative, participatory public art project for the City of Saskatoon highlighting connections to the South Saskatchewan River. Projects included a public digital billboard in downtown Saskatoon, a print billboard at PAVED Arts and an Instagram account. https://www.saskatoon.ca/sites/default/files/documents/community-services/planning-development/urban-design/saskatoon_placemaker_final_reprot_shantz.pdf

Becoming Water (2017): a co-taught, arts-based, university course with Dr. Graham Strickert, School of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. The class included field trips to Saskatoon Water Treatment Plant, Gardiner Dam and the Saskatchewan River Delta with resulting art exhibition and publication and film: Becoming Water https://sens.usask.ca/news-articles/2018/news-u-of-s-film-makes-international-waves.php

Delta Days (2016) : a collaboration with School of the Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan creating a traveling exhibit connecting three delta communities (Saskatchewan River Delta, Peace-Athabasca Delta, Slave River Delta): Delta Days (SSRHC-funded collaborative community project): https://sens.usask.ca/news-articles/2017/discovering-the-deltas.php