10 - PRAIRIE POST - Friday, March 20, 2009
2009 an exciting year for Francis duo
BY RYAN DAHLMAN (60’x40”) which is a is much more relaxed. It has a
EMPRESS picturesque scene of a wooded chesterfield in it and feels
Having pride in where one lives comes in many forms.
area which has changed to more ‘homey’ but they will
For Dean Francis, it means taking what he observes
orange and red leaves. add pieces in it for the show.
surrounding his home and painting it. Basically it’s all
However what Francis has at The Mendham as a 20-foot
about putting pride onto canvass.
the Esplanade is far from what ceiling and an older classic
Husband and wife artist duo Dean and Fran have their
he has done over his 30-year antique feel to it. Built in 1916,
own studio and two galleries which they call Sagebrush
career. the Mendham Gallery has
Studios. They are all refurbished local church buildings,
Those who truly want to taken three years to renovate.
which in itself is apropos for displaying such prairie pride.
grasp the prairie experience “We’re excited to have the
Dean and wife Fran, an accomplished pottery artist in
should mark June 6 or 7th on extra space,” said Dean.
her own right, live about 20 kilometres east of the village
their calendars — the Fran and All of these are set in a
of Empress, which straddles the Alberta/Saskatchewan
Dean Francis 2009 Art Show. landscaped garden area
border. about 80 km north of Medicine Hat on Highway 41.
It’s their 9th Annual Artist which they have proudly
Until April 1, a selection of some of their latest efforts are
Reception and Open House done on their own. They have
on display at the Medicine Hat Esplanade in a show called
June 6 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and June left all of the native grasses,
Light Magic.
7 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) including the cactuses , sagebrush and all
With new oil paintings which feature names such as
grand opening of the their the local pine and spruce
The Sundance Lives, Lingering Spirits (Bison), Nocturnal
third building featuring 85 to trees.
Hunter (Great Horned Owl) and Autumn’s Parlor, Dean is
90 of Dean’s paintings while This is an extra special year
able to capture the essence of what make the prairies
Fran will have numerous for the Francis duo as they
unique.
pottery pieces on display. Photo submitted will celebrate the Grand
Francis has been pleased with the response his Light
Sagebrush Studios is on 25
Dean and Fran Francis have been developing
Opening of the Mendham
Magic Show has received at the Esplanade. It started with
acres of landscaped gardens.
Sagebrush Studio, by Empress, for many years.
Gallery, new 2009 works will
an open house and reception on February 13 and it has
The Studios consists of the be going online later in April
progressed from there.
Mantario Gallery which was moved onto their property in and they also will be touring more.
“We were pleased with opening night,” explained Francis
2000. It had been the United Church in nearby Mantario. After their exhibit at the Esplanade, and a major event in
who said they have been getting positive feedback since
The smaller Pinkham Studio was also a former church Great Falls Montana, they will be showing at the Calgary
opening night. “It was a different layout, (the Esplanade
(and town hall) in Pinkham Sask. This is where the Stampede at the Western Art Show in early July.
gallery) is so large. We took a lot of our large pieces.”
Francis’s do their work as of May 2006, but it will be One would think because they do all their own
Francis added the countryside they live in is “quite
transformed for the June 6-7 show as many pieces will be landscape work at Sagebrush, and they do their own
dramatic,” so it’s easier to convey that on bigger canvases.
hung. marketing and arranging of tours, that it would mettle with
With the Esplanade having a big vista area, it was “a little
The Mendham Gallery will be getting the royal treatment their creativity and workflow. In fact, said Dean, it is
more exciting and challenging to figure out what pieces
in June. It had been Mendham’s Catholic Church and it actually empowering.
would fit in what areas.
arrived in March 2005. “We like doing it ourselves, we get to do it the way we
Francis’s 2008/09 works are generally anywhere from
After a lot of hard work, this 2,500 sq. foot church has want,” explained Dean. “Most galleries handle 60 to 70
8”10” to 48x60”. However, the smallest pieces in the
been transformed into their third showpiece. artists at a time. The attention you get is minimal. You
Esplanade show are 24”x36”. This includes 2009’s The Milk
“Because of the openness in space in to being larger really have to take care of yourself.
River which shows an open river area surrounded by
we’re still getting the feel of that building,” explained Dean. “Creating art is exhausting. Doing the marketing side is a
cliffs. It goes all the way to pieces like Ever Changing
“Until we go and hang the painting we don’t know how it’s nice break, a nice trade-off, you know? Handling our own
going to look.” work — we see that it gets done.”
All three are unique in design and colour. The Mantario If art aficionados can’t make the above show dates,
Gallery has sage green walls, maple floors and mobile Sagebrush Studios is open starting on the May long
walls in some areas because of all the spaces. They have weekend to September’s long weekend via appointment
enough room to put Fran’s work on pedestals. (1-877-565-2039) or visit www.deanfrancis.ca for further
The Pinkham Studio will be left as a studio and as such information.
Photos submitted
The Mendham Gallery is one of three historic churches Right photo by Ryan Dahlman/Left photo submitted
Dean and Fran Francis have restored to exhibit Above right, one of the paintings done by Dean Francis hanging in the
artwork on their acreage at Sagebrush Studios. Top: Esplanade in Medicine Hat. Left, A pottery piece created by Fran
the Martario Gallery. Francis.
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