University of Winnipeg and downtown community newspaper
University of Winnipeg and downtown community newspaper
It’s Not About Murder: It Is It About Healing
Family Turns a Traumatic Experience into Art, Inspiration and Fun
Nearly thirty years after the brutal murder of Candace and the much more recent trial, the Derksen family want you to know that it isn’t about murder anymore, it is about healing. To prove it, they will be holding a free family art show entitled “Inexplicable: It Is About Healing” at Frame Gallery, 318 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg, beginning on Saturday, April 12th and running until Sunday, April 27th featuring the work of Cliff and Wilma Derksen and their daughter Odia Reimer. Not only do they want to show you, they want to talk about it and will be featuring Art Talks, first at the Grand Opening 7:00 p.m. Saturday April 12th with all artists, then at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th with Odia speaking about “The Offering Project”, and 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 26th when Cliff will talk about “Healing Through Creativity.” All will include refreshments and will offer a question and answer period. However, guests are invited to come up and talk with the artists any time they are available. Wilma says, “People should know that they can talk to us.”
Cliff said, “It has always been a dream to do this (the art show) as a family.” It is three shows in one, as all three family members have used art in different forms as a way of dealing with trauma. Cliff has always been a natural artist and found himself creating art, either through sketching or sculpture as a form of dealing with questions in his heart, or as he says, “Pursuing something within myself.” Odia releases her emotions through the use of installation art to deal with, “The tyranny of the everyday,” and the struggle in the grieving process. Wilma has always been a writer, but turned to painting when she could no longer express her feelings through the written word. Wilma refers to her painting as decor art and paints in white over written word backgrounds to deal with, “A yearning for purity and simplicity…combined with the complexity of all colours mixed to make white.” She paints over words as a way to deal with, “My struggle for words.”
What the Derksens hope that the audience will experience from the show is inspiration, encouragement and fun. They want to encourage the artist within themselves to connect with people, offer them inspiration and have some family fun, with each other, and with you. Come out and join them.
The Art Talk nights are on April 12, 17 and 26 beginning at 7:00 p.m. and include refreshments and a chance to meet and mingle with the artists.
Location: Frame Gallery 318 Ross Avenue Cost: FREE
Open: Tues.: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wed. – Fri.: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sat.: 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sun.: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
http://www.cliffderksen.com/art-shows.html
http://odiareimer.com/
Media Contact
Brian Campbell
High Hopes Communications
(204)880-5505
[email protected]