Month: April 2025

Kari Fisher: 44(H) X 50(Y)

Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency Followup

On April 10th, 2025, one of the artists who took part in the Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency in 2024 held a one day Exhibit at the VENUE in Red Deer.
It was titled 44(H) X 50(Y). The numbers represent 44 homes in 50 years…

Kari Fisher, from Vancouver Island, stayed in the Buttermaker’s House last year to work on her project. After accepting a challenge of incorporating art into her daily life by her son Isaac, Kari has been on a journey exploring her roots by redrawing the floor plans of 44 houses that she has lived in since her birth and gathering flora connected to those homes. These floor plans were initially drawn in wax crayon, then, cyanotype ‘blueprints’ were created with each sheet having two exposures.

Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society (SGSIS) was very honoured to have played a small part in Kari’s artistic journey and congratulate her on the wonderful, thought provoking exhibition. It gives one pause to think about our own journey in life and where it takes us and what memories we create.

Well done Kari and hopefully you will bring your exhibit to Markerville and the Fensala Hall one day.

— Submitted April 17, 2025 by d’arcy Gamble

Find more information on Historic Markerville’s Buttermaker’s House and how you can apply for an Artist Residency.

REST / REFLECT / CREATE / CONNECT
Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency in Markerville

View the VENUE’s Instagram Reel

Visit the Buttermaker’s House post of Kari’s visit

Sol James at Fensala Hall

Above: Sol James and Aaron Shorr on April 12 at Fensala Hall. Photo by Roberta Fetch.

Our final concert of the 2024/2025 season was held April 12th, 2025 at the Fensala Hall in Markerville, and it was a fantastic, high-kicking sold-out season finale if ever there was one! Sol James (aka Heitha Forsyth) brought along her long-time friend Aaron Shorr, and the duo broke ground with “Big Sky” and captivated the audience. The night was filled with her original songs and some covers; she kept us laughing and listening, took some requests, and even coaxed the crowd to sing along a couple times.

The sets were comprised of lively tunes, with a couple of personal and heartfelt numbers by Sol including a song she wrote for her Icelandic grandfather, along with some marvellous guitar solos by Aaron for good measure. Time vanished and before we knew it the duo was closing with “Me and Bobby McGee” for their encore.

Here are some photos from the evening.

Roberta Fetch at Sound Check for the concert
Sol James and Frank Sigurdson

Winnipeg-based Sol James is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. She has completed two degrees, A Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) and a Bachelor of Music Therapy. Beyond her busy performing career, Heitha has been teaching the art of singing to students of all ages and stages through the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, The University of Manitoba Preparatory studies as well as private lessons.

A unique take on roots/blues with a soulful flair, her music is joyful and honest, leaving audiences smiling, dancing, and celebrating the great stuff of life. Sol’s stage presence calls out to even the meekest of souls, breaking down walls and bringing the light in. She does this with a dependable dose of hilarity; you can hear a Sol James audience laughing a mile away.

Aaron Shorr began playing guitar as a young teenager, and developed an interest in jazz through his grandmother’s record collection. He studied at Humber College in Toronto, The University of Manitoba, and privately with international jazz icons like Jonathan Kreisberg, Miles Okazaki, and Bruce Forman. He has performed with William Bonness, Derrick Gardner, Nial Cade, and Curtis Nowosad, to name a few.

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

YouTube post of “Big Sky”