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BUTTERMAKER'S HOUSE ARTIST RESIDENCY presents Signy Holm and Rakel Holm! They invite the community to join them for an interactive, educational walk along the Medicine River, while respecting the fragile ecosystem of the riverbank. During the walk, participants are encouraged to collect an ‘artefact’ which will be part of a hands-on activity.

Date: Thursday, June 4th
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: The walk will start and end in front of the Buttermaker’s House

Please note: photo documentation may be used during the activity. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform one of the artists.

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Signy Holm is an artist living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her research-based and archeological-inspired practice focuses on the interconnectedness and lifecycle of various materials, and the inseparability of ‘nature’ and the synthetic or human-made world. Most recently she is interested in plastic pollution and its connection to fossil fuels in Alberta. She is the recipient of the ARTS Graduate Research Award (2026) for her master’s thesis, Wayfinding Through Waste: A Collective, Living Archive of Coastal Plastic. Signy is always looking for ways that art can help us engage with social and ecological issues within our communities. She sees her work as highly interdisciplinary, with crossovers between science, ecology and the social sciences, usually with a twinge of humour and playfulness!
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Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Rakel Holm has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a minor in biology from the University of Manitoba, and is currently completing her Master of Science at the University of Winnipeg. Her thesis research examines the impacts of oil spills on ecologically, culturally, historically, and economically significant Red River Métis sites and resources. Working in partnership with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), her research combines Métis knowledge with conventional scientific methods, including geospatial analysis, in order to develop an Oil Spill Risk Assessment (OSRA) for freshwater environments in Manitoba.
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DESCRIPTION OF RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES:
Signy and Rakel will spend their week investigating the shores of the Medicine River and Tindastoll Creek through walking, mapping, collecting and documenting objects through various creative interventions. Rakel, an environmental studies graduate student studying the ecology of freshwater ecosystems, and Signy, an interdisciplinary artist focusing on the interconnectedness of the natural and synthetic world, often within the context of shorelines, will be working together for the first time.

They will also be researching the history of Markerville as an Icelandic settlement and its common threads with their paternal roots in the New Iceland region of Manitoba. Both regions, as well as Iceland, are deeply connected to bodies of water, something that both sisters are passionate about in their work.
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Happy birthday, Gestur!

On this day in 1893, Gestur Cecil Stephansson was born.

He was named after writer Gestur Pálsson (an important influence on, and supporter of, Stephan’s poetry) and the attending midwife, Sesslja — Cecilia — Bardal.

This portrait is of him around the age of 13. Have you seen any other photos of Gestur? If so, let us know!

“Gestur”, c. 1906 courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta, PAA PH75.28.04. … See MoreSee Less

Don’t get caught with cold feet in the rain! We’ve got fun socks here at the Creamery to keep you warm.
Open 10am-5pm Wed-Sundays … See MoreSee Less

Icelandic Independence Day Celebrations in Historic Markerville is coming up Saturday, June 13, starting at noon in the Creamery Courtyard.

"The Republic of Iceland was formed on June 17, 1944, aligning with the birth date of Jón Sigurðsson, a key leader early in the fight for independence."
You can read more of the history here:
markervillephotos.com/republic-of-iceland-1944/ … See MoreSee Less

Come and see what is new in our Gift Shop at the Creamery Museum! Purchase one of our new mugs and the staff will fill it with iced or hot coffee for free! … See MoreSee Less

Image courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta, “Picnic at Markerville, Alberta”, 1921, A2236.
— Facebook post from February 17, 2024 by Stephanson House Provincial Historic Site
markervillephotos.com/markerville-picnic-1921/ … See MoreSee Less

BUTTERMAKER'S HOUSE ARTIST RESIDENCY presents Karen Gummo at the Markerville Creamery basement on Wednesday, May 27th from 2pm – 4pm!

Sagakona (story woman) Karen Gummo is holding a KVOLDVAKA in the Afternoon.

At the end of a long Icelandic day, local farmers and their families came together in a turf hut engaging in domestic chores & sharing wisdom. Come gather round with your words, wood or wool (raw and spun) and be enthralled as you surrender to soulful reflections of saga, poetry with generous listening ears for each other and for Karen. This is a chance to work on something unfinished. Many dreamers make light work!

May 27th is part one of the Kvoldvaka, with part two to follow on September 19, 2026!

Karen Gummo Biography:
Descended from Mogensens, Swainsons and Sigurdssons, Karen honours a long line of spinners, stitchers, farmers, and dreamers, some of whom were among the first Icelanders to arrive in Markerville in the late 1880’s. Following in the footsteps of her grandparents, Struna and Swain, and others, she has searched for traces of family history that connect her to the people who so bravely made their homes in this awe-inspiring but challenging territory. She has crafted stories and songs of these resilient people, and performed them across Canada and as far away as Iceland (where she plans to return in 2027).

You can find more information about this gathering and SET A REMINDER FOR YOURSELF by visiting our events calendar at www.historicmarkerville.com/events and clicking on KAREN GUMMO … See MoreSee Less