An original member of the Pembina Hills artist group will be returning to Morden to share her spirit for arts and culture as the community celebrates its “Chautauqua Spirit.”

Natalie Rostad Desjarlais will exhibit her one-woman show titled “Journey in Spirit: Full Circle” at the Pembina Hills Arts Centre September 8 to October 6.

The Metis rock artist has pioneered a form of paining that harkens back to the ancient pictographs of her ancestors.

Rostad said a profound experience on June 21, 1990 is what sparked her passion and intimate debt that she feels for the stones.

“It was just east of Morden, the first stone - a horse, that changed my life, taking me on an incredible journey of amazing spirit,” she explained. “The area has a rich aboriginal history going back thousands of years. The knowledge that perhaps my own ancestors walked these plains and lent their spirit to the land and stones was captivating,” she explained.

Rostad said she painted the first stones for herself because the message of enduring strength was too strong to ignore.

“It was only through others wanting that spirit for themselves that I became an amateur artist,” she said.

She joined the Pembina Hills group in 1990 and participated in her first show that fall, which proved to be the event that launched her as an artist.

Rostad has had two shows with the Pembina Hills Arts Centre since. The first one was called “Beyond the Eclipse,” a show that came from the idea that we can naturally emerge from a natural darkness. This show (April, 2000) was in memory of her Mother, who had passed away, prematurely, 4 months before, and had been an active business woman in the district.

The second show several years later was called “Perpetua,” a show honoring women and the continuity that they thread into our everyday lives, spiritually, emotionally, physically and otherwise.

It was connections made at these shows that lead to her current involvement with Morden’s Cultural Capitals of Canada Chautauqua Spirit project and the Pembina Hills Arts Centre 20th Anniversary.

“Somehow within the exhibition, these people felt that the stones could be a relevant part of the celebration of 20 years of art in Morden,” said Rostad.
“My fate changed in the town of Morden, a rescued pup from the side of the road, by not only the presence of incredible spirit through stone, but through the foresight and faith that the people that have been involved with my own artistic evolution have shared with me.”
To see the Pembina Hills Arts Centre successfully reach a 20 year milestone is no surprise to Rostad.

She recalled the absolute enthusiasm and vision of the group right from the beginning.

“Pamela Smith and Marcel Dubreuil were the most influential to me as an artist. They had the maturity and enthusiasm that I lacked, (being immature and very shy about my work.)They, along with the group coaxed me into believing that my own work would continue to grow,” she said.

Rostad holds the centre in high regard for the work it does to embrace and encourage art, culture and craft the way it deserves to be.
“I have seen the growth over the years, and read the newsletters that validate their commitment to community, communication and creativity, and believe that they will only continue to prosper as a voice for these gifts,” she said, adding she feels honored to have been a part of such a great centre for the arts.

Pembina Hills Arts Centre Curator Kristin Ching said they consider it an honor to host this exhibition in their gallery.

She said it will be a large exhibition will filling both galleries and expects it will draw in a lot of people.

“We have showed her work in the past and her art is still being sold in our gift shop,” noted Ching.

“Journey in Spirit: Full Circle” is being curated by Dana Kletke, who was also a member of Pembina Hills 18 years ago, when Rostad became involved.

“She has curated a show of 25 pieces, mainly stones, but with a few related pieces that are relevant to the title of the show,” said Rostad.

Each piece of stone art Rostad creates has its own personality and message and she hopes anyone coming to see the stones hear it too.

“We are all shaped by our elements, we all experience chaos and trauma, but we also have all been given a sacred gift, the core of who we were meant to be. We are all unique, beautiful and strong. Like a stone that has traveled millions of years against the elements, we can do the same,” she said.

In partnership with the Manitoba Arts Network, the exhibit will travel to galleries in other Manitoba towns.

An official opening is set for September 12, which the public is invited to attend, said Ching.