In Conversation: An Exhibition of Works by Connie Freedy

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Connie Freedy, “In Conversation: An Exhibition of Works by Connie Freedy,” April 16-June 21, 2025

installation view, Mann Art Gallery, Prince Albert SK (courtesy of the Gallery)

Connie Freedy’s painting reflects her immense love for the world and the joy found in her surroundings. This exhibition, which includes works from the 1970s to the early 2000s, shows the trajectory of her artistic explorations. In early works, depictions of domestic spaces, landscape, and still lifes are imbued with narrative qualities, drawn from Connie’s daily experiences and routines. Gestural forms and brilliant colour compositions express the pleasure of painting. The later works retain many of the immediate qualities of their predecessors, yet show great depth of awareness of regional political, social, and environmental concerns.

A central component of Connie's outlook is dialogue. In her paintings, diverse subjects co-exist in charming compositions. Bright plants, luscious fruits and vegetables, and spirited creatures from across the world live in delightful arrangements, where conversations amongst different subjects give rise to new ideas, understandings, and perspectives - all with a conscious view of global connections to local contexts.

Connie’s paintings are marked by honesty, surprise, and empathy. They cross back and forth between openness and optimism, awareness and tension, and her personal spaces and exterior realms. In Conversation brings renewed attention to Connie Freedy’s remarkable span of artwork, illustrating the rich, generative possibilities that result from a consistent and contemplative practice.

Curated by Jesse Campbell

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Connie Freedy was born in 1944 in Cutknife, Saskatchewan. Growing up on a farm, at a young age she developed an appreciation of the land, and a knowledge of food sources and preparation. She studied English at the University of Saskatchewan, earning two Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1967 and 1968. In 1979, she and her family lived in the south of France for one year, immersing themselves in French culture, food, and art. Connie then earned her Red Seal certification in cooking.

Connie worked as a children's art teacher at the Prince Albert Arts Centre in Prince Albert (now the Margo Fournier Arts Centre), as a tour guide in Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park, and later as the co-owner and chef of Yellow Fender Coffee House & Eatery in Christopher Lake.

Connie’s work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Her work is represented in the collections of the Mann Art Gallery, SK Arts, Remai Modern (Saskatoon), and Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina).