Jerry Didur became Lloydminster’s artist-in-residence on
March 10, 1994. He worked at the
Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre in what was formerly the cafeteria space.
He spent 50% of his time working on his own painting and 50% of his time
as a resource person for teachers, students and artists in the community.
The artist-in-residence was an involved undertaking that took a number of
groups in the community working together.
The project was sponsored by the Organization of
Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) and the Lloydminster local of the Saskatchewan
Society for Education Through Art (SSEA) through Saskatchewan Lotteries Funding,
as well as the Lloydminster Allied Arts and the City of Lloydminster.
Jerry worked with Lloydminster and area schools (his murals
remain in the Barr Colony School today), gave demonstrations to the community,
taught art classes in pottery and painting techniques, and completed a major
community public project. This
project, a ceramic tile project depicting both the oil and agriculture community
of Lloydminster, remains on display outside the entrance of the Barr Colony
Centre.
Jerry received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1976, and exhibited his paintings throughout Canada for twenty years before agreeing to come to Lloydminster for this residency. He had received several awards and commissions for his paintings and spoke easily to groups of all age groups about his art. As well as his mural projects, he left a lasting impression and public appreciation of the visual arts.
Written by Linda Nykolaychuk
From the records of the Lloydminster SSEA