Art in the Family
February 19 to March 20, 2005

Homecomings are happening in communities all over the province in celebration of the Saskatchewan Centennial. Friends and families will come together with pride to celebrate their community, their culture and their Saskatchewan heritage.

At Art Gallery of Swift Current we are having our own kind of Centennial Homecoming. There are many fine artists in Swift Current, and there are even more who used to live here. We have invited a few of them home for the centennial. The "Homecoming Arts Series" presents visual and performing artists of Swift Current and area.

"Art in the Family" exhibition presents visual and performing arts by the Nodge / Cyca family: painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, computers, photography, sculpture, singing, acting, and music all from the same family.

When Swift Current's Jean Nodge and Dave Cyca married they brought together a family remarkable for their interest and practice in visual and performing arts. Consistently these family members are great fans and patrons of the arts, and of culture, in Swift Current and beyond. Many travel the country and the world pursuing cultural experiences.

Individual people, from different walks of life, incorporate art into their daily lives. They use familiar and convenient media (the farmer uses scrap metal from the farm; the computer programmer makes computer art) and they find inspiration from their life experiences. Family members contributing visual artworks to this exhibition include:

Jean Cyca is presenting drawing, printmaking, watercolour and collage, and ornamental sculpture. Jean Cyca (nee: Nodge) is a substitute French language school teacher and co-owner / bookkeeper of Nodge Manufacturing.

Dave Cyca sings and plays acoustic guitar. He has performed with local bands at many cultural and community events. Dave is owner / manager of Nodge Manufacturing, a farm machinery parts store in Swift Current. Dave and his Family Band will be performing at the Coffeehouse Evening for this exhibition Saturday, March 19.

Luke Cyca is presenting two computer-based artworks. Luke is the developer and owner of Nutok Interactive, a computer and web-site Development Company in Swift Current. He is currently a third year student in Computer Science at Simon Fraser University where he is also studying fine arts and music. His parents are Jean and Dave Cyca. Luke will be playing drums in the Family Band performing at the Coffeehouse Evening.

Jillian Cyca is in her first year of Arts and Science at University of Saskatchewan studying French, Spanish and enjoying her first class in printmaking. In this exhibition Jillian presents hand made prints including examples of serigraph, intaglio and lithography. Her parents are Jean and Dave. Jillian will also perform with the Family Band.

Len Cyca is Dave Cyca's brother. Len's photographs presented in this exhibition show his sensibility for situation, light and shadow, shape, colour, and patterns.

Michael Cyca shares his father, Len Cyca's, interest in photography and is particularly interested in traditional black and white compositions and darkroom techniques. Michael is a Mechanical Engineer and now lives in Calgary.

Jim Nodge started to weld bits and pieces of old scrap farm equipment together in 1999. It has developed into an art business for him. He has reduced his farming practice and now travels western Canada presenting works at craft fairs. Jim is Jean Cyca's brother. He and his wife Jacquie (a hobby painter) farm near Craik, SK.

Ted Nodge shares his father Jim's talent for creative metalwork and at an early age started assembling his own pieces. Ted is a recent Machine Shop graduate from SIAST, and is now working in Regina as an apprentice machinist.

Jocelyn Nodge is Jim and Jacquie Nodge's daughter. She is in her third year at university in Fine Arts, majoring in drama. Her papier mache masks reflect her interest in the dramatic arts.

Bob Nodge is Jim and Jacquie Nodge's third child. Bob is in grade 11 at the Craik High School and shares the Nodge interest in creative activities by working with wood and carving.

Gord Nodge, is Jim Nodge and Jean Cyca's brother. Gord’s assemblage sculpture of meaningful parts are based on his personal, and the Nodge family's historic interest in aeroplanes and flight. He is also a self taught, self styled musician who has performed at Literary Cafés, coffeehouses, festivals, and many community events. Gord will perform in the Family Band at the Coffeehouse event, March 19. He is an organic farmer and lives near Stewart Valley with his wife Sharon, an amateur photographer, and their daughters.

Lars Nodge has studied painting for two years at the Bowman Art Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. He is the son of Judy Millard and Ken Nodge. Ken is Jean Cyca's brother.

Don Wilkins has spent the last several winters building a sculptural history of the southern part of Saskatchewan. He is a grain farmer who lives near Girvin. Don Wilkins is Jim Nodge and Jean Cyca's cousin.

Jenny Wright has performed nine seasons with the highly-acclaimed Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, where she lives with her partner Jean and three-year old son Zachary. She has performed with many theatres, has had various roles in television and radio production and has toured as a professional dancer. Jenny is the daughter of Jim and Isabelle Wright. Isabelle is Jean Cyca's sister. Jenny will perform at the Coffeehouse event on Saturday, March 19, giving us a taste of music theatre as well as joining in with the Family Band.

Everyone is invited to the Coffeehouse event on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 pm. Admission is free. Don't miss this great event and exhibition. "Art in the Family" at Art Gallery of Swift Current from February 19 to March 20.