Boissevain artist, Nancy Penner was recognized for her artistic talents at the Manitoba Society of Artists Members Juried Exhibition on June 11th. Out of a total of 131 pieces, Nancy Penner and fellow Boissevain artist, Erica Halloway’s pieces were two of the 34 pieces chosen to participate in this inaugural event held at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penner’s piece is a beautiful portrayal of the wheat fields near the Turtle Mountains; a scene Penner has experienced many times with her husband, Rick.\u00a0 It won her an Honourable Mention, a significant award from the Manitoba Society of Artists.\u00a0 Of the 34 pieces chosen for the exhibition, only eight received awards.<\/p>\n
Nancy Penner’s encaustic art piece titled, ‘Awakening Fields’ – Honourable Mention<\/p>\n
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“Sometimes the beauty of the prairies is overlooked by the rest of our country,” shares Penner. “But to just see a wheat field, there’s\u00a0so much beauty just in the Turtle Mountains here. So, in my latest piece, Awakening Fields, it’s the theme that we’ve seen many times driving along Hwy #3 from Deloraine to Boissevain. There’s the beginning of the Turtle Mountains and it just starts out with this\u00a0little rise in the landscape and just becomes bigger and bigger.”<\/p>\n
The Penners frequently hike the Turtle Mountains and so enjoy the beauty of the provincial forest as well.<\/p>\n
“But before you get to the provincial forest,\u00a0you have to see the fields,” shares Nancy. “And there’s so much beauty in those wheat fields and the waves of grain – and even if you get the opportunity to ride in a combine, you’ll see that those fields give refuge to deer, to rabbits,\u00a0to all sorts of animals … providing shade and a place to rest.”<\/p>\n
Nancy Penner (right) receives the juror’s reaction to her art piece and then responds with the sharing of how the Manitoba prairies inspire these beautiful pieces of art through the technique of encaustic.\u00a0 (Photo credit Rick Penner)<\/p>\n
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Through the technique of encaustic Penner uses heated beeswax mixed with pigments to create her scenes in vibrant colors on a wooden panel.\u00a0 Her favorite subject is the prairie landscape. She says through this unique technique she is able to capture the beauty of the prairies.<\/p>\n
“And the encaustic affords me the ability to provide texture and a texture that you don’t yet maybe in a\u00a0acrylic or oil, and I use different materials to get that texture,” explains Penner. “For example, on this piece, I use drywall tape to get more of a texture on the wheat head. And then I use cut out burlap to get the stock, painting over that and lifting\u00a0it up to create the texture I’m wanting. And so, it’s just a fun process of using different materials to achieve the look I’m going after.”<\/p>\n
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Boissevain artist, Erica Halloway’s painting titled, ‘Concert Tickets’ features the iconic Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg.\u00a0 (second from the right) Photo credit Nancy Penner<\/p>\n
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The exhibition featured the works of 51 different Manitoba artists, all members of the MSA.\u00a0 Out of a total of 131 pieces, 34 were chosen to participate, two of which were Boissevain artists.\u00a0 Nancy Penner says it was very special to share such a significant milestone in her artist’s journey with fellow Boissevain artist, Erica Halloway.<\/p>\n
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The MSA extended sincere thanks to the jurors of the 1st Annual Members Juried Exhibition for their time, insight, and dedication in adjudicating this year\u2019s exhibition:\u00a0\u00a0Jennifer Caie AFCA SCA, Christine Code SCA, Joseph Koensgen MSA SCA, Rosalie Olson MSA SCA, Louise Ren\u00e9e, MSA SCA<\/p>\n
Award-winning artists were recognized during the\u00a0Opening Reception & Awards Event\u00a0on June 11, 2026 at the Piano Nobile Gallery in the Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg.\u00a0 Juror commentary on selected award-winning works were also presented during the event.<\/p>\n
Please listen to more with Nancy Penner below!<\/p>\n