On International Women’s Day, Fernie celebrated the strong and independent ladies who have left a positive impact on the community.
The Arts Station and Fernie Women’s Resource Centre ran community events sporadically throughout the weekend, from Mar. 7 to 9, starting with the launch of the ‘Iconic Women,’ art exhibit on Friday, featuring portraits of strong and resilient women.
The collection of art features more than a dozen portraits of women, some of inspirational celebrities, like Dolly Parton, Bjork and Kathleen Hanna; and others of real women who have left an impact on the artist’s life.
Karen MacDonald made fibre art of her grandmother Barbra, born 1898 on a homestead in Saskatchewan. Barbra had a 40-year career in farming and raised 10 children. She endured hardships, both familial and political, but she never lost her sense of humour.
“Barbra had grit, a sense of humour and tenacity that continues in my DNA,” MacDonald wrote on the portrait’s label. “I hope I inherited a fraction of her courage and perseverance.”
Rozzy Hibbard’s piece titled “Hidden Courage,” is a portrait of Corrie ten Boom, a woman who hid nearly 800 Jewish people during the Second World War. Hibbard was moved by ten Boom’s story when she visited the Holocaust Museum in Israel in 2017.
Annica Collombin crafted a wood carving in recognition of local mountain adventurer Linda Socher. Known for her entrepreneurial spirit, Linda opened a ski school in Fernie and one of the first ski rental businesses in the region in 1967.
“When I ask her what her secret is, she answers, ‘stay active every day,'” wrote Collombin on her label.
Pruthvi Harshan contributed a series of mixed-media digital art portraits to the exhibit, of local women leaders in the community who are near and dear to her heart.
“I see women give a lot to the community without asking for anything. When there is a gap of services in our community, more often than not, women have stood up and filled those gaps,” Harshan told the Free Press.
“It’s a nod towards all the women that really keep our community going,” she added.
Her portraits include Abi Moore, Andrea Brennan, Tina Hayes and Mary Giuliano.
Harshan took up running thanks to Moore, who founded the Stag Leap Running Club. Moore passed away last year, but her memory lives on in Harshan’s art.
“As a runner, she could hold her own. She could outrun a lot of men in the community,” said Harshan. ” … [She was] always positive, always doing it with a smile.”
Brennon, a Reverend with the Anglican church, has been enthusiastically supportive of the LGBTQ2A+ community.
“[She’s] someone that’s very accepting, that just is a champion of love and acceptance. I thought it was important to include her,” said Harshan.
Hayes was one of the first people Harshan met when she moved to Fernie. The two women work together at the library and have bonded over their shared love for books.
As the former Mayor of the community, Giuliano has always been a leader. She was involved with many local groups before she passed away last year, including the Fernie Library Board, Kinettes/Kinsmen Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Legion, PAC, Fernie Kids Club, and the Fernie Derrick Society
“Just the passion that she carries herself with and how much she spoke about service to the community. Every time I saw her, that always stuck with me,” Harshan said.
