Winnipeg Arts Council

Gathering Light: Capturing Community

South Valour community artwork is now proudly displayed in two photo-collage murals at the Valour Community Centre, Isaac Brock Site, and on a plaque at Omand’s Creek near the footbridge at Riddle Avenue and Denson Place. Everyone is invited to visit and see these collaborative artworks, showcasing the spirit of the South Valour area!

The South Valour Residents Association (SVRA), a newly formed group, wanted to bring the neighborhood together through the WITH ART program. Their goals were to build stronger connections, create a shared community identity, improve safety in non-oppressive ways, and beautify the area.

With these goals in mind, artist Sarah Crawley worked with community members over the course of two years, exploring community concerns and making art together. Together, they held fun workshops and neighborhood walks, using unique analog photography techniques to capture the energy and sights of the area. The community made 200 tiny pinhole cameras, which were handed out to neighbours for months-long Solargraphic exposures. They also printed with plants at Omand’s Creek, created cyanotype art, and took collaborative pinhole portraits. During all these events, neighbours gathered to make art, share food and snacks, and enjoy each other’s company.

Residents photographed tree planting, people enjoying the creek, local landmarks, and the sun’s path over their streets and homes. These creative activities helped people form new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Steering Committee member Jess Klassen reflected, “Our WITH ART project with artist Sarah Crawley was special because it gave us a chance to connect with our neighbors in a fun, hands-on way. Meeting regularly to make art and learn new skills over two years was a great experience. I also got to know some amazing artist neighbours!”

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this project possible! Special thanks to the Steering Committee members: Sindy Ackerman-Stratton, Rachel Andrushuk, Stacy Cardigan Smith, Hillary Gair, Jodi Hildebrand, Jess Klassen, Mandy Malazdrewich, and Andrea Winnemuller, for their leadership throughout the project. We also appreciate the Valour Community Centre Board and Staff, the SVRA Board Members, and most importantly, all the community members who came out to create art and connect with their neighbours. Your creativity, involvement, and enthusiasm made this project a success!

The artwork was officially unveiled at a community gathering on December 1, 2024. Photos coming soon!

In the media:

Sarah Crawley

Sarah Crawley creates art based on personal experiences, using various photographic techniques. She is passionate about analog film and alternative photography, even as she incorporates digital printing into her work. Recently, she has explored combining printmaking, like screen printing, etching, and embossing, with photography. Her latest projects have focused on how vulnerability and loss affect identity.

Crawley’s large-scale prints, installations, and book works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Canada and internationally. Her work is part of several public collections, including the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, and the Canadian Government.

She enjoys teaching and mentoring others in photography and is an active member of Winnipeg’s visual arts community. Crawley acknowledges that she lives and works on Treaty One Territory, the land of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

South Valour Residents Association

The South Valour Residents Association (SVRA) was formed in December 2020 to serve the neighborhood in Winnipeg’s West End, bordered by Portage and Ellice Avenues, and Strathcona (including Denson Place) and Erin Streets. The SVRA is dedicated to fostering community well-being by connecting residents and creating an inclusive and supportive neighborhood. Guided by values of inclusivity, positivity, collaboration, evidence-informed practices, and care, the association works to build a thriving community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Through events, partnerships, and initiatives like the WITH ART program, the SVRA strives to strengthen community connections, beautify the neighbourhood, and ensure safety in non-oppressive ways.

Artwork and Public Celebration

Photos by April Carandang

Community workshops and artmaking process

Photos by South Valour community

Public Art Nearby

Visit the gallery