image item: U Regina – Maggie Dixon – Grasslands: West Block

Grasslands National Park represents for me the heart of my relationship with the prairies.  My maternal grandparents farmed near Admiral, and my mother was born at Cadillac.  I met my husband when I was living in Ponteix and he was living in Shaunavon, and our first days together were spent hiking in the park.  “Grasslands: West Block” is a pillow made of moose hide and muslin printed with a satellite image of the west block, trimmed with prairie rattlesnake print and stuffed with mixed grasses.    It represents the sense of comfort and connection I feel with this special place.

Photo by Dianne Ouellette