Joy Billings brings emotional honesty to the Nine Perspectives exhibition.
For Garden Candy artist Joy Billings, showing work in Nine Perspectives marks both a professional milestone and a deeply personal turning point in her artistic practice.
Billings is one of nine rural and northern Manitoba artists participating in the group exhibition opening Saturday, Jan. 17 at 210 Gallery in Winnipeg. Her three-piece series, Symphony of Psalms (143, 147 and 104), reflects what she describes as the most emotionally authentic body of work she has created to date.
The largest piece in the series, 143, was inspired by Psalm 143:8 and developed through a year-long, open-ended process that was completed during the six-month mentorship program connected to the exhibition. Billings said the verse became a prayer and lifeline during periods of uncertainty, anxiety and depression and remains posted on the wall of her studio.
The layered work traces themes of loneliness, confusion, shame and spiritual dissonance, while gradually shifting toward a more hopeful perspective. Billings described the piece as a cry for help that slowly uncovers compassion, unconditional love and peace as space is held through waiting.
The second work, 147, draws inspiration from Psalm 147:9 and explores faith, humility and trust during seasons of vulnerability and helplessness. Created during a financially difficult period for her family, Billings said the piece carries both spiritual and literal meaning, reflecting her growing acceptance of self and confidence beyond productivity or accomplishment.
Her third piece, 104, inspired by Psalm 104:16, centres on themes of provision, gratitude and care, and the ways love becomes tangible through the presence and support of family and friends during times of need.
Billings said the series represents a significant shift in her practice, as emotional vulnerability has taken precedence over perfectionism or saleability. Long challenged by the pressure to create polished, market-ready work, she said this body of work marks a step out of hiding and into her voice as an artist.
Living and working as a rural artist continues to shape her creative process. A self-described prairie farm girl, Billings said the sky and horizon line have always been grounding influences, reminding her she is part of a larger, carefully crafted world. Two of the three works in the series are based on photographs taken on her own property.
Working from a home studio converted from her former dining room after the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, has helped her claim space for her practice. As an introvert, Billings said solitude nourishes her creativity, while time spent gardening or walking the land informs her thinking and artistic direction.
The mentorship program associated with the exhibition arrived at a pivotal moment. Billings said she was seriously considering stepping away from her practice when she applied, and the experience helped reaffirm that she was on the right path.
Beyond creative guidance, she said the program provided critical dialogue, community and external perspective that are often missing in rural life. Group critiques and peer discussions strengthened her confidence and professionalism, helping her articulate her ideas more clearly while also providing practical tools related to artist statements, curriculum vitae development and pricing strategies within the local art market.
For Billings, a sustainable art practice means protecting herself from burnout while allowing space for play, experimentation, rest and reflection. While details remain important in her work, she said they cannot come at the expense of intuition, growth or self-compassion.
She hopes viewers encounter her paintings as more than images, describing them as emotional presences that invite reflection and connection. Her work, she said, holds complexity rather than resolution — struggle alongside beauty, darkness alongside light — and aims to create a sense of safety and being held.
Looking ahead, Billings said the exhibition has affirmed the importance of fully embracing emotional intensity in her work. She plans to explore both smaller, intricately nuanced abstractions and larger, more immersive pieces that continue to explore the tension between vulnerability and hope through layering and texture.
Billings’ work is featured as part of Nine Perspectives, a group exhibition developed through a six-month mentorship and exhibition program led by artist and educator Jordan Miller. The program supported nine artists from rural and northern Manitoba in developing cohesive bodies of work, strengthening professional presentation and building confidence for gallery exhibition.
The exhibition highlights a range of materials and approaches while emphasizing clarity of practice, sustainability and professional readiness. Artists participated in guided webinars, group critiques and mentorship sessions focused on audience development, branding, pricing and writing professional artist materials.
In addition to the exhibition, Billings’ work is currently on display at Fryday’s Restaurant and Lounge in Teulon.
Nine Perspectives runs from until Feb. 21 at 210 Gallery, located at 210 Princess St. in Winnipeg. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
More information about the exhibition is available at www.manitobaartsnetwork.ca, and Billings’ work can also be viewed on Instagram at @gardencandy.
