Gimli’s New Iceland Heritage Museum is in the final stretch of featuring some pretty flashy photographic works from about 10 local artists, and there’s fewer than two weeks left before the shutter falls.
The museum is part of the 10th Annual Flash Photographic Festival, Manitoba’s largest celebration of photography that will showcase local photographic artists at 55 venues throughout the province over the entire month of April.
The NIHM got a head start on its celebration of Flash Fest as it’s got a major exhibit to work on in April. The NIHM’s take on the photo festival ends on March 31.
NIHM executive director Julianna Roberts said Susan and Peter Holfeuer from the Gimli Ice Festival organized the exhibition weeks back. It features photographs of New Iceland, an area that runs from Winnipeg Beach to Hecla up the west shore of Lake Winnipeg.
“Our exhibit celebrates 150 years of New Iceland,” said Roberts. “There are about 10 different artists who each submitted three pictures of New Iceland. The Holfeuers also set up a backdrop for visitors to have their pictures taken wearing Viking outfits, which the museum has. There are also display cases with vintage camera’s from Susan’s collection.”
Gimli has no shortage of talented local photographers. The artists include Andy Blicq, Glen Martin, Corrine Einarsson, Catherine Sproat, Michelle Thomson, Mark Dann, Diana Riedle, Lynda Kolly, Louise Kos and Holly McLeod.
Their photographs cover a range of themes, including landscapes, fishing, businesses, boats and car racing on Lake Winnipeg. The exhibit also includes black and white historical photos of New Iceland.
Akshay Vaid, marketing coordinator with the Manitoba Arts Network, said the 2025 Flash Photographic Festival includes about 12 rural and northern venues, and will include panel discussions, film screenings, photographer talks, workshops and a photo walk. In addition to the NIHM in Gimli, the St. Andrews Rectory & Heritage Centre is hosting a local Flash Fest exhibit.
“The Flash Photographic Festival is bigger than ever in 2025, bringing over 50 venues together, including the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Millennium Library, to celebrate photography and lens-based art across Manitoba,” said Vaid in a March 11 news release. “For the first time, 12 rural and Northern venues are part of the festival, making this year’s edition the most inclusive and representative of Manitoba’s diverse artistic communities.”
The NIHM’s Flash Fest will run until March 31.
For a full list of Flash Fest events and venues, visit www.flashfest.net
