Seeds of the Prairies: Artist Naomi Gerrard brings mixed media works to Carman
This month, the Golden Prairie Arts Council is showcasing the intricate and deeply symbolic mixed media works of Naomi Gerrard, an artist whose latest collection pays tribute to the life force of the prairies — their seeds.
Gerrard’s exhibition, now on display at the Golden Prairie Art Gallery, explores the cycles of planting, growth, harvest and renewal through a blend of natural grains and artistic expression. Her work captures what she calls “the energy of the prairies,” using the materials that define them — canola, flax, wheat, oats, barley, sunflower seeds, rye, clover, mustard and more.
“These art works are an ode to seeds that energize our prairies, seeds that paint our prairies and grains grown from these mature plants that feed our world,” said Gerrard. “By incorporating the grains into my art, I feel the vitality, the gestures, the colours and patterns, the ancient wisdom and ultimately the energy of the various grains.”
Each of her pieces is inspired by the rhythms of prairie life — from the dormancy of winter to the bursting abundance of summer. Gerrard said she feels a deep connection to the land through her use of grains, which she describes as living carriers of history and hope.
“The seeds remind me that all bodies, however hard and solid, are porous — waiting to sprout their inherent ancient wisdom under the right conditions,” she said. “They whisper their ancient languages as they respond to the winds and the sun and as they push upward.”
Gerrard said the seeds are “entangled with the soil, the heat, the sun, the moisture, the day and night and with their environment both within and without.” She said the cycles of the sun and moon shape each season, from winter’s quiet rest beneath snow and frost to spring’s gradual warming, when the soil and rains “do their magic” and the newly planted seeds split open in their search for light and breath.
Her creative process often begins by closely observing seeds as they germinate, sprout and mature through the seasons. Gerrard studies the shapes, textures and inner designs of the grains, sometimes slicing them open or sprouting them to discover unexpected natural patterns. “Sometimes I start with a splash of colour on the canvas and then try to let the grains create their own design, tell their own story,” she said.
The artist’s work has been exhibited across Manitoba and beyond, earning her recognition for her ability to merge fine art with the textures of agricultural life. Visitors to the Carman gallery can expect a sensory experience — one that draws on the earthy tones, tactile surfaces and organic movement of prairie growth. Gerrard hopes her exhibition will remind viewers of the connection between humanity and the land that sustains it, inspiring gratitude for both the art and the agriculture that define prairie life.
Among the featured works are:
Farm Family — a mixed media depiction of a farm family sharing ideas and planning for the season ahead.
Seasonal Prairie Masks — a series of expressive masks representing the seasonal shifts of the prairies.
Prairie Energy — abstract compositions inspired by the internal patterns found within grains, seeds and fruit.
Prairie Two Spirit — a sculptural piece exploring spiritual connections to the land.
Harvest Time — portraying a farmer and son inspecting ripened crops before harvest.
Prairie Immersion — showing the human form embedded within the prairie landscape itself.
Gerrard’s works are a visual and tactile celebration of agricultural abundance, created with the same raw materials that sustain prairie communities. Her art bridges ecology, food, and spirit — and invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the land.
“The health of our agriculture is vitally linked to the health of our society,” she said. “These grains command a deep respect and encourage reflection on life, nature and our connection to the land.”
The exhibition runs throughout October at the Golden Prairie Art Gallery, located inside the Golden Prairie Arts Council building in Carman. Gallery hours and more information are available through GPAC’s website and social media pages.
