Art Showcase - Saturday, November 22nd, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
The Saskatoon Festival of Trees 40th Anniversary Art Showcase gathers upcoming and established artists to create works that address the theme “30 Below”. Prairie winters are characterized by extremes—the stark white ground contrasting a clear blue sky, a steaming cup of cocoa to combat an afternoon of cold outdoor activities, the freedom of gliding on ice skates or the difficulties of driving on frozen roads. Whether they were born in Saskatchewan, or are new to Canada, eight artists will explore and take inspiration from what they find memorable about Prairie winters or holidays.
Come down to the WDM to watch our artists create in real time on Saturday, November 22nd, 2:00pm - 8:00pm, in the McLeod Hall. Each of the participants will be busy completing their featured work, which will then be displayed for viewing and purchase during the remainder of the festival. This will be an amazing opportunity to meet local artists, see what goes into creating a work, and take home something unique to remember the festival season.
Come down to the WDM to watch our artists create in real time on Saturday, November 22nd, 2:00pm - 8:00pm, in the McLeod Hall. Each of the participants will be busy completing their featured work, which will then be displayed for viewing and purchase during the remainder of the festival. This will be an amazing opportunity to meet local artists, see what goes into creating a work, and take home something unique to remember the festival season.
2025 Artists
Maya Funk
Maya is a conceptual artist who values community and sustainability. Nature, empathy and joy inspire her creations. Everything Maya creates is rooted in intentionality: whether it's poems, paintings, or digital drawings. Her work reflects the vibrant colours and intricacies of the natural world, as well as the depths of human emotion.
JingLu Zhao
After JingLu got her MFA degrees from China and Japan, she taught Visual Art in China until she moved to Canada in 2013. JingLu’s art explores her identity as she experiences the world, combining figuration and landscapes reflecting her family's Chinese and First Nations heritage.
Dominique Hoffert
Dominique is a self-taught, multimedia artist born and raised in the prairies. His favourite thing to draw is portraits, and his media of choice are graphite/pencil, collage, and digital painting on procreate. Dominique’s portfolio can be found online at nickhoffert15.ca
Miranda Yarnton
Miranda’s art is rooted in her connection to the outdoors, drawing inspiration from personal experiences in nature and film photographs taken along the way. She works primarily in ceramics, creating pieces on the wheel and bringing them to life with hand-painted details.
Jenna Farquharson
Jenna is a professional mixed media artist working in: pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, pastel, and acrylic. Her preferred subject matter varies and includes portraits and people, wildlife, scenery, and comic and illustrations. She is the owner of Rendr Fine Art Studio in Saskatoon, and offers art classes for adults and children of all skill levels. Recently she contributed the haunted house to the large model train display at the WDM for the Boo Ball 2025.
Connie McConnell
Connie is a Saskatoon artist working with scratchboard. She has earned recognition through Reflections of Nature, and Showcase of the Arts at the Saskatoon Exhibition. Connie exhibits her work at the Wild Oat Fine Art Show. She also works for Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival, resulting in her art going into many parts of the United States.
Matthew Kjargaard
Matthew is a self-taught artist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His primary occupation is teaching with Saskatoon Public Schools, but he enjoys painting as a hobby. He mainly paints landscapes, including forests, prairies, lakes and rivers in Saskatchewan and Canada.
Maya is a conceptual artist who values community and sustainability. Nature, empathy and joy inspire her creations. Everything Maya creates is rooted in intentionality: whether it's poems, paintings, or digital drawings. Her work reflects the vibrant colours and intricacies of the natural world, as well as the depths of human emotion.
JingLu Zhao
After JingLu got her MFA degrees from China and Japan, she taught Visual Art in China until she moved to Canada in 2013. JingLu’s art explores her identity as she experiences the world, combining figuration and landscapes reflecting her family's Chinese and First Nations heritage.
Dominique Hoffert
Dominique is a self-taught, multimedia artist born and raised in the prairies. His favourite thing to draw is portraits, and his media of choice are graphite/pencil, collage, and digital painting on procreate. Dominique’s portfolio can be found online at nickhoffert15.ca
Miranda Yarnton
Miranda’s art is rooted in her connection to the outdoors, drawing inspiration from personal experiences in nature and film photographs taken along the way. She works primarily in ceramics, creating pieces on the wheel and bringing them to life with hand-painted details.
Jenna Farquharson
Jenna is a professional mixed media artist working in: pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, pastel, and acrylic. Her preferred subject matter varies and includes portraits and people, wildlife, scenery, and comic and illustrations. She is the owner of Rendr Fine Art Studio in Saskatoon, and offers art classes for adults and children of all skill levels. Recently she contributed the haunted house to the large model train display at the WDM for the Boo Ball 2025.
Connie McConnell
Connie is a Saskatoon artist working with scratchboard. She has earned recognition through Reflections of Nature, and Showcase of the Arts at the Saskatoon Exhibition. Connie exhibits her work at the Wild Oat Fine Art Show. She also works for Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival, resulting in her art going into many parts of the United States.
Matthew Kjargaard
Matthew is a self-taught artist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His primary occupation is teaching with Saskatoon Public Schools, but he enjoys painting as a hobby. He mainly paints landscapes, including forests, prairies, lakes and rivers in Saskatchewan and Canada.