Abandoned by Helen Rempel
Artist Statement:
I have dabbled in photography since a teenager with film when taking pictures was very different!. I still have them in a box stored away. Well I broke the camera accidentally and that was it for photography until 2013.I actually fell in love with photography when my sister and I decided to go on a ghost town tour .Taking images of old rustic buildings and flowers growing nearby filled something in me that I had not realized was missing. I finally learned how to actually see detail in things I had only glanced over in the past.I actually felt in my heart how difficult things must have been for some families in these places to up and leave everything behind with scattered flowers still blooming beside many buildings.I had a strong urge to photograph as much as I could.These buildings seem to tell a story, as some places I felt uncomfortable and some I wanted to sit on the step and stay awhile.I am excited to share these stories in my photography.
Biography:
I was born in Dec of 1958 in Carrot River,Saskatchewan.I have 5 brothers and 5 sisters so living on the farm was never boring.If we fought with one sibling we had another sibling available to play with Since we didn’t have any of todays conveniences, we had to be very creative ourselves, building tree houses, swimming in the rain filled muddy water beside the driveway bridge where it was deeper along with the minnows and even playing in the sandy ditches across the highway which was close to our home. I finished grade 7 education at school and later got my GED.As an adult at 21, I decided it was time to move on and leave home.
My sister and I decided we wanted a new adventure which it was.! We checked our road map and decided Portage La Prairie would be our destination, knowing not a soul, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. So with dad letting us borrow his car we packed up our clothes and a few dishes and such in the back of the car and headed east.
That was 38 years ago and a lot has changed since then.I found me a wonderful man and married him and were blessed with a wonderful son, which is our biggest blessing topping all other.I have many hobbies. I love sewing, singing and photography which I do mostly now.
I have done quite a few craft shows in the past. I worked at the 7-11 store for awhile and the manor for 14 yrs and now run my own house cleaning business which is 18 years now and go take pictures whenever I can sneak it in.Its an honour for me that I am able to show my work.