About the Artist
Deltra grew up in Redvers, Saskatchewan, a farming community in the middle of the Canadian prairies located in Treaty 2 territory. Encouraged by her grandmother who was an oil painter, Deltra started to communicate observations made in nature through drawing and painting eventually having opportunities to exhibit work with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council in 1989 and illustrating a book for the Canadian Prairie Author Clarence A. Boon in 1990.
The pursuit of education took Deltra to Medicine Hat located in Treaty 6 territory. She attended the three year Visual Communications Diploma Program graduating in 1993 moving on to Edmonton, launching her graphic design career, working for international advertising agencies and serving clients in the oil industry.
Knowing the importance of education, Deltra took on mentoring young artist. She was accepted into a year long residency at Jasper Place High School in 1999. This experience peaked her interest in pursuing more opportunities to do community teaching including children’s programming at the Multicultural Centre in Stony Plain, St. Albert Children’s Arts Festival and Allied Arts Council in Spruce Grove. Deltra also started Creative Day Studio to facilitate on location workshops for a variety of community organizations and private lessons out of her home studio in Stony Plain.
Deltra graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Art and Design with distinction from the University of Alberta. The following year she attend the Canadian Wilderness Artist Residency in Yukon Territory that both moved through and operated within the traditional territory of the: Kwanlin Dün, Ta’an Kwäch‘än, Little Salmon/Carmacks, Selkirk, and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nations. This immersive experience–where she and 11 other artist canoed the Yukon River, between Whitehorse and Dawson City, for 17 days–was a pivotal experience, deeply impacting her personally and the art she makes.
From 2017 to 2022 she was employed as a Program Specialist with the Edmonton City Arts Center where she taught adult painting classes as well as field journal classes, and sketchbook classes. Deltra currently lives in Stony Plain and works out of her home studio located within Treaty 6 territory.
Education
2014-2017, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design with Distinction, University of Alberta
1990-1993, Visual Communications Diploma, Medicine Hat College, AB
Awards
2017, BMO First in Arts! Award, Nominee in Printmaking, U of A Printmaking Department
2017, Student Enrichment Fund, Funding for travel to London, UK
2016, Jason Lang Scholarship
2014, Justine Angelina Carswell Memorial Award in Fine Arts for Painting
2005, 24th Annual Open Art Competition, First place winner Advanced Category, Allied Art Council, Spruce Grove, AB
1992, 1993, Medicine Hat College Book Store Scholarships
Select Group Exhibitions
2023, Small Works, Big Wow, Red Brick Common Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2022, Old Friends, New Walls, Bleeding Heart Art Space, Edmonton, AB
2022, Sketchbook Project, Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2018, HerWork2018, Collaborative work with Corwyn Powney, Multicultural Heritage Centre Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2018, Anthropocities, Exhibition coinciding with the International Climate Change Conference, Edmonton
2017, Between Us, University of Alberta, Bachelor of Fine Art Graduation Show, Edmonton, AB
2017, Hopes and Fears, student exhibition and artist talk, University of Alberta
2016, Apres Ski, Annual Members Show and Sale, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Edmonton, AB
2016, Drawing on Life, Visual Arts Studio Association (VASA) Gallery, St. Albert, AB
2016, Frame of Reference, Visual Arts Student Association (VASA), Milner Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2015, Third State, 400 Level Print Student Show, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2015, Stripes and Bows, Annual Member Show and Sale, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Main Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2014, The Alumni Show, One On One Gallery, Cultural Centre, Medicine Hat College, AB
2014, Marking The Valley, River Valley Alliance Juried Exhibition, Edmonton, AB
2014, AKA, juried exhibition, Spruce Grove Alliance Church, AB
2012, Gallery Open House, We Frame It Commercial Gallery, Spruce Grove, AB
2011, Parkland County Art Collection, Multicultural Center Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2008, Red Deer Summer Series Exhibition, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
2008, Parkland County Art Collection, Parkland County Public Building, Stony Plain, AB
2001, Art and Healing Journeys, Multicultural Center Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2000, Art and Healing Journeys, The Caritas Art Enrichment Program, Misericordia Community Hospital & Health Centre, Edmonton, AB
1993, Graduate Show, Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, AB
1992, Visual Arts Student Society (VASS) Show, Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, AB
1989, Objects and Images Touring Art Exhibition, Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council (OSAC), SK
Select Solo Exhibitions
2023, Shorelines, Leduc Arts Foundry, Leduc, AB
2019, Artifact of Place, Bleeding Heart Art Space, Edmonton, AB
2019, In The Absence of Knowing, SNAP Community Gallery, Edmonton, AB, 2019
2012, Where Two or Three Are Gathered, Multicultural Center Public Art Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2010, Be Still, Feature Artist at Allied Art Council, Spruce Grove Art Gallery, AB
2009, New Works, Multicultural Center Dining Room Gallery, Stony Plain, AB
2008, Selected Work, Redvers Arts Center, Community Gallery, Redvers, SK
Artist Residency
2018, Canadian Wilderness Artist Residency, Yukon Territory
- Canoed the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City for four weeks, creating art work while immersed in the natural environment
2000-2003, Jasper Place High School, Edmonton, AB
- Mentorship of advanced placement high school students, Ages 15 to 18
Press and Catalogues
2018, Anthropocities, exhibition catalogue, Department of Art and Design, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2017, Between Us, BFA graduate exhibition and catalogue, Visual Arts Student Association (VASA), FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2017, BFA graduate exhibition featured on Dinner Television, www.dinnertelevision.ca
2016, Drawing on Life Exhibition, It figures that it’s figures, by Scott Hayes, St. Albert Gazette
2014, Marking the Valley, A juried art exhibition and catalogue, River Valley Alliance, Visual Arts Alberta - CARFAC, Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society
2014, September 5, Marking the Valley, Exhibit marks the River Valley, A66, by April Hudson, Stony Plain Reporter, Spruce Grove Examiner
2013, SMS Equipment and Parkland County Art Collection catalogue, Parkland County, AB
2010, August 13, Stony artist looking to be still, A66, by Carson Mills, Stony Plain Reporter, Spruce Grove Examiner
2009, August 21, Finding inspiration in tiny ways, pg. 79, by Carson Mills, Stony Plain Reporter, Spruce Grove Examiner
2000, March 18, Floor cloths an old idea that’s new again, Pg. 16, Fiona McNair, Edmonton Journal
Collections
Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists (SNAP) Membership Collection, Edmonton, AB
SMS Equipment Art Collection, Parkland County, AB
Printmaking Department Teaching Collection, University of Alberta
Various private collections, Canada, USA, Norway
Work Experience
2019-2020, Gregg Distributors, Graphic Design/Production, Edmonton, AB
2008-2011, Deltra Powney Design, Online art sales and blogging
1998-2003, Freelance graphic design, corporate identity and promotional materials
1997-1998, MMI Marketing and Communications, Graphic Design/Production, Edmonton, AB
1996, CBC Television, Edmonton, AB, Freelance courtroom sketch artist
1994-1997, Continental Communications, Production, Edmonton, AB
1993-1994, Great Western Graphics, Graphic Designer/Production, Edmonton, AB
Teaching Experience
2022, International Children’s Art Festival, City of St. Albert, AB
2020, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Edmonton, AB, Online Monotype Class
2017-2022, City Arts Centre, City of Edmonton, Adult, Beginner and Advance skill levels, Watercolour Pencil Travel Journaling, Acrylic, and Oil
2017, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Edmonton, AB, Teacher Assistant for Print Sampler Class
2004-2017, Creative Day Art Studio, Home based business
- mentorship of children and adults through private and group classes
2007-2012, Creative Insight Workshops, Location based projects centred around wellness
- Parkland Head Injury Association (PHIA), Parkland County, AB
- Postpartum Depression Mom's Support Group, Stony Plain, AB
- Stony Plain Alliance Church Women's Ministry, Stony Plain, AB
- Edmonton Dream Center, Mothers with addictions, Edmonton, AB
2009, Pioneer Centre, Stony Plain, AB, Adult beginner acrylic painting
2006-2008, Multicultural Centre School Programming, Ages 9 to 16, Stony Plain, AB
2007, Allied Arts Council Summer Art Camp, Spruce Grove, AB, Ages 9 to 12
1999, The Frame Tutor School of Picture Framing, Edmonton, AB, Teachers Assistant for hobby framing classes
Boards and Committees
2020-2022, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Director, Edmonton, AB
2017, Visual Arts Student Association (VASA), Member at Large, UofA, Edmonton, AB
2016, The Little White Church of Glory Hills, Director, Parkland County, AB
2013-2016, Cultural Round Table (CRT), Artist Representative, Advisory Committee for the Town of Stony Plain, AB
Volunteer Experience
2018, Latitude 53, Bartending, Edmonton, AB
2017, Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP), Edmonton, AB, Special events bartending, Gallery preparation
1993-1994, Rainbow Society, Edmonton, AB, Promotional Designer for fundraising events
1993, The Works, Edmonton, AB, Exhibit Attendant
Memberships and Affiliations
2015-2022, Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists (SNAP), Edmonton, AB
2018-2022, Alberta Printmakers (A/P), Calgary, AB
2016-2022, AGA, Edmonton, AB
2016-2018, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB