The Town of Okotoks and the Okotoks Arts Council are thrilled to announce Gary Briggs and Wendy Madell as the 2025 Sheep River Artists in Residence. These accomplished Alberta artists will bring their creativity and environmental focus to the community this September.
“Gary and Wendy bring a rare blend of imagination and insight,” said Allan Boss, Culture, Heritage and Events Team Leader. “Their work invites us to see conservation not just as science, but as story—shared, felt, and moved by community.”
This year’s residency engages with the health of local trout habitats; a topic raised in recent Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society reporting. Gary and Wendy will approach it through a collaborative, community-based lens—connecting with scientists, regulators, industry professionals, and residents to explore diverse perspectives. Their work will result in a series of interactive automata, mechanical sculptures activated by cranks or levers. These engaging, portable pieces will reflect diverse perspectives and invite viewers to experience the story through movement, colour, and imagination.
Open to Alberta artists in any genre, the Sheep River Artist in Residence program offers a $5,000 honorarium and a one-month opportunity to live and work in Okotoks. It is funded by the Town of Okotoks and the Okotoks Arts Council.
The automata will be robust, interactive, and designed for public engagement, ensuring the conservation message reaches audiences across Okotoks and nearby communities.
“We’re truly looking forward to this residency,” Gary and Wendy shared. “It’s a chance to listen, learn, and create something meaningful with and for the community. We’re fully committed and excited to see where it leads.”
The community has an opportunity to meet the Artists on September 6, 2025, at the Okotoks Art Gallery. For more information, visit okotoks.ca/artist-in-residence.