There isn't much Zyg Kondzielewski won't do to capture the beauty of rural Saskatchewan.

Kondzielewski has been using familiar elements of Saskatchewan country life as inspiration and subject matter in his pieces for over 50 years. "Sister Rita from Bruno started me off in 1965 and I've been painting ever since," says Kondzielewski. He wasn't always a painter and photographer, though. Kondzielewski explains playfully, "I'm in diguise! In my 'first' life, I was a country doctor and I retired at the turn of the century before I became dangerous".

Kondzielewski turned his attention and artistic eye to the country fixtures and elements present in much of Saskatchewan's rural settings since he began life as an artist. He has a love for the beauty found in the old. "Country stuff: old stuff, old faces, old machinery, old houses, buildings....Everything old looks so much nicer than when it's new. A daylily looks (most) beautiful at night when it's starting to croak off; (more so) than when it's in full bloom," observes Kondzielewski.

Kondzielewski says he will stop at nothing to capture the perfect image and recalls, "I tore my pants, crawling under the barbed wire!" He explains he quickly came to the conclusion that a handy zoom lens was in order!

As a seasoned and talented artist, Kondzielewski is proud to be a part of the Members Show and Sale at this year's Meet the Members Reception at the Humboldt and District Gallery on Saturday afternoon. Kondzielewski is one of the 36 featured local artists currently being showcased at the gallery up until the beginning of November. Catherine Harrison, the Cultural Programmer for the Humboldt and District Gallery, says their second annual show and sale is important because it allows residents of the area to "connect the artist with the community." Harrison goes on to say that events featuring local artists like Kondzielewski are what helps to keep artistic expression alive and well in the region. She says, "You are enabling access to art to continue in Humboldt by purchasing local art." 

Pieces in varied mediums will be on display and for sale at the gallery until November 4th.