(Image Credit: Metis Crossing/Facebook)

By Curtis Galbraith

Art and Artists

Grande Prairie artist curates display at Metis cultural centre

Apr 2, 2026 | 12:00 PM

A Grande Prairie artist curated the art that has been installed at Metis Crossing, a cultural centre located near Smoky Lake.

Grant Berg says this came about after the centre’s executive director was part of a tour at his gallery in downtown Grande Prairie.

“She’d been looking for somebody that could source Indigenous artwork that, ideally, was Metis.”

“I checked all those boxes, having this gallery and the background that I have, and so she contracted us to find and source artwork from Alberta Metis artists.”

The artworks all hang in the guest rooms at the lodge.

Berg says Metis Crossing wanted works that looked nice but also had a story behind them.

“With each artist, we have three pieces in each room. We got a total of eight artists on the first round, and the three paintings fit a theme or a story.”

“Ultimately, they’re going to post the story of the artist and what the artwork meant to them and their heritage.”

Berg says two artists from the Peace; Lauri McCallum and Angie Saltman, are among the artists who have their work featured in the display.

“Lauri’s had her work in my gallery a little bit over time, (and) actually had entered our Artist of the Peace Competition. She’s done a lot of the Metis Dots, lots of bright orange colours.”

“I picked that because it’s in hotel rooms. I want people to wake up to something bright.”

“Angie does digital work as a graphic designer, and she did some loons and some other wonderful animals.”

“With her work, because they’re more animation style, we put those in rooms with bunk beds for children so that they might appreciate those.”

Berg says all the works had to be ones that would hang on a wall.

“So, there (were) some paintings. For the next intake, we are looking at some photography, but there was also some wood carving that mounts on the wall.”

“Not exclusively paintings, but everything does go on the walls.”

A release from Metis Crossing says ribbon skirts are also included and that many of the pieces honour Metis veterans and elders.

Berg says this will also help emerging artists.

“What I quickly found is (that) with these emerging artists, they didn’t necessarily have the knowledge or background in dealing with any professional entity, so I have to coach and train them and walk them through the process.”

Eight rooms are complete. Another 32 rooms will eventually be included.