By Sarah Rae

Local artist honours famed N.B. artist Allen Sapp

Jan 3, 2017 | 5:00 AM

A local singer-songwriter is releasing a song of admiration and honour dedicated to one of North Battleford’s most famed painters a year after his death.

Kjelti Katherine Anderson said she hopes her song “He Perceives It” will remind people of Allen Sapp’s paintings. Sapp, who was born on the Red Pheasant First Nation in 1928, moved to North Battleford in the ’60s.

“He’s left this incredible legacy of his artwork that tells the story of the Plains Cree in this just stunningly beautiful way,” she said. “I hope that people can experience the sentiment of this song and my admiration for him, but then also seek out their own connection to his artwork and to be reminded of him.”

Anderson said she was inspired to write the song on a cold winter day several months after Sapp passed on Dec. 28, 2015.

Every line in the song is inspired either by Anderson’s personal experiences with Sapp working at the gallery named after him, or by stories she heard about him from the community.

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“Everybody’s got their story about Allen Sapp,” she said.

For those familiar with Sapp’s artwork, Anderson said there are numerous references and recollections to his work.

“As you’re listening to the song you’ll get… kind of flashes of his paintings because his work is so iconic and recognizable, particularly with people here in the Battlefords,” she said.

After playing her song with a friend last winter, Anderson said she knew she had to record and share the song. It was recorded at Workhorse Recording Company in Saskatoon with musicians Cordell Anderson and Joseph Naytowhow with funding assistance from local and provincial sources, including the Creative Saskatchewan Song Recording Grant Program.

Anderson is holding an official release event for the song at ARC Creative Studios in North Battleford on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.

She said the event is BYODD — bring your own device and denim. She encouraged everyone to wear denim and cowboy boots to honour Sapp’s fashion style. A device, which must be able to connect to the Internet, is required for the interactive listening experience Anderson has planned.

Sarah Rae is a reporter for battlefordsNOW. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.

by Sarah Rae

Local artist honours famed N.B. artist Allen Sapp

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