An artist, a curator, and an award winner

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2011 (5554 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jordan Miller still recalls how shy she was in high school.

“I wasn’t very confident in myself,” said Miller, a River Heights resident who, until recently, called St. Boniface home.

But when Miller, the director and co-founder of cre8ery gallery and studios accepted her Woman of Distinction Award for the Arts earlier this month, she walked with her head held high.

“When I walked up on the stage to receive my award, I wasn’t shy, I wasn’t afraid, I wasn’t nervous,” said Miller. “I thought, ‘I’ve done it. I’ve come so far’.”

The YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards celebrate women in the province who have made exemplary contributions to their communities.

The 35th annual Women of Distinction Awards Gala Dinner was held May 4.

When it comes community involvement, Miller is second to none.

Beyond her work with cre8ery, she is an art mentor, a consultant, a curator and an art teacher.
“And an artist on the side, when I have time,” she said.

Miller was nominated for the award by Lisa Taylor and Maureen Kolodie.

Kolodie, who knows Miller primarily as a friend of her daughter, said she wasn’t surprised when the artist took the top prize.

“She’s probably the hardest working person I know,” she said. ‘She just has a passion for what she does and it’s very evident.”

Kolodie added that cre8ery is is a special type of gallery, with rental space that also comes with dedicated support from Miller.

“A lot of studios you just rent the space and set your art up. She goes way beyond that,” Kolodie said. “She’ll do everything she can to ensure you have the best show.”

Miller said after being called on stage to accept her award, the first thing she did was thank the artists who have displayed their work in her Exchange District gallery.

“I had to thank the artists, because cre8ery wouldn’t be here without their support,” she said, adding when she first opened the space with her partner Shawn Berard in 2007, they were concerned no one would want to display their art at the gallery. Now, there are waiting lists for exhibition space.

Miller added the gallery could not have been a success without Berard, who lives in St. Boniface, and also praised her parents for their encouragement.

Taking a break from mopping the gallery floors, Miller acknowledged the award wasn’t a life-changer — but said it was nice, all the same,

“I’m still Jordan Miller. I’m still going to do my job exactly as I did before. It just feels great to be recognized,” she said, adding that after her win was publicized, she received more than 150 congratulatory messages and thank-yous.

“It made me feel like I’d done something. I’d achieved something.”

arielle.godbout@canstarnews.com