聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 For Dion Manastyrski the history of the Prairies is a beautiful story of trials, tribulations, and the success in a harsh land of those generations that came before us. His decision to document and share the history of the Prairies through his fine-art book, Prairie Sunset: A Story of Change.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The book focuses attention on buildings from across the Prairies: abandoned houses, barns, schools, churches, and more are interwoven with stories of prairie life and a look at historic documents which helped shape the Prairies.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 made eight trips across the three prairie provinces between the years 2003 and 2014 to photograph the old rural places which are slowly vanishing, and to interview about 70 people, mostly retired farmers, one-room school teachers, and other people of the rural prairies,鈥� Manastyrski explained. 鈥淚 talked with numerous people in their 90s, and the oldest person I talked to was a one-room school teacher who was 105 years old. I combined all this with old photos from government archives.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 wanted to capture the photos and history in a compelling way, to spread interest about rural prairie history鈥� to show how diverse and remarkable the story of the rural prairies has been since the Homestead Act and the beginning of settlement. I also wanted to show the importance and enjoyable way-of-life of the family farm, and the importance of supporting our small towns.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Looking through the pages one can鈥檛 but help wonder what kind of family lived in that house and what their lives were like or what the kids were like when in that old school house 鈥� what did they grow up to be and do.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he photos may capture your imagination of lives that were filled with hope, dreams, and hardship,鈥� Manastyrski writes in the introduction to his book. 鈥淭he photos may reflect a union with the environment that is seldom felt in our present times. This union went beyond the success of an investment; it spoke to the core of the challenge to survive.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The book, which offers 240 pages, of stunning fine-art photos taken by Manastyrski, archival photos and information, as well as many quotes from people he spoke with across the Prairies.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he idea for this book began in 2003 as an effort to photograph what remains from this era, and over time it has evolved into more,鈥� Manastyrski writes. 鈥淭his book is a blend of three different types of content that together tell a story of change: a collection of anecdotes from over 70 people whom I interviewed, several historical photos and documents from government archives, and my own photographs of artifacts remaining from this era.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 searched for understanding as I explored the homesteads of a vanishing era, and talked to people of the prairies. Collectively they have a remarkable story to tell, and I would like to share this with you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The book was first printed in 2015, while a second special version celebrating Canada 150 was printed this year. It was printed and bound by Friesens Book Division in Steinbach and published by Earthpics Press.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his second printing is a special version for Canada鈥檚 150th anniversary, as the book is about an important part of Canada鈥檚 history. It has a translucent band on the front cover, with the official Canada 150 logo on it. Inside are readers鈥� comments. The band is removeable if desired, and can be used as a bookmark
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dedicated to the memory of his grandparents, the book was a work of love: 鈥淢y grandparents emigrated from eastern Europe in the early 20th century to become homesteaders in a foreign land. The attraction was land, and a vision of a new life that could promise security, peace, and prosperity to their families for generations to come.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Manastyrski adds, 鈥淎fter exploring the rural prairies to create this book, I now am out delivering this story back to the people of the prairies. This summer and fall I am travelling to try to get this book in at least one store in every town and city in the three Prairie Provinces. Later on this fall I鈥檒l be posting many photos and short stories about my travels the past few years, and some of the interesting people I met, and about some of the experiences I had and the places I visited.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The book is available:
Whitewood SK -- Can Am Travel Shop
Whitewood SK -- Whitewood Outdoor & Pet Supplies
Grenfell SK -- Orchids and Accents Boutique
Weyburn SK -- Pharmasave
Weyburn SK -- The Void
Stoughton SK -- Stoughton Meat Market
Carlyle SK -- Pharmasave
Carlyle SK -- Home Hardware
Carnduff SK -- Carnduff Drug Mart
Oxbow SK -- Silver Goddess
Estevan SK -- A & A Jewellery
Estevan SK -- Park Avenue Gifts
Radville SK -- Pharmasave
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 To follow more from Manastyrski visit or Facebook: Prairie Sunset Book.
