A PDF scan of an article in the StarPhoenix from June 18th, 1965 about Fred Mendel's donations to the Mendel Art Gallery.

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Former Mendel board member Annemarie Buchmann-Gerber provides important insight into why things have gone so terribly wrong at the Mendel Art Gallery in 2009. She writes: "Before the board was stacked by the mayor, previous Mendel boards voted unanimously to keep the wonderful Mendel Art Gallery at its original site, which is one of the most beautiful sites in all of Canada and a very family friendly place beside the Kinsmen Park. The original Mendel building is an award-winning design and the proposed new design has integrity and consideration. Congratulations to the previous boards and directors."

The election is over but the struggle to Save the Mendel Art Gallery continues. If you haven't done so already, please sign our Petition to Save the Mendel, and please check back often for the latest news. And please use the Share This links below to let more people know about the issue!

Mayor Don Atchison and city councillors seeking re-election have a lot to answer for on River Landing. When council began making decisions in late 2003 on the south downtown, the public was not told how much the project would cost eventually. It wasn't until November 2004 that city administration tabled its first River Landing capital budget.

Continue reading this article on the Saskatoon StarPhoenix website

Forty-five years ago, on October 16, 1964, at the Opening of the Mendel Art Gallery, Founder Fred Mendel promised, “This beautiful creation of an Art Gallery and Conservatory combined in one unique building will be one of the most beautiful spots of the world; it cannot be created again. I assure you, for all time, this centre will be good."

The following is a letter from Chip Mitchell, grandson of Fred Mendel, to commemorate the 45th Birthday of the opening of the Mendel Art Gallery

The Mendel Art Gallery, which officially opened in October 1964, was a generous gift to the city of Saskatoon from local businessman and philanthropist Fred Mendel. Today, it stands as a prominent cultural landmark and a significant example of modernist architecture in Saskatchewan and Canada.

Joe Kuchta, writing on his blog Owls and Roosters, has done a fantastic job of digging into the dirt of the local, provincial and federal machinations behind this issue. Please visit Owls and Roosters to find out more.

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