Max Pahtayken
Daily Herald
Marjorie Roden’s “The Napkin Manifesto” collection is made up of 39 pieces that tell the complex story of time travel and connection despite differences.
All pieces are available for sale at Grace Campbell Gallery in John. M Cueleneare Public Library, half of proceeds going towards JMC Library Mahon Auditorium. The Napkin Manifesto collection opened to public on July 6, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. and is available for viewing from July 6 to August 25.
“(It’s) a little bit scary to be honest, but I wanted to get it out there,” Roden says when asked how it felt to have the collection on display.
Roden is a graduate student at the University of Regina in the Media Arts program for Film and TV Production.
Roden has her degree in Physical Geography and Visual Arts from the University of Saskatchewan, with certificates in business, art, and media. She describes herself as a typical Canadian with a mixed heritage including Norwegian, English, Irish, Scottish, roots and First Nation lineage from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
Half of the funds from the sale of the art pieces will go into renovation of the JMC Library Mohan Auditorium. The Mohan Auditorium holds a special place in Roden’s heart, from featuring a few of her films including “Finding Margaret,” and another film Roden calls a “Hockumentary.”
Roden’s “Hockumentary” was shot on her cell phone from the stands while she attended games as a fan.
The film features a local hockey team, telling the story of the team’s regular season. Roden explains she did not make a profit from the film, only that it was made for “pure enjoyment.”
The Napkin Manifesto is a collection of concept art for a TV series set to be based in Prince Albert for Roden’s Master’s in Fine Arts project.
“Doing this artwork has helped me shape my writing a little bit better” explains Roden.
The scene is set two hundred years in the future in Prince Albert. The story follows a young woman named Eliza, who is searching for her mother.
In pursuit of her mother, Eliza has ideas on how to keep Canada together when racial differences and prejudices have taken control. Along Eliza’s journey, she becomes involved with three time travellers who both help and disrupt her pursuit.
Later in the story, Eliza attends grad school, meets her father, and has setbacks with her physical health.
The first five pieces explain the “pilot episode” while the majority of the other pieces focus on only one episode each throughout the series.
Roden was inspired to write the story a few years ago at a Canada Day celebration in Winnipeg, where she saw graffiti made by Canadians who did not agree with the celebration.
Roden said she saw both points in the different opinions on Canada Day celebration through her mixed European and First Nations background.
“Everyone is human but there has to be a way to get everyone together,” Roden says.
Roden encourages viewers to provide feedback and thoughts on the collection.
“I feel the most respectful thing I can do is to show this to (the) people of Prince Albert and get feedback from them (and) to be as respectful as I can to the community,” Roden says.
Roden has created an email for the public to contact her directly with detailed thoughts, emotions with attention to specific pieces in the collection.
Roden says she will only check the responses after the showing is over.
You can contact Marjorie Roden about “The Napkin Manifesto” at napkinmanifesto26@outlook.com.
