Tyler Kilkenny of Russell, Manitoba is – piece by piece – rescuing bits of Canadian history and turning them into really stunning artwork. Inspired by his Grandfather’s general store and the crumbling farmhouses and barns around his home in rural Manitoba, he worked to find a way to preserve some of the stories of Canada’s settlers.

Years of oxidization have lent some amazing colour and texture to these reclaimed tin ceiling tiles. Found in abandoned stores, homes and businesses around Tyler’s hometown, these truly are little pieces of history. Including with each framed and matted piece is a chronology of the building where it was found, along with a limited edition designation.

From the TinHouse Designs website:

It’s a great way to have some art with a story that is relevant to the owner,” says Tyler. “We all have a stake in the stories of the men and women that settled this country. This is a small way to salute those that have made Canada what it is today.

Tyler Kilkenny is not only a collector of ceiling tin, but a collector of stories as well. Each piece of TinHouse artwork includes a chronology of the building that it was salvaged from, some of which have suffered through fires and years of neglect, and giving you a great conversation piece for your home! Until you have your own TinHouse piece, you can visit the Stories section of his website for a glimpse into prairie history – did you know that many of the village communities along the Assiniboine River are 7 miles apart, because that’s as far as the ox-drawn carts could travel during daylight? Often when the convoy stopped for the day, someone would leave the wagons and put down roots on a homestead.

Thanks, Tyler, for choosing to preserve and share these wonderful, oft-forgotten stories from our Canadian past.

Cheers,
~Sarah

*All images from TinHouseDesigns.com