Vernon Public Art Gallery

Gallery Celebrates Culture Days with Public Art

Where: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave. Vernon BC, V1T 2H3 250-545-3173
When: Saturday, September 29, 2012

Why: Culture Days Celebration

Who: Vernon Public Art Gallery

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is excited to offer two events in celebration of Culture Days 2012, both promoting and engaging in public art.

On Saturday, September 29^th, starting at 11am the Gallery will be buzzing with creative energy as participants prepare to install soft, fuzzy creations known as yarn bombing or urban knitting. Public benches, sign posts, trees, railings and bike racks along 30^th and 31^stAvenue will be covered with knitted and stitched fabric. Following a hugely popular yarn bombing knitting workshop September 15^thwith Eleanor Bassett, participants are ready to install their own creations, including patches, pom-poms, sleeves and throws. Granny’s afghans will be re-purposed into public art forms. Knitting has never been so hard core in Vernon before.

Yarn bombing participants and the public are also invited to the Gallery at 1:00pm to listen to a special presentation on public art. VPAG welcomes Kelowna-based artist Crystal Przybille, as she speaks about public art, her artistic practice and recent European art tour. Przybille has an impressive background in public commissions and is keen to share her knowledge and passion for public art forms. Learn about commissioned artwork, site specificity, community involvement and collaboration, as well as different forms of public art; ranging from permanent sculptures to interactive audience driven art forms.

Crystal Przybille is a native of Vernon, BC. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with Distinction, from the University of Victoria in 1997, majoring in painting. She has continued her professional practice, both in Canada and Europe, receiving numerous grants and awards for her work, including Canada Council for the Arts and BC Arts Council. Przybille has participated in artist residency programs in British Columbia, Nunavut, and the Netherlands. She has been awarded numerous public commissions including a temporary public sculpture for Wereldhavendagen (World Port Days), Rotterdam, the Netherlands (upcoming – September 2013), Victoria 150 Public Art Commission, The Hands of Time, to be completed in 2013 in Victoria, BC, and The Father Pandosy Mission 150th Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture, City of Kelowna Public Art Collection, completed in 2012 (Project recipient of Federal Legacy Fund – Canadian Heritage and Central Okanagan Foundation Grant).

The Gallery is once again participating in Culture Days, an annual, nation-wide volunteer movement to raise awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement in arts and cultural community activities. “Culture Days is a strong initiative that promotes arts at a community level that are accessible to everyone. The Vernon Public Art Gallery stands for the same values. We want visual arts to be available to everyone, the benefits are enormous, and we are happy to take part in this annual event for the fourth year in a row.  We are thrilled to have Crystal join us during this special event. She is a very accomplished artist and will bring new light to the benefits, opportunities and possibilities of public art in our community.” said Dauna Kennedy Grant, Executive Director.

Culture Days events are free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend both the yarn bombing installation and the public art presentation. For anyone wishing to participate, please meet at 11:00am at the Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31^st Ave. Vernon BC. For more information call 250-545-3173 or visit www.vernonpublicartgallery.com or www.culturedays.ca

Images:

Crystal Przybille, portrait

The Father Pandosy Mission 150th Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture, City of Kelowna Public Art Collection, 2012

For more information about the Vernon Public Art Gallery contact www.vernonpublicartgallery.com or call 250-545-3173.