Vernon Public Art Gallery Opens Two First Nations Exhibitions
What: Two New Exhibitions Opening to the Public
Where: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave. Vernon, BC
When: October 24, 2013, 6-8pm
Who: Vernon Public Art Gallery
Members of the Vernon Public Art Gallery and the public are invited to celebrate contemporary artwork by eleven Canadian First Nations artists at the opening reception of two new exhibitions, Stephen Foster; Re-Mediating Curtis: Remix, and Kama? Creative Aboriginal Arts Collective; Transformations.
“The Okanagan is home to many First Nations artists and we are excited to showcase the work of a mid-career Canadian artist (Foster) with a newly formed arts collective based out of Vernon. We wish to thank Stephen Foster, Vernon’s Friendship Centre and the participating artists for their dedication to First Nations art in a contemporary format. We are also delighted to have received financial support from the Canada Council for the Arts to assist us in presenting Stephen Fosters’ exhibition. This federal funding is a first for the Vernon Public Art Gallery and I commend our staff for producing the type of work that has enabled us to access these funds.” said Dauna Kennedy Grant, Executive Director.
Stephen Foster: Re-Mediating Curtis: Remix, October 24 – December 23, 2013
Stephen Foster is a Kelowna, BC based artist and Associate Professor at the UBC Okanagan. Foster is a video and electronic media artist of mixed Haida and European background. His work focuses on issues of indigenous representation in popular culture and the politics of identity. The main focus of the exhibition Re-Mediating Curtis: Remix is the deconstruction of perceived stereotypes of the First Nations people in Canada, specifically on the West Coast of British Columbia. The main focus of Foster’s exhibition is the discourse and critique surrounding Edward Sheriff Curtis’ representation of the West Coast Culture as portrayed in his film titled In the Land of the Head Hunters produced in 1914. The exhibition will consist of an interactive video and audio installation.
Kama? Creative Aboriginal Arts Collective: Transformations, October 17 – December 23, 2013
This newly formed arts collective brings together ten emerging and established First Nations artists who are the members of the Okanagan Indian Band (Suknaqinx). The exhibition titled Transformations brings together traditional and contemporary works of art that contribute to the understanding of cultural values, identity, history, and contemporary issues of Okanagan First Nations. The artworks in the exhibition are in format of drawing, painting, photography, metal sculpture and buckskin art. Participating artists: Mariel Belanger, Val Chiba, Dean Louis, Sheldon Louis, Pierre Richard, Abby Marchand, Barbara Marchand, David Wilson, Vern Tronson, and Mona Tronson.
The opening reception takes place at the Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave, Vernon BC, on Thursday, October 24 from 6-8pm and it is open to the public. The event is sponsored by OkanaganLife Magazine. The exhibitions will run from October 24 to December 23, 2013. Admission to the Gallery is by donation.
For more information about the Vernon Public Art Gallery contact: 250-545-3173 | @VernonAGallery | info@vernonpublicartgallery.com |www.vernonpublicartgallery.com
