Soldier Shares a New Perspective in Painting
The Vernon Public Art Gallery welcomes the return of Okanagan artist Scott Waters with an exhibition sharing a personal portrayal of everyday life in the Canadian Armed Forces.
“Waters’ exhibition expresses an intimate experience of a war artist in Kabul, Afghanistan, participating in the Canadian Armed Forces Artist Program in 2011. Sometimes in a mundane, anticipatory, or difficult state, he has shared a world in this painting exhibition that many of us will never see or understand. This is just another example of how visual arts are helpful in communicating to the outside world. It gives viewers the opportunity to create an experience of their own from the work. ” said Dauna Kennedy Grant, Executive Director.
Scott Waters: The Keeper of Nothingness, March 20 – May 22, 2013
Scott Waters grew up in Kelowna where he finished his undergraduate degree in fine arts, and then he earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree at York University in 2004. He presently lives in Toronto where he teaches part-time at Ontario College of Art and Design University. He was a two-time participant in the Canadian Forces Artist Program, and in 2012 he was awarded The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work as a war artist.
Waters’ exhibition titled The Keeper of Nothingness is based on his observation and experiences during his deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2011, where he was embedded in the Canadian Armed Forces unit. The work investigates the psychological states that Canadian soldiers often experience in Afghanistan during their deployment. Water’s work contemplates the human condition and the binary relationships which are commonly experienced by the army personnel during their missions: anticipation of an event and its aftermath, safety and chaos, and a constant reminder of mortality.
The exhibition will open on Thursday, March 20th at the opening reception from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. An artist talk will also take place at the opening. This event is open to the public and we invite the community to attend.
Photo: Scott Waters, Kilometer Zero, 2012, oil on canvas, 48 x 72 inches
For more information about the Vernon Public Art Gallery contact: 250-545-3173, @VernonAGallery info@vernonpublicartgallery.com ,www.vernonpublicartgallery.com
